Changed van - battery pack

denninelli · Veteran Member

Changed van - battery pack

pauline · Guru

I am sure someone will answer your questions that know what they are talking about, all I can say is ENJOY, your allowed to.

Cheers

Cruising Granny · Guru

If your setup is compatible, the batteries should charge when you're driving, from the car. Then when you plug into 240V power they will be charged again, if they are still chargeable.
You will need to do some of your own technical investigation. Find the battery/s, check where the charging system is and what it is.
I have a 240V charger in the front boot of my van next to my battery. When I'm plugged in it charges the battery and shuts off automatically when the battery is full.
At the moment the deep cycle battery in the boot is collapsed and will not take a charge. Batteries have a shelf-life eg 2 years, less in the tropics. They should be kept charged up if possible.
Mine went flat when I was parked up in Cairns, so I lost it, but it was 4 years old by the time I left Cairns.
It's a good way for you to check out your new van and where everything is, and what condition it's in.
Don't depend on others and what they tell you.
It's your rig, you have to know it, intimately. Good luck.

Dave83 · Senior Member

Congrats on the new purchase!

It isn't necessary to have the van "plugged in" when it is simply at home - unless you are using the electricals in it of course!

There are so many variables involved with power setups, and just as many differing opinions on each one.

If you're able to supply us with a little more info, we might be able to be of a tad more help. Do you know what sort of battery you have? And also, what sort of charging set up do you have? If you can locate the battery, there should be information on the battery that will tell you what sort it is. The battery charger unit should be close to the battery (in theory anyway).

In any case, if you're going to be staying at caravan parks most of the time, you should be fine. But it's still very handy to know what you've got on board and what maintenance it requires.

whiteman · Senior Member

A bit of conflicting advice here it seems........advice given to me is that when parked at home the van should be powered up the same way as in a caravan park unless you have solar panels plus the usual regulator system....it seems that deep cycle batteries prefer to be fully charged most of the time and last longer....as said that`s the info provided to me,others may disagree, so check with your friendly electrical supplier, preferably someone with camping system experiance.

Peterpan · Guru

I agree with whiteman,check with someone that knows the system really well.
The people I deal with in Vic when things get dicey tell me that deep cell batteries should be charged all day every day, and to make sure you have the correct charger for the battery.
Some of the others on this group can probably recommend the best ones to use.

It's an exciting life, enjoy.
Brownie

Happywanderer · The Master

How does that work Peterpan. If you have a deep cell battery that charges from your main battery when driving, you would have to drive all day every day to keep it charged. Doesn't sound right to me. If you are parked at home and haven't used it, you are not going anywhere so can't charge it, but it hasn't been used anyway.
Not all deep cell batteries can be charged by connecting to mains power. I don't think mine does. Nobody has told me that it does anyway.

Peterpan · Guru

Happywanderer,
You could be right.As I said this is what the supposed gurus advised me when I was asking about putting a 12v system into our van.
Ours is mainly a 240v Van with 12v lights only.
The cost to change the whole wiring system to 12v was a little (?) expensive.
So it will stay the same for a while yet.
I worry about experts, you know what they say " X " is an unknown quantity and "spurt" is a drip under pressure.

Brownie

Happywanderer · The Master

The way I see it. I bought a new in house battery about a month ago. I've only done 350 - 400 ks since and some days haven't been out at all. By that reasoning my new battery would now be flat.

whiteman · Senior Member

Happywanderer...you must have more money than me, if you don`t know or have no system to check the charge would respectfully suggest that it would be a good idea to do so.......what say you ??

-- Edited by whiteman on Sunday 11th of September 2011 09:54:40 PM

Happywanderer · The Master

Not sure what thats got to do with a battery going flat. I didn't say it was flat. I said The way I would see it by your reckoning, it would have to be flat by now.
I wouldn't have enough money to drive around all day every day charging an inhouse battery. That doesn't make sense.

-- Edited by Happywanderer on Monday 12th of September 2011 09:55:28 AM

Dave83 · Senior Member

If a deep cycle battery needs to be plugged in 24/7 - my only thought would be is, what's the point of having a battery at all?

To keep it fully charged and maintain it's charge regularly is one thing - but constant power supply seems to be a bit of overkill

Vic · Guru

I don't know if my Coromal was the same, but it had a battery in a front hatch on one side of the van, and the charger was on the other side of the van. I may add that this onboard battery was only for the interior lights and the range hood exhaust fan, nothing else. I did not have my van plugged into power at home all the time, but would plug it in for a couple of days every couple of months at home on 240V, along with the fridge (turned on).

I would also give my A/C a run for about half an hour. I also did this before going away with the van. My Coromal did not have an isolating switch to the battery. Like CG says, the battery/fridge should if wired correctly run/be charged while driving, also when connected to 240V, switches automatically when connected between 12/240V.

