What charger do I need

[plotter]

I have just got a new 110 ah leisure battery to go with my new motor mover,however I recall reading on here that the charger fitted to caravans will never fully charge the battery which it needs to be for the mover to function at full capacity.
So it will need an initial charge off the van so what output charger do I need and where is the cheapest place to get one?
My old car charger is 6amp is that enough?

 

[otherclive]

I use a multi stage CTEK XS 3600 and it has looked after my 100AH battery for some 7 years. It is only 0.8amp but does the job as I only use it to recharge the battery when it is off the van, or disconnected. The battery is never run right down though so the XS 3600 is okay. It does batteries from 1.2AH to 120AH. It automatically cuts back to 'float' the battery when it is fully charged. It can be used outdoors too being fuly enclosed. On a previous forum post someone recommended a Lidl charger which was priced at around £13 and had similar characteristics to mine. Ring also do multi stage chargers too.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Plotter

Clive's advice is fine and one of these multi-stage chargers will certainly look after your battery well.

You write
"..... fully charge the battery which it needs to be for the mover to function at full capacity."

This isn't quite true. I'm not going to re-write an answer I made recently in another thread instead have a look at

http://www.practicalcaravan.com/forum/technical/car-battery-0
Caravan movers use far less power than most people realise, and whilst the caravan charger will only about 85% charge your battery it should still be quite capable of running a mover.

 

[HenryS]

I have read the previous thread referred to by Prof John L. Can I ask whether it makes any difference to the mover starting amps if the mover has a "soft start" facility?
Henry

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Henry,

There are different ways the manufacturers may adopt to achieve a 'soft start' and the soft start usually referes to the movement of the caravan. Whether contolling the motors current supply is part of their strategy will depend on their specific design.
As I have not had the opertunity to investigate any of these personally I cannot confirm if the stall currents are limited by external controls, and whether batteries of lesser CCA may be used.

 

[ValA.]

Our caravan mover works fine from just the 110 amp caravan battery which only receives charge from our hook-up whilst connected. We don't charge it up separately.

 

[Dustydog]

My Avon 110 amp Leisure battery has been in two caravans from new and never been charged externally. It still puts out 13 volts on the voltmeter and moves the Wyoming with the Powrtouch every time.

 

[Guest]

Soft start is there to remove the sudden shock of the massive start-up current the motors demand so protecting the control circuitry.The fact your van moves slowly at first is very convenient but just a bonus!
As for chargers, I have used the so called 'cheap' version of the Ctek 3600 for several years, made/marketed by 'Medion', after the first one proved faulty out of the box, a phone call had a courier call within 36hrs with a new one, replacement has worked perfectly ever since, it does exactly the same job as the Ctek but at only around £13 from Lidl/Aldi.
Only downside is you have to keep an eye until either has them on offer and get down there the instant they appear

 

[Gafferbill]

I have just got a new 110 ah leisure battery to go with my new motor mover,however I recall reading on here that the charger fitted to caravans will never fully charge the battery.
My old car charger is 6amp is that enough?

..............your caravan power supply/charger may be a so called smart charger anyway and keep your new battery in peak condition.
If your caravan power supply is limited to 13.8 volts (older caravans) then an occasional top up charge with "your old car charger" will help prolong your batteries life, as it will give a charge of up to 14.4volts.

 

[waffler]

Taking the battery off and charging it properly does it good. (Should extend the life.) I have a streetwise intelligent charger about £30 from an independent retailer. It is heavy, steel cased, meter on front and charges trickle or full. It switches off when charged into maintenance. Assume you will have to charge a very low battery- I am fastidious about keeping mine charged and yet have still had 6 volts! Your charger will need to be able to deal with it.