Leisure battery fitment - some dumb questions!

[Neil_374409417]

I am about to by a newish van and want to fit a leisure battery. Several things concern me and I wonder if anyone can help, I've never fitted or used a battery in these circumstances so I may be being completely stupid!

Placement, I don't think there is a specific locker and I am a little concerened about either under seat or gas locker mounting. Under seat due to fumes from charging, and gas locker, well I don't like the idea of a big battery next to gas cylinders!! I've never met a battery that does not have a vent, even sealed ones, but then it's several years since I needed to look at a battery on a car so maybe new leisure batteries and gel batteries are OK.

Charging and using, I've read about some chargers, but I seem to have missed something, can you attach and leave a charger whilst it is connected to the caravan circuits?

Or should I fit a switch, or is there such a thing so that the battery can be swapped from charging from car input, mains input or use to power caravan circuits?

Many thanks

Neil.

 

[SteveP]

Hi Neil, If you are getting a newish van, one of the standard makes, your battery will have already been fitted, so the one you are getting is a replacement?

Under no cicumstances does a battery go into the gas locker!

 

[JTQ]

Unless you are buying a foreign market caravan then its most unlikely not to be designed for a battery.[unless someone is better informed then I accept correction].

So are you sure you face designing in a battery?

Nowadays batteries are only found within the habitation area of caravans if they are GEL batteries fitted with the correct type charger to prevent gassing voltages.

Also nowadays it is regarded as unacceptable practice to have any electrical item in the gas locker, despite this being done in the past.

The normal UK practice in caravans is to have the battery in a compartment that is sealed from the habitation area and vented to outside.

Motor homes sometimes have a wet battery in the habitation area but then it is fitted with a piped vent to the outside.

Van and motorhome specific chargers automatically deal with the switching of charging current from either the vehicle or from an AC mains derived charging current. They also switch off all services other than the fridge whilst connected to the car or in the case of a motorhome if the engine is running. These "chargers" also normally deal with distribution of the DC services from the battery.

You can fit a non recreational vehicle, mains charger like a CTEK 3600 and leave this permanently wired up.

Dealing with a charge from the vehicle is less satisfactorily done as an after market facility. This is because the voltage reaching the vans battery suffers from voltage drop issues and that battery is treated secondary to the vehicles voltage regulating equipment. Resulting in an inadequate charge normally.

A proper good quality recreational vehicle charger will have features to lift the voltage to the battery independently of the voltages it receives from the vehicle; a much better solution.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

hi Neil

right were to start thats the thing, is it a dumb question well to be frank yes it is. why?? well there is not enough information on which to base a accurate meaningfull answer on for instance:- you say you are about to buy a newish van?.

so how old is it??.

what make is it??.

what model is it??.

what equipment does it have ??.

have you actually looked at it yet??.

these my seem obvious questions but without some idea of what you are trying to do??? and with what. Speculation would be meaningless and could result in the wrong information being given.

please come back with a much info as possible about the van, and what it is that you are trying to do and I for one will be delighted to assist in any way I can.

colin

 

[Neil_374409417]

Sorry, should have been a bit more specific.

We are considering a Bailey Senator Wyoming, 2006 model S5, the Bailey site is not so specific as to exactly what the van has, it may well have a charging circuit already, but as for a battery locker I didn't find one when I looked at the van and I opened everything I could! I thought a space large enough for a battery would be a bit more obvious.

Electrically it seems to have everything except the battery. I'll press the dealer for some more exact specs, but I think the one he has is nearly

 

[ThePlotter]

Hi ,your 2006 bailey will have a battery locker usually on the offside with a door about 2 foot by 1 foot inside wil be the cables and connectors and clamp to secure it,adjacent to it will be the charger unit which can be left switched on when on site,and normally will be

 

[xtrailman]

Ask the dealer where the mains lead plugs in, usually that is were the battery compartment is, the door is usually accessed from the outside of the van.

Senator is top of the bailey range, should have all you need.

The only thing you may need are extra sockets, get them fitted in the deal.

Also make sure the warrentry is transferable prior to 2005 i hear they was not.