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Topic: HELP!! Abbey battery novice question!

noobcamp

30/9/2015 at 2:30pm
Location: Essex
Outfit: None Entered

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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

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

Whimp

30/9/2015 at 3:09pm
Location: Bedfordshire
Outfit: Wynnster Dragonfly2 Atakama 5

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Some say that neutral on some vans just feeds the fridge and battery, but common sense would dictate that neutral is to isolate all electrics for when parked up, so the only connections would be battery to fridge.

Switched to Car, charges from the car circuit whilst switching to Van would presumably charge if just plugged into the van.

You should have a charge indicator which will confirm this.

BiIIy

30/9/2015 at 4:57pm
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Put a volt meter across battery terminal with mains off. should read about 12.5 volts for fully charged battery off charge. Then switch on or plug in mains cable, if charger is working voltage will jump to well over 13v up to 14v.

Isleworth

21/10/2015 at 12:31pm
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Hivan position is when on mains car is when towing. Hopethis helps

DaveS1

22/10/2015 at 11:54am
Location: Hatfield Peverel Essex
Outfit: Ace Supreme Twinstar Disco 3

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There always seems to be some confusion about the car/caravan switch.
This switch has no effect at all on whether or not the battery is being charged. The battery will charge from the car or the mains charger provided the car has the appropriate wiring and/or the mains charger is switched on regardless of the position of the switch.
The car/caravan switch only controls from where the 12 volt circuit is sourced.
Move the switch to the 'caravan' position and 12 volt will be obtained from the caravan battery : move it to 'car' and 12 volts will be obtained from the car battery provided the car is hitched up and electrically connected.
Obviously the latter should only be used rarely because you risk flattening the car battery and being unable to start !
Most people will simply leave the switch in the 'caravan' position and forget about it.
DaveS1

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