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Charging Battery

T

tony_5098273

I keep my van on the drive and keep it hooked up all the time to the mains giving the battery a charge.

My question is has anybody used the CETEK battery charger to charge there battery over the winter months as I am thinking of obtaining one as these.It can be left connected all the time giving the battery what charge it needs when in storage.
 
I use the CTEK 3600 continuously when at home - the on-board power supply being switched off. This looks after batteries much better.
 
Hi Tony

Like you we have our van hooked up and continuously charging the battery in the drive at home. I have often wondered if this is ok and is it likely to reduce the life of the battery, should I let it run down from time to time.

RogerL says

'I use the CTEK 3600 continuously when at home - the on-board power supply being switched off. This looks after batteries much better.'

Should I be doing this instead?

Sophie
 
Hi Sophie,

Using a charger like the CTEK won't hurt and may do a lot of good.

Why? Well many reasons:

The caravan charger is usually set to provide a voltage of 13.8 volts - this is just below the voltage at which gases would be released from the battery if left on continuously - but it's also below the voltage necessary to completely recharge the battery.

Each time the battery is discharged (through use or storage) then there is an opportunity for damaging sulfation to occur - reducing the life of the battery. A caravan charger can't do anything about this, but some models of CTEK charger will combat this automatically.

Should you let the battery run down? NO - lead acid batteries show the longest life expectancy if they are stored fully charged - either a CTEK or caravan charger (after full charging) will trickle charge the battery OK.

Robert

And I've used the CTEK brand name as an indication of a good quality, multi-stage intelligent charger that will accomplish more than the in-built caravan charger.
 
Thanks for that Robert, sorry to take so long to reply. For the time being I'll carry on just charging with the in-built charger, but I'll definitely look into the CTEK or similar. Just not looking to spend anything more on the caravan at present if I can help it.

Thanks again

Sophie
 
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