check out the new remote control Jockey Wheel SmartBar Canegrowers rearview170 Cobb Grill Skid Row Recovery Gear Caravan Industry Association of Australia
Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: Advice on charging caravan batteries whilst in transit.


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 372
Date:
Advice on charging caravan batteries whilst in transit.


I will be using an Iveco Daily E6 van as a prime mover when i hit the road.

I have a question for the more tech savy and experienced people in here.

The van specs bellow are for the electrical system.

 

 Type: 12V Battery: 12V110 Ah (Smart-charging) Smart Alternator: 12V220 A Trailer: Wiring to rear of chassis

 

Q: Do i need to add a DC-DC charger to charge the caravan batteries when transiting between stops?

I am having twin 110 AH lipo batteries fitted. The caravan willl have 2x 170 W solar pannels.

I will be doing mostly free camping, so i need to utiliese what power imputs i have available.

There will also be a 2.2 KV generator installed as well.

 

 



__________________

Graham Day.

Not all those who wander are lost.



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1933
Date:

Hi Graham biggrin

From what i see in your specs, yes you do need a DC-DC charger. In fact you need the biggest amps one you can get to be able to recharge 220Ahr in a reasonable time. winkEG if you only had a 20A unit it would take 6 hours driving to recharge half that capacity again if they were half flat. 

If it was mine I would be backing it up with double or more solar also and get free power while the sun shines driving or stopped. biggrin

Jaahn 



__________________


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 372
Date:

I don't think i will ever fully charge them while i am driving, i just wanted to know if i needed a DC-DC charger to do the job.

I will get it fitted by an electrician before i put the van into service and ready to hit the road.

I will see how i go, and if i need to. i can always use portable solar panels as an add on?.

 

 



__________________

Graham Day.

Not all those who wander are lost.



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 7316
Date:

If you have a caravan I would use a DC-DC charger. 

Stick your multimeter on the starter battery while the engine is running, should be close to 14.4 volts & then on the caravan battery still while the engine is running. If the voltage is less than 13.7 volts get a DC-DC charger.



__________________

Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

50L custom fuel rack 6x20W 100/20mppt 4x26Ah gel 28L super insulated fridge TPMS 3 ARB compressors heatsink fan cooled 4L tank aftercooler Air/water OCD cleaning 4 stage car acoustic insulation.



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 7316
Date:

gdayjr wrote:

There will also be a 2.2 KV generator installed as well.


 Most generators have a pretty pathetic DC charger. Better to get a decent 240v to 12v charger & plug that into the generator.



__________________

Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

50L custom fuel rack 6x20W 100/20mppt 4x26Ah gel 28L super insulated fridge TPMS 3 ARB compressors heatsink fan cooled 4L tank aftercooler Air/water OCD cleaning 4 stage car acoustic insulation.



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 7640
Date:

Get Atleast a 30 amp charger . I fitted a smart 50 amp . The generator doesnt run very long before we have charged batteries on bad days . Most the time its charging much less amps being 7 stage smart !! Generators normally just supply 12v not really for charging !!

__________________
Whats out there
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us
Purchase Grey Nomad bumper stickers Read our daily column, the Nomad News The Grey Nomad's Guidebook