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Subject Topic: Charging leisure from car Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonSHANTY SINGER
via mobile 03/10/2024 at 11:42am
 Location: walton on the naze e
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Hi all. I'm going for a few days in caravan off grid which I haven't done before, we only ever gone EHU. If my caravan battery needs recharging can I use jump leads from my car. Any advice would gratefully received. Mick.


Personmarg6
03/10/2024 at 12:28pm
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yes you can do that, but doubt you will need to if only for a few days away


Person664DaveS
via mobile 03/10/2024 at 12:32pm
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No. Your car may be wired to charge the battery when the engine is running so it should top it up on your journey.

The original 7 pin set up used to have a 12v feed from the car to the van but older vans didn't have leisure batteries! Our first couple of vans didn't so I fitted one.
You don't want to flatten your car battery!

If you charge your battery fully it should last a few days or more depending on it's capacity and condition, as well as what you use.
Your fridge and heating will be on gas.

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DS-There's more to life than football!!!


Personmarg6
03/10/2024 at 1:15pm
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Quote: Originally posted by 664DaveS on 03/10/2024
No. Your car may be wired to charge the battery when the engine is running so it should top it up on your journey.

The original 7 pin set up used to have a 12v feed from the car to the van but older vans didn't have leisure batteries! Our first couple of vans didn't so I fitted one.
You don't want to flatten your car battery!

If you charge your battery fully it should last a few days or more depending on it's capacity and condition, as well as what you use.
Your fridge and heating will be on gas.


those of us that do go off grid regularly, what do you think we charge the batteries back up with? just connect the leisure battery with the jump leads to the car battery once the engine is running, it can take quite a while tho the better alternative is to get a solar panel and have that on the leisure battery as soon as you arrive and be topping up rather than charging from dead


PersonColin21
03/10/2024 at 1:23pm
 Location: East Herts
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As a last resort if your leisure battery does go flat you can connect it to the car using jump-leads, but only do it when the engine is running or you will end up with two flat batteries!


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Best Regards,
Colin


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PersonSHANTY SINGER
via mobile 03/10/2024 at 1:28pm
 Location: walton on the naze e
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Yes Dave S. Many thanks for your reply. I know I'd have to keep the engine going but just checking if caravan starts to go flat can I top it up with jump leads. But only if necessary. It wouldn't be a full charge. Cheers.


PersonFiona W
via mobile 03/10/2024 at 1:54pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 03/10/2024
As a last resort if your leisure battery does go flat you can connect it to the car using jump-leads, but only do it when the engine is running or you will end up with two flat batteries!



A running engine sounds like a good way to irritate close neighbours - based on my neighbours doing it on a winter morning at 0600 to warm up their car. But fine if you’re on own, of course.
I’ve seen a number of fold-out solar panels on sites this year, often outside campervans on non EHU pitches. Doesn’t use diesel or petrol either…


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2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.


PersonColin21
03/10/2024 at 2:05pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by 664DaveS on 03/10/2024

The original 7 pin set up used to have a 12v feed from the car to the van but older vans didn't have leisure batteries! Our first couple of vans didn't so I fitted one.
You don't want to flatten your car battery!



Exactly the same for me, our first two caravans didn't have any internal electrics at all, they had gas lights. Water had to be carried in a big plastic bottle and tipped into the sink to use it, until I fitted an electric pump, operated by a push-button, and a water spout. I also fitted a couple of 12 volt lights as I got fed up with keep changing mantles!

I rigged a split-charge system from the car, a Mk2 Cortina, and I thought I had invented it until I saw them on sale years later.


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


PersonAncient Uncle
via mobile 03/10/2024 at 4:18pm
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Ah yes, Colin. Reminds me of our trailer tent when we first started. I fitted a spout over the sink and a bell push to activate a pump in the small water bottle outside. We considered that a great luxury. Eventually we even bought a heater that screwed into a camping gaz bottle so we were even able to have a bit of warmth of an evening.


Person664DaveS
via mobile 03/10/2024 at 4:52pm
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Our first van a Monza had the gas lights.They did keep,the van a bit warm but the mantles were fragile and often broke during the journey but we carried spares.
I fitted a gas and 12v fridge myself, which necessitated fitting the second socket and fridge relay etc to the car.
I then got a secondhand car battery and stuck it under the front bench in a wooden frame!
In those days sites would often charge a battery for you for a small fee.
Water was cold only operated by a footpump.
It was a good little van which we enjoyed, even taking it to Germany. Better than tenting which we used to do!
We went to a CL once off grid, our battery lasted a week easily. That was an Abbey GTS. No solar panels then.


Post last edited on 03/10/2024 16:56:11

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DS-There's more to life than football!!!


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PersonColin21
03/10/2024 at 5:38pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
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Our first two vans were both Sprites. First an Alpine, then a Musketeer. This was back in the 1970s and 1980s, but they were both quite old then. We used to tour more in those days rather than staying for a week or more in one place like we do today, and every time we moved we had to replace the gas mantles because they had fallen to bits on the journey. Always carried loads of spares. Didn't have a fridge as we couldn't afford one, and there was no room for one anyway. No onboard toilet either, as we used the tiny compartment as a cupboard.

Our "leisure battery" was an old car battery too, but it lasted ok as every time we moved it got a charge from the car.

We enjoyed ourselves, a family of 5 when we had the Musketeer, and we also had our two dogs with us. Very cheap way to have a holiday back then as all we paid for anywhere was a pitch. No extras whatsoever, anywhere!

We started with a tent for just the two of us, then with our first as a baby, but we then bought a caravan as it seemed so much easier, particularly when a second girl came along. They are now 44 and 49, and don't seem to have followed in our camping ways, although they enjoyed themselves as kids.


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Best Regards,
Colin



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