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Subject Topic: HELP - novice Abbey battery problem Post Reply Post New Topic
Personnoobcamp
30/9/2015 at 2:31pm
 Location: Essex
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Hi there, hope someone can help me?

i'm new to caravanning, and have bought a 2007 Abbey vogue. I'm really confused how to charge the battery and I've think I've already broken one battery!!

So its parked up at my home and connected to the mains electric to the socket next to to the leisure battery. Inside there's a rocker switch which can go from car-neutral-van and I have a separate switch set to battery charges on.

My question is which position should the rocker switch me in to keep the leisure battery topped up? My instinct is for it to be in the neutral position, but the manuals a bit vague!

All advice greatly appreciated, Thankyou

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I'm new to all this...be kind!


PersonAVON EAGLE
30/9/2015 at 3:32pm
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Buy a cheap multi meter - (Cost about £10) Connect it to the battery on the 20 volt DC setting. Then check the battery with the switch in all 3 positions.


Personjanus
30/9/2015 at 4:44pm
 Location: Rochdale
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The manual is a bit vague and to be honest it matters little where you put the switch when on hook up at home. What should happen is that with the switch on van the 12v is provided by the caravan battery, when in the middle the 12v should be switched off and when on car the caravan 12v is supplied from the car battery. When on hook up with the charger switched on the battery will charge wherever the switch is set. Some people say keep the van plugged in to keep the battery topped up. I have never done this. When at home I make sure my battery is charged, then turn off the electrics and leave till we need it again, but whatever I charge it every 3 months. Next time my battery will get a charge will be at Christmas when we want the fridge for overflow. Oh yes, my most recent battery is 13 years old.

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Bill

For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013

Mondeo Titanium 140 tdci


Personold chap
30/9/2015 at 5:40pm
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as said the rocker switch allows you to either use the car battery , or the caravan battery the center position switches off the 12v supply you may have a duff charger unit. If you have a voltage/battery condition meter in the van you can check whether the charger is working by watching the meter while switching on & off the EHU.
with the EHU off & the rocker set to caravan the meter should show just over 12.8v for a fully charged battery 12v is a flat battery , & 13.8v when you switch on the EHU
shows the charger is working.
how ever most caravan chargers do not charge a battery fully,only to about 80% so it is better to fully charge the battery with a smart charger at least every couple of months


Personnoobcamp
01/10/2015 at 10:21am
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Thank you so much for the advice, it's really appreciated.   Any advice on a decent battery charger? I'm going to take your advice and charge it every 3 months!

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I'm new to all this...be kind!


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Personjanus
01/10/2015 at 1:13pm
 Location: Rochdale
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Quote: Originally posted by noobcamp on 01/10/2015
Thank you so much for the advice, it's really appreciated.   Any advice on a decent battery charger? I'm going to take your advice and charge it every 3 months!


I bought a battery charger from Argos years ago. I do not suppose it is very smart but charging for 24 hours every three months seems to do the trick for me.
There is a thread started today saying that Lidl have their battery charger on sale today, it is a very well thought of piece of kit.

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Bill

For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013

Mondeo Titanium 140 tdci


Personamara 520
01/10/2015 at 7:58pm
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Quote: Originally posted by noobcamp on 01/10/2015
Thank you so much for the advice, it's really appreciated.   Any advice on a decent battery charger? I'm going to take your advice and charge it every 3 months!


offer at Lidl 1st October
http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-2491.htm?action=showDetail&id=27134


PersonApuljackEngineering
09/10/2015 at 9:31pm
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noobcamp

The switch is simply to select which battery is connected to your van loads. On car the car battery provides the power and on Van the leisure battery does. In the midddle, neither do. The Charger is dirrectly connected to the loads. This means:-

With charger off switch the switch to VAN to power your 12V
With the charger on and switch in the middle the 12V comes on automatically but the leisure battery is not connected so no charging.
With the charger on and switch in the VAN position the 12V comes on automatically and the leisure battery is not connected to gets charged.

If you have issues with your charger then we have repaired 1000's of these types of things. Give us a call or email.


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Regards

Paul Wright
BSc MEng PGDip CEng MIET
Chartered Electronics Engineer
Apuljack Engineering


VangoMan02
09/10/2015 at 10:29pm
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I have a CTEK.5 smart charger and remove battery when not being used and charge it using the CTEK.
If not using van over the winter months I stick the battery on a charge once a month.

Post last edited on 09/10/2015 23:41:42

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It is a wise man who has something to say.
It is a fool who has to say something.



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