Starter Battery

D40David
D40David Forum Participant Posts: 39
edited April 2016 in Motorhomes #1

I have just purchased a Autosleeper Kemerton XL and will collect soon. Will I need to keep charging the starter battery as this will be constantly drained by the alarm etc.

If so, what is the best way? a cheap trickle charger, or if I leave on mains hook up will the leisure charger charge the starter battery.

Comments

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,867 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #2

    I have a Battery Master (recommended by Peedee) fitted to my Bailey and that sends a charge to the vehicle battery, via the leisure battery, whilst on hook-up.

    David

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #3

    I put a CTEK charger under the bonnet every couple of weeks if required!

    If you haven't got one already a cheap volt meter to check things is far more useful than the built in meters.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #4

    Some motorhomes come already equipped to charge both batteries. I don't know anything about your model so cannot help in that respect. If it is not equipped to charge both I think it best to fit a Battery master. It not only means both batteries will charge when on hookup but if you have or fit a solar panel this also means both batteries will be kept chagred up. Another advantage to fitting a battery master is you do not have to worry about flattening the engine battery when on hookup and using the cab radio which is more than likely powered from the engine battery.

    peedee

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #5

    looking at the spec on the AS website for the Kemerton, an 80w solar panel was optional.....

    as Peedee says, the issue is whether even the fitting of an SP has the circuitry to charge both batteries....in todays world i would have thought they should....my 2010 Swift Bolero could do this from ehu and from the SP we had fitted.....it was the Sargent
    PSU that took care of the power distribution....

    if your van doesnt do this then the batterymaster is a simple solution....adding an SP (if it doesnt come with one) will remove the need to have ot constantly connected to an ehu.

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