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Subject Topic: Charging Caravan Battery Post Reply Post New Topic
28/5/2015 at 3:58pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
View azz1951's Profile View Profile   Reply to azz1951 Reply   Quote azz1951 Quote  
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New to caravanning so please excuse the simple question! When towing, I understand that the car battery will charge the caravan's leisure battery. Under the front seat there is a main isolation switch that turns everything off. Do I need to switch this on in order for the leisure battery to charge and the fridge to work off the car electrics when towing?


28/5/2015 at 11:20pm
 Location: Cumbria
 Outfit: Bailey Pageant S7 Burgundy
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No leave the switch off. Switch the fridge to battery or 12V. I am assuming your towbar is wired to supply the fridge? The charging will only charge whilst the car's engine is running. Not very efficient so I recommend you pack fridge with cold boxes.

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Graham


29/5/2015 at 10:35am
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
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The charging source comes from the vehicle's alternator actually and not from the battery as the charging circuits are independent. That's why modern vehicles require a dedicated towing wiring loom rather than the basic connections because the vehicles computer detects a secondary battery and will increase the charge output accordingly to charge both the car and caravan battery when the engine is running. Modern vehicles have a can-bus system which the computer sends and receives messages in milliseconds and reacts to any changes within the electric system therefore when the towing plug is disconnected this is then registered with the vehicles onboard computer, eliminates the extra charge required and resets the charge back to default.
Regarding the switch, there should a CAR/VAN switch which needs to be on CAR when plugged in and towing, switched to neutral prior to removing the towing plug then switched to VAN afterwards to receive power from the leisure battery.


01/6/2015 at 7:43am
 Location: Blackpool
 Outfit: Elddis Supreme
View AVON EAGLE's Profile View Profile   Reply to AVON EAGLE Reply   Quote AVON EAGLE Quote  
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Is there any way we can charge the caravan battery from the car without running the engine. We are away for 3 nights without electric - I thought that if I plugged in the 13 pin socket overnight - that would recharge the battery in the van.


01/6/2015 at 10:14am
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
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Quote: Originally posted by AVON EAGLE on 01/6/2015
Is there any way we can charge the caravan battery from the car without running the engine. We are away for 3 nights without electric - I thought that if I plugged in the 13 pin socket overnight - that would recharge the battery in the van.



The car won't supply any electrics to the caravan via the tow plug unless the engine is actually running even if just the ignition is switched on as the circuit is specifically designed not to drain the vehicle battery.
The only solution really is to either use a solar panel or generator to recharge the caravan's leisure battery as the use of an inverter will also drain the vehicle's battery quite rapidly.




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01/6/2015 at 11:21pm
 Location: North Lincolnshire
 Outfit: Bailey Pegasus Bologna Volvo XC90
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If you are away for 3 nights your battery should be fine dependent upon what you are running. I now have a solar panel but managed 3 nights no problems prior to this just running lights and water pump.



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