Charging the caravan's battery

Jay-Jay · Veteran Member

Charging the caravan's battery

Big Gorilla · Guru

You will get longer life out of your house batteries if kept fully charged. If the van is in the sun, solar should keep them charged. If in a garage, plug in the 240 volt lead and let the battery charger do it. If you have wet cell batteries, check the water level every week, whether parked or on the road. Use demineralised water.

D and D · Guru

Deep cycle batteries are probably the commonest type of battery in caravans and they have specific storage requirements to avoid damage - see www.batteryworld.com.au/articles/proper-care-and-maintenance-deep-cycle-batteries

Dave

Bruce and Bev · Guru

be careful about plugging your RV into the household outlet. Your RV is 15v and your house is 10v. If you look at the end of the male plug on your RV power lead the bottom pin is longer than the other - this is to try and stop you plugging it into a house outlet (even an outdoor one). Its claimed you can cause a fire or damage your vans electrics. You can either pay a sparkie to install a 15v outlet (about $150-200) or buy a portable converter unit where the water proof unit will let you plug your RV lead into a standard household extension lead. Many people don't do this, but be careful in case you have a problem and need to make an insurance claim - they will refuse to pay any claim

Cadpete · Guru

Hi Bruce and Bev, I think you meant A (Amp) not V (volts). Otherwise good advice, although one method is to just plug in the charger of the RV to the 10A socket as this is PROBABLY only a 10A plugged device. The 15A caravan supply is to provide all power to the RV, not just the charger.

hako · Guru

Jay-Jay....to give you a simple answer to your question - as long as nothing is switched on in the van and the battery is fully charged then it should be quite OK to leave it for up to 5 weeks. No harm will be done.
Good Luck

Bevandy2 · Senior Member

Depends on the type of battery.
A car type battery should be maintained fully charged at all times.

Ours is an AGM 100 amp hour deep cycle, and can take being low charged, until next time, the van has a CTek smart charger which rejuvinates the battery as it recharges it, which it does every time 240 volts are connected, we have 15a power at home. Sometimes we go weeks between trips, and the battery so far has been fine, it is 6 years old, and I usually only connect power a week before a trip to check the fridge and all the electric stuff.

Whatever, best to keep it fully charged if you can.

Bevan

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

If you have a wall mount air conditioner? Check if it's a 15 amp socket ..
If not depending where your metter board is ?
Get a sparky to install a 15amp and RCD in your metter board for outside use...
Due to hardly any wire used it should be a cheap easy job...

Bello · Veteran Member

G'day,, When my 'van is not being used, I have a "smart" charger conected and power on 24/7. My last 105 amp hr battery lasted more than 7 years. I believe that is a good battery life.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Jay-Jay, as B&B suggested just get a "Ampfibian" 15a-10a waterproof comverter. Keep it in your van when not in use and it is always with you. You just never know when you might need it. If you stay at friends or family place and they allow you to plug into power, you have it. All safe and sound then. Not cheap but well worth it IMO.

Edit....B&B probably weren't awake when saying V instead of A biggrin

-- Edited by Dougwe on Tuesday 7th of April 2015 08:32:28 AM

Ontos45 · Guru

JayCar have a certified cheaper version out than the amphib

PeterD · Guru

Ontos45 wrote:
JayCar have a certified cheaper version out than the amphib

If you are only going to use the adaptor in domestic indoor situations then the Amphibian is the better model, it's $9 cheaper than the non approved Jaycar one that is not a double pole device. You will note that Jaycar don't say it's for caravan use, they can't because it's not a double pole device.