My Jayco was the same, but did have an isolating switch to prevent discharge whicle parked up (with no isolating switch or disconnecting the battery, there is some discharge when not in use as it is still running current into the wiring even though not in use if that makes sense.)

With my campervan, it is a bit different, the auxillary battery (with charger) runs the fridge and lighting when driving and also when on 240V. Also water pump.
I usually put the van on charge every couple of months or just before going away although as I am using the van daily at home too I probably don't need to as the driving should do the job.

I am basing my comments on usage of said RV's, not as a Techo.

-- Edited by Vic on Sunday 11th of September 2011 11:52:03 PM

davkar · Senior Member

Hi
I have been told by several battery people a deep cycle battery should not be run down below 85% of its amp hours, type in charging for deep cycle batterys in google.
And to prolong life of battery charge only by pulse charging charger.

Regard

dazren · Guru

confuse I had a Avan Erin poptop bought new in 2004, had battery pack and charger under the bed, we would use the van around 5 or 6 times a year sometime for a couple of weeks, sometimes only a couple of days, when at home, i would check the charge indicator lights green for charge, amber for low, and red for near flat, Yet in the 7 years i had the van i reckon i only had to plug it in at home , maybe 4 times [ max ] before trading it last week, we were away for 6 days freecamping on the Murray, we only use it for the 12 volt lights, and the water pump, it was green light when we left home and still green light when we got back, So is this normal, or am i just lucky ??? as it was still the original battery [ 7 years ] Regards dazren

blaze · Guru

I reckon you as lucky dazren, IMO leave it connected to the mains, it wont use very much power and keep the battery in peak condition. I have a 190 watt solar panel permantly connected to mine van battery. ATM we are in a very shaded campsite and it went a week before needing charging (had no real sun over that week just sorta semi clear days.
cheers
blaze

dazren · Guru

Thanks blaze, i did not do a lot of home work on the battery set-up, because it always '' just worked'' However i have just bought a new Lotus 18'6'' so i had better delve a little deeper, as i do not want to stuff it up, So i may ring the battery manufacturer and also the smart charger people, thanks dazren

Vic · Guru

dazren wrote:
I had a Avan Erin poptop bought new in 2004, had battery pack and charger under the bed, we would use the van around 5 or 6 times a year sometime for a couple of weeks, sometimes only a couple of days, when at home, i would check the charge indicator lights green for charge, amber for low, and red for near flat, Yet in the 7 years i had the van i reckon i only had to plug it in at home , maybe 4 times [ max ] before trading it last week, we were away for 6 days freecamping on the Murray, we only use it for the 12 volt lights, and the water pump, it was green light when we left home and still green light when we got back, So is this normal, or am i just lucky ??? as it was still the original battery [ 7 years ] Regards dazren

Dazren, in addition to my other vans which I never had a failed battery on, I also had an A'Van Camper Trailer with an auxillary battery and charger, I had the same indicators as you and never had a problem with the battery in the 7 years I had it. It was a good quality sealed marine battery.

labrat · Member

G'day we have 2x120amp deep cycle batteries in the front boot that are charged by 3x120 solar panels on the roof and when free camping batteries are up to 13.8V by 10.00 -11.00 am on a good day ..If we have a few days of overcast weather we might have to run the generator for a couple of hours to top them up ..
The van is all 12V and because I use a CPAP machine it is important to have fully charged batteries at the start of the night ...
When at home and the caravan is covered by the caravan cover and the solar panels covered all I do is connect a 10W solar panel to the batteries and provided the batteries are fully charged ..13.8V before connecting the small panel and nothing is on in the van it has no problem maintaining the batteries at 13.8V even after 10 weeks of the main panels being covered ..Cheers ..BOB...

NeilandRaine · Guru

I am very confused by all this.
All I know is I went to an auto electrician and said put a battery pack in, (I was working then) It was set up with 2 deep cycle batteries and a C Tek charger also an Anderson Plug set up.
Now if I camp off road i can get about 3 days if Im carefull, the water pump and lights really suck the life out of batteries. When pluged into 240 it clicks over to the charger that controls and regulates the charge and when Im driving the batteries are charged from the car. It all cost about $2500. When I can afford solar panels the regulator on them will control the charge.
I am still confused.

Smokeydk · Guru

I have one Deep Cycle Battery.....using a 15amp CTek charger.....plus an anderson plug to vehicle.......when away.....only use it for lights and waterpump to sink......I have a solar panel....to keep it charged when away..........also have Amp/Volt guage to monitor it.

At home the van is on 240v...all the time...the CTek charger is on float mode so keeps the battery fully charged.....when on float...it draws next to nothing.

