Charging battery "off van"

[DerekBrad]

Hello all,
Can anyone direct me to the posts from a couple of months ago regarding the best type of charger for use on a 110Ah leisure battery, when it is off the van? Is the charger currently (!) on offer in Aldi suitable?
Thanks in advance
Derek

 

[ChrisUK]

I find the aldi / lidl charger great.

 

[DerekBrad]

Thanks for reply,Chris.I seem to remember something about 'two stage charging' and wondered if the Aldi one was hi-tech enough!
Regards
Derek

 

[David_L]

I have a Ring charger that checks the battery condition and applies the correct charge, not a cheap unit but very efficient and has served me well

 

[RayS]

If you are a Caravan Club member get their download leaflet on batteries. It suggests that leisure (as opposed to starter) batteries are damaged by fast charging when the terminal volts rise above 14.4 as will happen with a simple charger. Have a look at the CTEK range which offer a unit which will do both and also - should the need arise, proved the 13.7v supply to replace the charging unit in the caravan should this fail. I carry one of these now as it will charge car battery, leisure battery and act as spare van mains unit hwne we are away from home.

 

[JTQ]

Yes the one on offer this week at Aldi is a multi stage "smart" charger and at that price ideal for what you want. The only proviso being it will not recover a really flattened battery but unless this is done very shortly after draining it nothing else will do much to save an abused battery.

 

[Essexeddie]

You need a charger with a 'maintenance charging' facility, That keeps the battery topped up for long periods.
Unlike a normal car charging that charges quickly. I bought one from Liddl for about £12 some time ago which is cheap as maintenance chargers are more expensive. I saw similar chargers in Aldi not that long ago.

My eyes must be getting bad, my typing looks small!

 

[glynmallett]

To Derek Just to say I have got the CTECK Multi Charger the model is Multi XS 3600 it is more expensive than the Aldi Charger but it is a top class charger for a leisure battery Cheers Glyn

 

[DerekBrad]

Thanks to all of you helpful folks for your advice! At the moment my battery is nowhere near discharged, and from the posts I have read it would seem that a charge, say every three or four weeks from my ordinary bog standard charger should be ok. One further question: With the Aldi/Lidl charger, would you leave it connected constantly to the battery(and switched on)? Thanks again
Regards
Derek

 

[TD42]

The Lidl / Aldi chargers are multy stage,& have pulse charge facility for reviving / reconditioning flat batteries & also can be left attached the battery as they both have a maintainance mode

 

[Essexeddie]

Thanks to all of you helpful folks for your advice! At the moment my battery is nowhere near discharged, and from the posts I have read it would seem that a charge, say every three or four weeks from my ordinary bog standard charger should be ok. One further question: With the Aldi/Lidl charger, would you leave it connected constantly to the battery(and switched on)? Thanks again
Regards
Derek

Sorry Derek but I believe that is not a good idea, I have read it some where. Charging a Leasure battery is different to a car battery.
Its a bit complicated but you need a maintenance charger as said before. Or you may damage and shorten the life of the battery.
And yes, with the maintenance charger you leave it on, as it says, it maintains the battery.

 

[DerekBrad]

Hello Eddie
Thanks for helpful comments! My questions have been comprehensively answered and this morning I bought a charger from Aldi.Having read the enclosed instructions, it is clear that it has a 'maintenance mode' (something I couldn't find on the outer packaging) The said charger is now fitted to it's dedicated shelf in the garage and the battery is being maintained (13.1 volts showing on indicator)
Thanks again
Regards
Derek

 

[dtiffany]

I always go for a CTEK charger with mine, it's worth spending a wee bit more to make sure your battery is gunna work when you need it most.
Dan