Trickle charger for 12v battery

[jo3]

We keep our van in storage and it hasn't been used since August. We checked on it yesterday and the lights wouldn't work, which we hoped was down to a flat battery rather than something more serious with the wiring for instance. The battery is relatively new, possibly 12 months or a bit more.
I took the battery off and bought a basic trickle charger from a motor factors. It's been on for about 18 hours now and the green light which tells you it's charged still isn't on. The instruction leaflet with the charger doesn't state how long charging should take.
Any advice welcome. I'm happy to leave it on or just buy another battery if necessary.
I have kept the battery topped up during last season by connecting it to the electric at home every few weeks but during the recent bad weather it's just sat in storage.
Jo

 

[Damian]

If the battery was flat, as I guess it was, then on a trickle charge it will take at least 24 hours or up to 72 hours to fully recharge.
You really need to check the voltage with a multimeter.
A battery left in a discharged state for any period of time will cause substantial damage to the plates and may not recover with charging, at least not on a trickle charge.
What you need is a multi stage charger which carries out a desulphation charge to condition the plated areas if they have become sulphated.
A caravan charger normally only charges a battery to 80% full to avoid gassing.Best practice is to properly charge every so often to prevent loss of capacity, off the van.
During storage the battery needs to be kept fully charged.

 

[jo3]

Thank you, that's helpful.
I'll leave it for 3 days and then put it back on.
if it doesn't work I'll buy a new one.
Cheers

 

[jo3]

As you suggested the battery fully charged after 3 days.
Cheers
jo

 

[bertieboy1]

Don't leave battery in van (espeicially in winter) when in storage,take it home and give it a charge now and again.
Now your battery is charged give it a discharge (you can use high wattage 12 volt lights for this) and then give another charge.

 

[Red_Mick]

I took the battery off and bought a basic trickle charger from a motor factors.

I'm afraid this is a waste of money in my opinion, you need a specialist, stage charger, these are more intelligent and slow down charge rate when nearing full charge. They cost a bit more, Like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-XS-0-8-12V-1-2A/dp/B004RADNCQ/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1393786512&sr=8-14&keywords=battery+charger some automotive chargers won't fully charge a leisure battery.

 

[bertieboy1]

Nothing wrong with using a car battery charger.A battery will take whatever current it needs to recharge unless it is limited.As the battery charge progresses the battery voltage increases,as it increases it is rising towards the charging voltage and it is the difference between charging voltage and battery voltage - sometimes called the back emf (which is diminishing all the time ) that is actively charging the battery.
I really can't see the need for these fancy over expensive battery chargers - I've never suffered a battery failure yet using a car battery charger to charge a "leisure" battery,

 

[SirRogerFFS]

I did buy a charger from Aldi which is a brilliant charger and usually unless my battery is really flat will do a good job as Damian pointed out in his post. Never had any problem with charging a leisure battery with and 11 amp charger our very first battery did us 6 years and was going strong when we sold the van.

 

[RayS]

Look at CTEK or Ring for suitable chargers. Caravan Club have very helpfil leaflet on batterys and cared if you are a member

 

[ProfJohnL]

Nothing wrong with using a car battery charger.A battery will take whatever current it needs to recharge unless it is limited.As the battery charge progresses the battery voltage increases,as it increases it is rising towards the charging voltage and it is the difference between charging voltage and battery voltage - sometimes called the back emf (which is diminishing all the time ) that is actively charging the battery.
I really can't see the need for these fancy over expensive battery chargers - I've never suffered a battery failure yet using a car battery charger to charge a "leisure" battery,

Hello Bertie,

Most simple car battery chargers do not regulate their output voltages and it not uncommon to find peak values in excess of 21V. Leaving a leisure battery connected to such peak voltages for long periods (e.g in storage) will tend to overcharge the battery reducing its working life, and increasing the risk of outgassing hydrogen fumes. Contrary to you own stated experience I have seen several Leisure batteries with reduced charge capacity or even ruined and incapable of incapable of holding a charge.

 

[Gafferbill]

There is nothing wrong with using a car battery charger to charge a battery that is described as a leisure battery.

The important point is that it should not be left charging a battery for long periods of time.......so it is not a charger for people that want to fit and forget.
You do need a smart charger for that.

Monitor a car battery charger and remove when the charge rate falls to a continuously low level (1-2 amps) and it will fully charge the battery without damaging it.

 

[CyberCynth]

If the battery was flat, as I guess it was, then on a trickle charge it will take at least 24 hours or up to 72 hours to fully recharge.
You really need to check the voltage with a multimeter.
A battery left in a discharged state for any period of time will cause substantial damage to the plates and may not recover with charging, at least not on a trickle charge.
What you need is a multi stage charger which carries out a desulphation charge to condition the plated areas if they have become sulphated.
A caravan charger normally only charges a battery to 80% full to avoid gassing.Best practice is to properly charge every so often to prevent loss of capacity, off the van.
During storage the battery needs to be kept fully charged.

Damian, why does the battery need to be charged off the van? I have a smart charger which I attach to the battery a couple of days before an outing for a charge-up; I was told this was safe practice. Thanks.