HI all:) Recently bought a Goldstream Shaphire Carava 2001 model.
It came with what appears to a over size 12 volt battery charger. It is used to run the 12v lights when on on town supply and charge batteries. The van does not have 240 volt lighting only 12v. The charger does not monitor the state of the batteries it keeps pumping the power in. My question is what chargers are others are using. There has got to be some thing better that monitors the state of batteries and only charges what battery needs. Hope that makes sense. thanks for any replies.
I have a 2007 caravan which has a battery pack which runs all the lighting in the caravan , I was told when towing the tug is recharging the batterys when hooked up to 240 power the power is charging the battery. I beleive it is doing it's job has for the past 5 years every time we have turned the light it has worked if it at some stage it dosen't work I will get my Auto electrician to fix it I might be slack but I have more thing to think about then checking what my charger is doing when my light are working And even slacker I don't know the brand but it must be good
If the "charger" is a Centurion, it only trickle charges the battery. Running the tug engine does charge the battery but if the only connection is through the seven or twelve pin plug, the battery will charge slowly and not fully. I'd suggest getting an Anderson plug with heavy duty wiring from a battery isolator. In the van have something like a CTEK charger connected to the battery from the Anderson plug. The CETK Multi XS 3600 will monitor the battery, charge it fully and switch back to trickle charge automatically.
I have a CTek charger that can be used to supply 12 Volts in a supply mode.My rig had an older 7.5 amp one which died and was replaced by a 10.5 amp one under warranty.
It is connected 24/7 when I have 240 Volt power and runs the fridge.
Cost around $216 on ebay from an Australian company.It has enough to run the fridge and the lights and TV on supply mode.
Not cheap but it is supposed to not damage your batteries at all ,in fact they claim it may extend the life of your battery.Also conditions your batteries and works on Deep Cycle/lead acid/AGM etc.
I can only say mine works well and I have had no problems.
The old one died at eight years of age so not that expensive in the scheme of things.
Check them out online and see the best one to suit your van.
It may be fitted with a Hybralec model HLBC 13825 (25 amp) "Smart" Charger (note the inverted commas). My 2002 Goldstream Goldcrown was fitted with one of these when I purchased it (2nd hand 4 years ago) and observed the same thing as you.
I replaced it with a Xantrex TC10 10 amp unit that does an excellent job. I was able to purchase the Xantrex from a retailer for nearly one third the normal price as it was new but "shop-soiled" and missing the manual and the battery leads. I now use the Hybralec from time to time as a back-up charger. The Hybralec will also function as a stand alone power supply without a battery being connected.
I also have owned two Ctek chargers for many years and I can endorse the comments from others recommending them.
