Charge battery

CaptainOrinoco
CaptainOrinoco Forum Participant Posts: 4
edited September 2016 in Caravans #1

Is the battery charging when I have plugged into mains hook up?

Comments

  • bandgirl
    bandgirl Forum Participant Posts: 440
    100 Comments
    edited September 2016 #2

    There should be a switch somewhere in your caravan for the battery charger.  Assuming this is switched on, the battery will charge when you're on EHU.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #3

    If you have a meter in the van turn off mains ,meter voltage will probably go down if no power to charger, then turn mains on which should show higher voltage,if no diference then look for swith to charger (what van is it?)

  • CaptainOrinoco
    CaptainOrinoco Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited September 2016 #4

    Thanks for the two responses.

    It is a 2012 Lunar Ariva.

    I have hooked up to mains electricity. Then I turn on the mains switch just inside the van door and hold the voltage meter button to get a reading of 12.5. I leave it charging for 5 hours and check the voltage again and it is still 12.5. So, I wonder if
    it is charging at all. Perhaps there is another switch. 

  • bandgirl
    bandgirl Forum Participant Posts: 440
    100 Comments
    edited September 2016 #5

    We had to replace the charger on our previous caravan because the charger stopped working.  Unfortunately I can't remember how we knew it had packed up.  Sorry, not very helpful Worried

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,695 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #6

    Our battery charges automatically from the car when in transit and from the EU when on site.  We don't need to switch anything over (other than the fridge switch).

    It the reading is constant, there is a good chance that the battery charger is working.  See the following table (lifted from elsewhere)

    CHARGE VOLTS
    25% 12.05
    50% 12.20
    75% 12.45
    100% 12.60

     It is my understanding that a battery will deteriorate over time.  If your battery was new with the van - in other words, 3 years old, it's probably doing well to hold 12.5.??

    Perhaps the reading is due to condition/age of the battery rather than the charging?

    David 

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #7

    The figures David has quoted above are however for a battery that has been removed from charge and sat for some time. If I press our voltage meter button when the battery is charging it show's mid to high 13's. Ours also switches over automatically. If it
    is not showing that when connected to EHU there is probably a switch, as in our previous van, that needs switching over.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #8

    Whilst on hook-up you should get 13.7 volts. Off charge 12.7 volts. If you discharge your battery, don't rely on the caravan charger; take the battery out and recharge it properly.

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