Trickle charger. Which Battery?

Gingerbeard
Gingerbeard Forum Participant Posts: 7
edited February 2021 in Parts & Accessories #1

Hi all. Recently bought a 4a Electronic Smart charger. I have a new engine battery and a fairly new leisure battery. During the cold season it has been suggested that I keep the battery on trickle charge as, like a lot of us, I am getting little or no use of my campervan. Which of the two batteries do you suggest I keep connected to the smart charger?

Thanks

Comments

  • eribaMotters
    eribaMotters Club Member Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2021 #2

    I'm looking at this as in ill informed novice. I'm guessing one is for engine and the other habitation. If this is the case why not alternate it between the two every few weeks.

    Colin

  • LLM
    LLM Forum Participant Posts: 1,555 ✭✭
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    edited February 2021 #3

    Why not just plug in the EHU? With luck it will keep both correctly charged.

  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2021 #4

    They’re cheap enough, you could buy 2. A battery maintained on trickle charge will long outlive a battery that’s subject to regular deep discharge, so would pay for itself over time.

  • Gingerbeard
    Gingerbeard Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited February 2021 #5

    I think an additional trickle charger might be a good idea. The engine battery is a bugger to get to, under the passenger footwell but the leisure is just behind drivers seat. Thanks guys.

  • LLM
    LLM Forum Participant Posts: 1,555 ✭✭
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    edited February 2021 #6

    I'm lost.  If you can get power to the van why not just plug it in as you would do on site and keep both batteries charged that way?  Cheaper and more effective than buying separate chargers. 

  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2021 #7

    It’s a good point. I guess it depends on the spec of the EHU charging unit, some are fairly basic and can overcharge the battery reducing its life, whereas a ‘smart’ charger will monitor the voltage typically switching to trickle charge at 80% and then maintenance mode for long term connection.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2021 #8

    if you buy a CTek charger, they come with croc clips & eyelets to bolt directly to the battery so that all you need to do to charge the battery is connect the small plug & socket together .... it's intended for hard to access batteries just like yours. 

    CTek

  • Gingerbeard
    Gingerbeard Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited February 2021 #9

    Thanks for all the input, guys. As the engine battery is brand new, I'll put the trickle charger on the leisure battery.

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