Home

   Log in or Register



Insurance Quotes
forums Campsite Search Comp Directory tips virtual brochure Profile
Tent and Awning Reviews Competitions Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Shopping Diary Advent Calendar

Advertisement

Message Forums
Welcome Guest Register Login Search The Forum Posts Since Last Visit
 Reception - All Forums
  Motorhomes and Campervans 		Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: Leisure battery over winter Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonMick Jennings
24/1/2021 at 3:57pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Wellhouse i800 View Mick Jennings's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mick Jennings Reply   Quote Mick Jennings Quote  
Joined: 16/5/2020

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   8
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
I have my camper parked on the drive and obviously its not being used at the moment. I am getting a new leisure battery soon as my old one is dead. My question is ... Is it ok to have the van on EHU all the time when stored, i,e using the onboard hookup/charger. Or does this wreck the battery by over charging it.
Should i just connect the EHU say once a month to top everything up. Also if I am using the van for daytrips running fridge etc, should I keep it on charge betwwen trips or leave it a couple of times.
Hope this makes sense!!


Personsaxo1
24/1/2021 at 4:14pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View saxo1's Profile View Profile   Reply to saxo1 Reply   Quote saxo1 Quote  
Joined: 29/10/2005

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   4485
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
It depends entirely on the charger.
If it is a smart charger in the camper then you can leave it on indefinitely,
The leisure battery in my caravan was plugged in 24/7 all year and it was still going strong after 12 years.
saxo1


Campervan and Motorhome Insurance - Special Discount for UKCampsite.co.uk members
Caravan Guard Special Discount for UKCampsite.co.uk members on Campervan and Motorhome Insurance. Get 5 star rated cover and big savings - for a quote simply click Online Quotation

PersonColin21
24/1/2021 at 6:17pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
Joined: 05/11/2013

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   6270
Site Reviews Total: 18
Site Reviews 2024: 1  
Site Reviews 2023: 1  
Site Reviews 2022: 2  
Site Reviews 2021: 2  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 2  
Site Reviews 2018: 3  
Site Nights 2024: 7
Site Nights 2023: 8
Site Nights 2022: 12
Site Nights 2021: 18
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 21
Site Nights 2018: 18
My caravan is stored on my driveway, and in wintertime I take the leisure battery off and bring it inside where I can put my smart-charger on it. I don't leave it permanently connected, although I could, I just give it a charge for a few hours every now and then. I have done this for some years now and the batteries seem just fine doing that. My charger is one of the Aldi ones.



-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


Persontango55
24/1/2021 at 6:43pm
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450 View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
Joined: 15/5/2008

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   9587
Site Reviews Total: 23
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 3  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 4  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 11
Site Nights 2021: 3
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 24
Site Nights 2018: 0
You can leave the van connected to the mains to charge the leisure battery via the onboard charger without any issues regarding over-charging but the onboard charger only charges to around 80% of the battery capacity which in the long term shortens the life of the battery. The solution to get maximum performance from the battery is to remove the battery and charge it independently via a smart charger which is more sophisticated as it is designed to charges in stages and monitors the charge in progress. The percentage of the battery capacity is then higher which then reaches the float charge so you can leave the battery connected and switched on 24/7 without any issues therefore maximum life of the leisure battery is achieved. My leisure battery is now on it's 10th year charging via the smart charger method whereas before I was only getting about 3 years from a battery so well worth the investment.   


Personsaxo1
via mobile 24/1/2021 at 7:56pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View saxo1's Profile View Profile   Reply to saxo1 Reply   Quote saxo1 Quote  
Joined: 29/10/2005

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   4485
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
The charger in my van was a smart charger and kept my battery fully charged as I posted it was still OK after 12+ years.
The van was a Burstner with a German charger.
Saxo1


Advertisement



PersonMick Jennings
25/1/2021 at 1:05pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Wellhouse i800 View Mick Jennings's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mick Jennings Reply   Quote Mick Jennings Quote  
Joined: 16/5/2020

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   8
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Thanks for the advice.
To get the leisure battery out is a bit of a faff due to its location( i need to remove a side panel from the kitchen unit behind the drivers seat), and hopefully next winter we will be more able to travel so I would like to be able to leave it in place.
Would it be ok to leave it connected up to the van system but use a separate smart charger via clips when I get home between daytrips/odd overnights etc. Obviously I wouldn't use any EHU at those times. I have a maypole 4amp smart charger on order.


PersonColin21
25/1/2021 at 1:34pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
Joined: 05/11/2013

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   6270
Site Reviews Total: 18
Site Reviews 2024: 1  
Site Reviews 2023: 1  
Site Reviews 2022: 2  
Site Reviews 2021: 2  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 2  
Site Reviews 2018: 3  
Site Nights 2024: 7
Site Nights 2023: 8
Site Nights 2022: 12
Site Nights 2021: 18
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 21
Site Nights 2018: 18
If you do decide to do that Mick, it might be as well to connect the smart charger directly onto the battery terminals and turn off the battery isolator switch if you have one. That will protect any electronics that may be installed.


-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


PersonPaul_B
26/1/2021 at 9:29am
 Location: Yorkshire
 Outfit: Car & Caravan View Paul_B's Profile View Profile   Reply to Paul_B Reply   Quote Paul_B Quote  
Joined: 24/9/2004

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   824
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
I leave my caravan on the mains charger over winter as the solar panels don't get enough sunlight, this battery is 5 years old, the last one died at 11 years.


PersonHency
26/1/2021 at 4:05pm
 Location: Nottingham
 Outfit: Swift Sundance View Hency's Profile View Profile   Reply to Hency Reply   Quote Hency Quote  
Joined: 03/6/2015

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   58
Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Mick, do your research when considering buying the leisure battery. There's quite a lot of brands all claiming to be the best. Decide which one you want then look for who sells it the cheapest.


Personjim oldham
27/1/2021 at 10:29am
 Location: Wigan
 Outfit: VWSharan. Sport 442. View jim oldham's Profile View Profile   Reply to jim oldham Reply   Quote jim oldham Quote  
Joined: 03/10/2004

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1431
Site Reviews Total: 2
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Scroll down on these posts to see my comment on a Yuasa battery.

https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=31&TopicID=........


Advertisement



woodman2
27/1/2021 at 4:17pm
 Location: 
 Outfit:  View woodman2's Profile View Profile   Reply to woodman2 Reply   Quote woodman2 Quote  
Joined: 17/12/2014

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   735
Site Reviews Total: 13
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 1  
Site Reviews 2019: 1  
Site Reviews 2018: 6  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 7
Site Nights 2019: 5
Site Nights 2018: 6
I asked Coachman about this very point and was advised that the charger within my caravan is a smart charger and it was OK to leave it connected to the mains 24/7.

I suggest you do the same with your camper and ask the manufacturer.



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Motorhomes and Campervans - Top of Page

Printer Friendly Version Printable version      Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...

9534 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Recommend to Friend  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Shop!]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Contact Us]  [Tent Reviews] 



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024


Advertisement
Advertisement


UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar

Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder