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It is advisable not to use a car battery charger as a car battery and leisure battery are manufactured differently so you need the appropriate charger specifically designed for charging a leisure battery which is called a smart charger which charges in 4 stages at supplying the correct amount of amperage required. A leisure battery has more internal lead plates than a car battery but much thinner whereas a car battery has less lead plates but thicker. This means that due to the thickness of the lead plates the thinner one will warp quicker if too much heat is applied that is the reason why you need the right charger. Below is a link of the type of 4 stage battery charger that you need you to use and you can leave it on 24/7 which is giving you what is called a float charge which is a very small trickle charge just to keep the battery fully charged. I use a very similar one made by Durite and can recommend them for charging leisure batteries.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-Multi-Functional-4-Stage-Battery-Charger/dp/B004TLF4PC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339579690&sr=8-1

Also if you read the information below it will explain more in detail about leisure batteries.

http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/helpandadvice/technicalhelp/power/your-leisure-battery/

I use this one from Halfords as it will charge car & Leisure batteries.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_815387_categoryId_255205_langId_-1?cm_sp=Intelligent_Offer-_-Product_List_Zone_1-_-Blank&iozone=PLPz1

pieface

I've just bought a CTek one - not the cheapest but I decided it was worthwhile to keep the battery in decent order over the winter.

Glen

Quote: Originally posted by Bridgelayer on 13/6/2012

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What is the chance of charging a leisure battery using leads from the car (with the engine running - driver with the car), or what are the dangers or costs involved?

Being new to this technological world of camping is the reason for asking.

Thanks.

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Not recommended at all for the simple reason that the charge feed is not being controlled in any way plus the amp input would be too excessive for a leisure battery. When the charge is being input from the car alternator to the car battery there are devices within the alternator such as a regulator and diodes etc. that control the feed to the car battery but battery jump leads are only supposed to be used in an emergency and used from one car battery to another merely just to get the car started due to a flat battery. To charge direct from a car battery to a leisure battery could possibly cause some damage but if you read the information in the link on my previous post it fully explains how a car battery differs to a leisure battery so a mix of the two types of batteries are best avoided.