caravan battery charger

Ron15
Ron15 Forum Participant Posts: 1
edited December 2015 in Parts & Accessories #1

I have been advised that I should remove the battery from my caravan when I don't intend to use it for  a couple of months and put it on a trickle charger.  Having looked at the charges I see that there is a smart charger that apparently automatically provides
the right amount of charge.  Can amyone guide me on the benefits of a tickle v smrt charger?  Any other hints on charging the battery would be much appreciated.

 

Comments

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2015 #2

    Yes you are correct in saying that it is best to remove the battery and put it on charge but many people cannot do this because the alarm/tracker will not work and insurance would be invalidated. Some caravans have dual chargers which can provide a proper
    charging regime but for most vans the in-built charger is only adequate to top up, not to properly recharge.

    Caravans should not be left permanently on EHU unless you have an intelligent dual charger fitted. Batteries should not be left permanently on a cheap charger or cheap trickle charger but they can be left permanently connected to a decent intelligent charger
    such as a Ctek.

    it is not necessary or desirable to leave a battery on permanent charge, it is better to leave until partially discharged then recharge it properly. If you are in storage the best system is to have a spare battery so that you can swap them over every two
    months or so.

  • rogher
    rogher Forum Participant Posts: 609
    500 Comments
    edited December 2015 #3

    A simple charger will keep charging the battery and it will keep ‘gassing’ during that time, losing electrolyte. A ‘smart’ charger drops the charging voltage to a stabilising level which doesn’t ‘boil’ the battery.

    A Lead-Acid battery needs to be fully charged when taken into storage and checked occasionally to make sure it’s still holding charge. It will self-discharge when left, which is not good, and extreme cold does not help either. If you do get a (smart) charger,
    make sure you get one for your size and type of battery. Smart chargers follow a charging regime appropriate to the battery type, so you may want to get one which addresses (12V, 110Ah) AGM, Gel, or Wet types to cover you in the future. A quality battery deserves
    a quality charger. The alternative is to buy cheap and expect to change often.

Categories