Fitting Ctek charger to caravan

STRB
STRB Forum Participant Posts: 7
edited March 2017 in Caravans #1

I just wanted to check if my proposed setup for maintaining my leisure battery will work...

Can I hook up my caravan electric at the house as normal but then plug the Ctek MXS-7 charger into the mains socket in the caravan and attach to the caravan battery using the eyelet connectors? Obviously I would switch off the onboard caravan charger.

Thanks

 

Comments

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited March 2017 #2

    Yes you can. I did exactly that on my last caravan...... I used terminals inside the caravan when the mover was wired in. 

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2017 #3

    I am not understanding the "eyelet connections" bit, but pre having vans with "smart" chargers I simply put a CTEK via its croc clips onto the van's battery to over winter etc. Then it predated their bring out of the "comfort" connector, if that had been available then I would have built one of those in; maybe that is your "eyelet" connector?

    As these CTEK units can go well above 13.8 volts then I would make sure it is unpowered before using any in caravan "12 vDC" stuff, just to be safe.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited March 2017 #4

    If your car's alternator charges at around 14 volts does that mean you can't use an accessory in your car's ciggy lighter with the engine running? innocent

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
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    edited March 2017 #5

    Well, in mine it actually goes a bit higher just over 15 volts, and yes I would be pushing my luck plugging some caravan kit directly into a ciggy port with the alternator on full wang; a TV and the caravan's control unit come to mind.

    Though my caravan has a smart charger that goes way over 13.8 volts to the battery, the units designer chappie was "smart" enough to include voltage regulation circuitry to protect the caravan's system from the battery voltage. I am not convinced the car designers have done the same, probably you know?

  • STRB
    STRB Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited March 2017 #6

    Thanks for all the advice. I've just set it up and working fine. 

    I am still not sure if I should leave it on normal or supply mode? I'll not have much on as it is sitting in the drive, perhaps fridge the evening before we next go away. Thinking normal? 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited March 2017 #7

    The fridge will not work off the 12v supply,  it only works on 12v when connected to the car with the engine running

  • STRB
    STRB Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited March 2017 #8

    Sorry I meant I have it on EHU at the house so fridge is on but unsure whether to have the Ctek on supply or normal mode. Essentially it is to 'replace' the onboard charger when at the house. 

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #9

    What is wrong with the onboard charger that the manufacturer supplied to do that job?

  • STRB
    STRB Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited March 2017 #10

    From reading up online apparently it doesn't get the battery to 100% and can result in overcharging if you leave it on. The Ctek chargers are supposedly good at prolonging the battery. However I am sure many will have their view on this! 

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