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Hi

A lot of sites offer charging, in days gone by we have taken the battery off and left it in their shed / barn while we were out for the day. Now we have EHU it charges all the time.  If they don't offer to charge where you are staying you could always take your own charger and ask if they will plug it in for you. You never know they may even do it for free!

Firstly you need to define the difference between the two types of batteries as the charge output from an alternator to the engine compartment battery is too great to charge a leisure battery due to the fact that each battery is designed and constructed differently therefore the fuse ratings would differ for a start. A leisure battery only requires a trickle charge otherwise the excess flow rate will eventually shorten the life of the leisure battery to which a specific smart charger is manufactured specifically for charging marine and leisure batteries. This means that the leisure battery needs to charged via a different source such as a solar panel, generator or 240 volt mains electric hook up direct to the onbord charger or independently via a smart charger. The link below has information on batteries that you may find helpful.

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

Your motorhome should have a split charge system installed from new, this enables the fiat's alternator to charge the vehicle battery,  the leisure battery, plus power the fridge/freezer whilst the engine is running. Once the engine is turned off it will then require a EHU connection or solar panels if fitted to continue charging the battery.

The latest leisure batteries are starter batteries as well Just look online and read up.

The days where a leisure was not for starting engines has gone by most will say Starter leisure battery and they CAN be charged by a vehicle battery and on an alternator FAST. I also KNOW this is OK because O fitted one in my boat for starting plus leisure. It was a yacht so no worries.

Look at Alpha Batteries online and e-bay. Look for leisure batteries and see Alpha listed. Buy a Lucas the same battery badges Alpha.

I have a cig lighter socket in my boot and I charge through that as I drive BUT it’s a very low charge rate. Use your multimeter with motor running to see the rate.. Not to be sniffed at. Jump leads from your car to your caravan battery will charge it BUT what an expensive and noisy way to charge! Generators are from 69 pounds BUT nasty things for running TVs on. Unless its an inverter type but they cost money. 100 pounds will get you an old but GOOD Honda EX650 Super quiet great for TV and computers and will charge a 6 or 8 amps Increase this by plugging in a mains charger at a bigger rate. BUT its is true that a slower charge is always better.

There will be people out there to say I am talking rubbish BUT the new batteries ARE starter batteries as well Ring Alpha Batteries and chat to the people that sell thousands and they know all about them.

One more thing BUY a calcium battery. One with calcium technology. They also have Glass fibre separators and are the Duracell of batteries.

It will last 3 times longer if you run a Low wattage TV from 16 watts consumption on a 16 inch and use LED bulbs because you can run 3 to 8 of them for the same power drain of just One Halogen.

For those that don’t agree go online and read up on the starter leisure batteries. Alpha has them from 56 pounds for an 88 amp and 72 pounds for 100 amps. Plus a 3 to 5 year guarantee.