Charging battery while under tow

Zimmer
Zimmer Forum Participant Posts: 3
edited August 2020 in Caravans #1

How quickly will the caravan battery charge while I am under tow ?

The van is coming out for the first time this year due to Covid. Battery was in good nick and state of charge at the end of last season, but obviously has been sitting all year.   It was serviced as usual in March and put back into storage.      We have a  2-3 hour journey mainly on motorway.   Will that amount of time be enough to give the battery a good charge just in the off chance I need to use the mover when I get on site ?    

 

Andrew

Comments

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2020 #2

    What was the battery state when serviced ? which will after a 2hr journey be the answer but it may well be enough ,surprised

  • Whittakerr
    Whittakerr Club Member Posts: 3,472 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2020 #3

    A 2 - 3 hour charge from a tow car wont give it much of a charge. My home intelligent charger states:

    Ah of battery / Charging amps = time to charge, therefore for a completely flat 110Ah battery on a car trickle charge of 1.5 amps

     110/1.5= 73 hours to full charge.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited August 2020 #4

    I would recommend you get a solar panel fitted or one that fits in front window just to keep the battery topped up as when the second wave come it will be in storage for a lot longer. Just my opinion by the way. check the voltage before connecting up and again when arriving and see what the difference is and give you a good idea for future trips. 

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited August 2020 #5

    I think that would depend on what you class as a flat battery ie 12v flat or nothing at all. Isn't anything under 12.6v classed as going flat. 

  • Whittakerr
    Whittakerr Club Member Posts: 3,472 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2020 #6

    True, but even so a 2 -3 hour trickle charge wont do that much considering the load would be a mover.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited August 2020 #7

    But could be enough for straightening up on a pitch. Then the charger takes over via EHU. 

  • SUBBY
    SUBBY Forum Participant Posts: 36
    edited August 2020 #8

    The easiest method would be to take the battery out and take it home to keep it charged up especially as you say it's not been in use since last season. Or keep on touring all year.

  • Zimmer
    Zimmer Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited August 2020 #9

    Thanks for the responses.  I decided to visit the van at the storage site and check the battery.   It was still reading 12v and in the "green" zone, but I decided just to remove it and bring it home for a charge.  Better safe than sorry !

     

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2020 #10

    good bit of advice here

    link

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