Very similar to Neils

ChiChi1 · Guru

I have not had to test my batteries yet. But I think they would last about 3 days before going too low. I have 2 75amp deep cycle and two 34amp solar panels. When I am at home with nothing turned on the solar panels keep the batteries charged. I believe even when no power is being used there is some leakage and the small amount from the solar takes care of it. However, what would I know? Son says I will be fine. My batteries are charged whilst driving along.

Happywanderer · The Master

You are not the only one whose confused NeilandRaine. The only way I have of charging my inhouse battery is by driving. I can't plug into the power as unit is too far from my carpark.
I've never been told that the mains power would charge my battery anyway. Didn't know the two were even connected.

SuburbanNomad · Veteran Member

Happywanderer,

The power component of RV's can be confusing for everyone. Here are a couple of facts that you can build on. All engine batteries are charged via the alternator on the engine, and do so slowly...

House batteries are also charged by the alternator .. very slowly.

All batteries can be slowly charged via solar panels, if you have them.

The only way you can charge batteries quickly as you drive is via a high amp alternator With a Smart Regulator. i.e 180 amp

On mains power, or a generator using a battery charger that has a smart regulator circuit will top your Batteries up as quickly as possible .

These regulators will add power to the battery at a high current level when the batteries are low, then slow the charging down near the final phase of the charge.

I recommend having a real battery meter installed that shows you the power reading, as opposed to the voltage reading of the battery.

http://www.outbackmarine.com.au/Xantrex-LinkPRO-Battery-Monitor.1806

-- Edited by SuburbanNomad on Monday 12th of September 2011 01:18:06 PM

blaze · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:
You are not the only one whose confused NeilandRaine. The only way I have of charging my inhouse battery is by driving. I can't plug into the power as unit is too far from my carpark.
I've never been told that the mains power would charge my battery anyway. Didn't know the two were even connected.

Yours most likely dosnt recharge from the mains HW, the newer ones maywell be set up to do that though

cheers

blaze

ps

Not absalutly nessary but nice to be able to do and in my opinion it will prolong battery life

Happywanderer · The Master

Popped around and had a chat with S.in.L. Explained it to me in Nana terms. Yes, you should if you can have the facilities to hook up to the power at home. Doesn't need to be 24/7 but does need to be done fairly regularly. He is buying a smart charger for his inhouse battery on the camper trailer to do just that. He will also have a generator, which I won't have.
He suggested it would be a good idea to get myself a good smart charger and have it connected to the battery so anytime I am near mains power I can plug it in there and charge the inhouse battery from that. Otherwise its just the inhouse battery being charged while I'm driving in the main.

Cruising Granny · Guru

As with most batteries, we fill 'em up, we run them down and we fill 'em up again.
That's where the charger comes in, or you go for a drive to your next destination, or you use the solar panels.
Deep cycle batteries need to be charged and used to remain active. Truck and car batteries work differently, but on similar principle.
My deep cycle battery died because I failed to keep the charger turned on. The charger was self-regulating. Charge when needed.
Stop when battery was charged up. I actually had a malfunction in the charger, but I've not followed it up because I haven't been on the road much.
When I do I have to get a new battery and sort the charger out. It's all relative.
I recommend you talk to an auto-electrician to get the facts.
Bottom line is batteries have to be used and charged etc. Eventually they will reach their "use-by" date and collapse, maybe after 2 years, or less in the tropics.
Have it tested when you visit the auto electrician.

Dave83 · Senior Member

On the point of charging ONLY from the vehicle alternator (ie, while driving) - just keep in mind that a car alternator was never built to charge more than one battery, and certainly not a deep cycle battery. That's not to say that an alternator can't do it, but as others have said - it will do so very, very slowly.

Happy Wanderer - definitely look into a smart charger. I have a CTEK and love it. They vary wildly in cost depending on who you purchase from, but there is an ebay shop called 4wdextreme (from memory) who do very good prices. The point of a smart charger (as has been said before) is that not only do they charge the battery, but they help to maintain it as well.

I have seen "smart" pulse chargers at Super Cheap at very reasonable prices - but I have no idea about their quality. My first thought would be that you would probably end up getting what you pay for.

denninelli · Veteran Member

I've had a look at both the battery and the stuff that is in a little door at the front of the van, driver's side.

Written on the side of a small black box is WALKI ELECTRONICS. Above that is a series of 6 or 8 fuses. There is an ON/OFF switch at the side which is set to ON. The black box is warm, but not hot. I will try to attach a photo.

The battery is in the centre front of the van, in between tha bars of the A frame. It has a white cover over a black battery sized cover. Written on the battery-- Supreme Deep Cycle Batteries 27DC-36 12 Volts 175 An 170 RC-Mi something. I'm guessing that it is the original battery for the van which woud make it almost 3 years old. It certainly does not look new.