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Hello Eddie

You may well be right thinking that you will be ok for a couple of nights without hookup.

However...

While not an expert, I understand that there may problems using a bench charger on site.  I have read that these chargers can cause gassing and this can be dangerous if you charge while still in a locker or box.  I belive that a good multi - stage charger would be ok in that situation and would give a greatly increased charge than your bench charger..  But please confirm with someone else first. 

You don't though mention split charging.  If you are intending to use split charging, the full charge of you leisure battery would be dragged down to that of your starter as soon as you strarted driving.

Hopefully one of our resident experts will be along shortly to explain and advise further.  One thing I have learned is that though the basics of van electrics are simple,  once you scrath the surface they can become very complex.

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Steven 

Hi,

Thanks for the replies. I wasn't going to connect up the vehicle and living area 12v systems.. Take the point about gassing.. 

The cab alarm doesn't seem to drain the vehicle battery at all after a few weeks of non-use. No alarm in the back, which is separate.

The cheapest charger I've found locally was over £80, which seems a bit steep.. Mind you, EVERYTHING is dear where I live!

I think Sterling do a buget 3 stage charger for about £50.  I have heard it highly recomended.  I will look for the link.

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Steven

Steven

I'm no expert but I think you'll find that the battery will produce gas no matter how it's charged, and as such all leisure batteries should be vented.

Your 'car' battery lives under the bonnet, so any gas produced will dissipate into the atmosphere without build-up but the leisure battery usually lives inside the vehicle and should therefore have a vent pipe leading from it to allow the gas to be exhausted outside.

Based on the above information, I would suggest that the type of charger isn't really relevant, but then as I said... I'm no expert.

Good luck

Phil

Thanks for the latest posts, people. I've ordered a charger from JG Tech as it was £39 inc vat & carriage.. Just hope it's suitable! Nothing much to work, though, a couple of lights and the ignition and controls for the space & water heaters, 1.1 amp and 0.7 amps. Not exactly a big drain. Thanks, Phil, good point, I will run the vent outside..

Ed

Hi Phil,

 you are correct its a feature of charging, which is a chemical reaction, people often mix up gassing with boiling the electrolyte off, this is a feature of charging rapidly it produces heat which steams off some of the electrolyte,

I prefer the better charging ie a good 3+ stage charger will get the battery too 100% charged and far faster, A sterling is a good onsite power supply too.

Ordinary chargers should not be used as power supplies.

Thank for the correction Phil and George.  A little knowlage is a dangerous thing eh.  ;-)

btw, I was not dismissing the need for the normal exterrnal venting of the leisure battery.  I was though suggesting that with the usual venting, charging via a 3 stage might be safe, whereas via a normal bench charger it would not be.

Could someone clarify that for me (and Ed) please?

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Steven 

Hi George,

I see you've built your own motorhome. I've been getting a little worried after reading another thread on this forum whether we would have trouble staying on some sites, not having a 'proper' £25,000 to £100,000 motorhome. Instead we have an £18,000 horsebox/motorhome, the shell converted from a glassfibre van body by the body maker. Although it looks like a motorhome (we get waved at all the time..), the ramp on the nearside rather gives it away! The thread expressed that some clubs and sites don't allow 'conversions' .. Had any experiences along those lines? Not suggesting yours is neccesarily a van conversion, but maybe it doesn't have a 'proper' makers nameplate on it either.. We've been members of the CC for a few years and assumed we wouldn't have a problem, but I now have doubts..

Hi

I and loads of family and friends have used selfbuilds from basic to very good Jobs on Vans buses and lorries and we have never had trouble on commercial sites or any other site, we have not used CC or CCC sites

Steve

I didnt correct you just added some more meat to what you and phil said.

Hi roi

You are correct a GEL battery needs a lower voltage to charge it.

just got the Michelles legs reference, but what was the picture for ? and which legs are yours lol