Leisure Battery

[pdwilkinson]

We are fairly new caravaners and need some advise on how to store our leisure battery during the winter.

I have read that you should never let your battery run flat.

Also I am also told that the charger on my caravan will not fully charge the battery but only maintain it. Do I need to purchase a separate battery charger??

Please Help

Paul

 

[Damian]

Paul, if you intend storing your van for the entire winter, then it is sensible to store the battery at home, in a cool place, like a garage, but not directly on a concrete floor.On a piece of wood is fine,or a low shelf.

The van battery charger is set to charge up to about 13 volts or thereabouts, but a 3 stage charger will take your battery to 14 volts or thereabouts and keep it in the best possible condition, as the lower the charge, the more plate sulphation occurs, and lessens the life of the battery.

You should check the electrolyte levels are ok and charge every couple of months over the winter.

Halfords sell a decent automatic charger which will fully charge the battery, and when charged will maintain that charge if left connected, but there is no need to leave it on all the time, just , as said, every couple of months.

 

[pdwilkinson]

Paul, if you intend storing your van for the entire winter, then it is sensible to store the battery at home, in a cool place, like a garage, but not directly on a concrete floor.On a piece of wood is fine,or a low shelf.

The van battery charger is set to charge up to about 13 volts or thereabouts, but a 3 stage charger will take your battery to 14 volts or thereabouts and keep it in the best possible condition, as the lower the charge, the more plate sulphation occurs, and lessens the life of the battery.

You should check the electrolyte levels are ok and charge every couple of months over the winter.

Halfords sell a decent automatic charger which will fully charge the battery, and when charged will maintain that charge if left connected, but there is no need to leave it on all the time, just , as said, every couple of months.

Damian, thanks for your advise.

I have a car battery charger which has a variable charge setting. It charges at 1,2,3,4 or 5 volts will this be ok to charge my leisure battery??

 

[Litespeed]

Will it harm the battery if you have a mains lead connected to your van over the winter with the battery charger on all the time?

The van is a modern one so I presume it will have a 3 stage charger?