Leisure Battery Care

Qashqai66
Qashqai66 Forum Participant Posts: 551
edited February 2016 in Parts & Accessories #1

We are awaiting delivery of a new Venus and I have been skimming through the manual on line.  I am intrigued to read instructions from Lunar concerning the leisure battery.  They state that in normal circumstances there is no need to remove the battery other
than for top up with fluid.  I find that very puzzling.  We do not use our caravan between mid October and mid march so we always remove the battery and leave it on a smart charger.  We have no access to mains where we store our van so we have always assumed
that removal of the battery for charging is essential.  Am I missing something here?  I would love to leave the battery in place as I find it awkward and heavy to move and diffficult to get all the mover cables back in place when re-installing.

Comments

  • Whittakerr
    Whittakerr Club Member Posts: 3,474 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments Photogenic
    edited February 2016 #2

    I have left the battery in my caravan ever winter for the last 6 winters from around October to April and never had a problem. It has always operated the motor mover first trip out in the spring. Like yours there is no mains where I store my caravan. So I wouldn't worry too much.

    im sure you will get a lot of conflicting advice about this matter and I am no expert, I'm just speaking from experiance.

    good look with your new Venus.

  • Qashqai66
    Qashqai66 Forum Participant Posts: 551
    edited February 2016 #3

    Thanks Whittakerr, that is really interesting.  I will give it a try.  Removing the battery is a tedious chore.

  • Tirril
    Tirril Forum Participant Posts: 439 ✭
    100 Comments
    edited February 2016 #4

    My 110 amp battery which is 3 years old would not hold sufficient charge for 5 months so Whittaker's is doing really well. My caravan does however have a tracker and alarm fitted which draws a little from the battery. If you find your battery is not able to hold its charge you could consider fitting a solar panel assuming it is not stored inside in darkness.

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
    1,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #5

    I had a new Venus in 2014, its held in storage and the manual states there is no need for the battery to be removed during normal use as it has a smart charger installed, so reading between the lines the battery during my 'away' months is quite happy to be kept at top notch by the caravan charger.

    However during 2014/15 winter storage the alarm took its toll and within 8 weeks it had flattened my leisure battery (recovered OK using my CTEK at home) and also depleted the alarm backup battery. Without the alarm I'm sure it would be quite happy for a few months.

    My leisure battery now resides in the garage during winter months and topped up periodically with my CTEK.

  • Qashqai66
    Qashqai66 Forum Participant Posts: 551
    edited February 2016 #6

    Thanks DaveFL2, I didn't know the Venus had an alarm fitted.  We have no need of it at our storage site so perhaps I can disable it in some way.  How do you like the Venus?  We are gettin gours as we have reached an age of wanting a transverse fixed bed
    rather than moving mattresses around morning and evening.

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
    1,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #7

    The alarm backup battery is the size of a motorbike one (under the front seat) and is charged when you use EHU.

    I have the 540/4 with fixed bed, we got fed up making beds and began to get uncomfortable using the seat bases, we love the thick mattress it really gives a good nights sleep.

    The Venus suits our needs fine, it is basic by some standards but has everything we need, full LED lighting, modern Truma water/heating under the front seat with ample outlets, three skylights so light and airy and does everything it says it can. No problems in the two years from new, lightweight with good load carrying capacity and a stable pull here and many miles over the water.

    One thing I hope they have improved on would be our front locker can get wet in heavy rain when towing, the seal is not that good.

  • Qashqai66
    Qashqai66 Forum Participant Posts: 551
    edited February 2016 #8

    Apologies for going off post.  I am really encouraged by your comments about the Venus.  We were unsure about the bed mattress especially as my wife has a replaced hip and I have back troubles.  We have bought a Duvalay topper to make sure we are o.k.  We
    used Duvalay toppers in the 2 berth, without them we would have had to stop caravanning.

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