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Topic: Do I need a battery

Mattzoe

14/7/2009 at 5:52pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Swift Corniche

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Hello all. My wife and I are new to caravanning and have just bought a cheap starter van, a swift Corniche 14/2, around 1989 we think. It does not have a leisure battery fitted yet and and I have read some post on forums that indicate that the vans charger can provide a 12v supply with no battery fitted. Is this the case? Thanks

oliver67

14/7/2009 at 6:09pm
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i would say no if it has no battery you need something to provide the current!

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lion123

14/7/2009 at 6:39pm
Location: pyle bridgend s. wales
Outfit: swift alpine sport

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i dont think so, but contact wizard in repair section, he will give you more info

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its easy enough to be pleasant when the world rolls along like a song.but a man is worth while if he can smile when every thing goes f------ wrong.

tykey

14/7/2009 at 6:41pm
Location: Sheffield
Outfit: Mobile Dog Kennel

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Can you just plug it in and see if you get any 12V

kanno

14/7/2009 at 7:04pm
Location: Fife Scotland
Outfit: Freelander 2 HSE Elddis Odessey

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I have just sold a 1990 SWift challenger and it had a Zig Charger and this did power the 12V lights etc. But the hot water heater needed the battery connected to ignite the burner.

G7ACU

14/7/2009 at 7:05pm
Location: West Mids
Outfit: Swift Ace Statesman & X-Trail 2.0

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Quote: Originally posted by tykey on 14/7/2009
Can you just plug it in and see if you get any 12V

DON'T DO IT...

... the charging current provided by chargers, plus the output voltage is only suitable for connection to a battery and mustn't be used as a power supply .

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saxo1

14/7/2009 at 7:08pm
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I don't know about older vans but a lot of european vans don't have batteries.
Saxo1

wizard9956

14/7/2009 at 7:14pm
Location: Bristol
Outfit: Lunar Conquest 544 a

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It depends on weather you have a charger/transformer or just a charger , if it's a charger/transformer then you'll be able to run your 12volt system when on hookup with no battery , you may notice the lights slightly flicker when running the water pump .
Where as if you had a battery in the system it would smooth the 12volt supply and any flicker would hardly be noticeable .
From info i have on a 1991 Corniche there's a good chance you have a charger/transformer .

atb

Wizard

tykey

14/7/2009 at 7:37pm
Location: Sheffield
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Quote: Originally posted by G7ACU on 14/7/2009

Quote: Originally posted by tykey on 14/7/2009Can you just plug it in and see if you get any 12V

DON'T DO IT...

... the charging current provided by chargers, plus the output voltage is only suitable for connection to a battery and mustn't be used as a power supply .

I didn't suggest they did! I was talking about plugging in the EHU, and seeing if there was 12v at the caravan plugs. Which I thought the OP wanted to know.

I use my battery charger as an external 12v supply for my cooler box, have done it many times with no problems.

SHANTY SINGER

14/7/2009 at 8:34pm
Location: walton on the naze e
Outfit: Coachman pastiche

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Just get a battery. OK they are not cheap, £80 for a 85 amp hour, £120 for a 110 amp hour. If you do go on a non ehu site you will need it.

Paul B

14/7/2009 at 9:59pm
Location: Bradford West Yorkshire
Outfit: Ssangyong Korando & Sprite Major 6TD

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Do a search on this. We asked the same question before buying our 1st van and was easily convinced to buy 1. On our 1st weekend away there was a powercut which lasted all evening and night- we were really pleased to have the battery backup!!

wizard9956

15/7/2009 at 12:02am
Location: Bristol
Outfit: Lunar Conquest 544 a

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I paid £76 for a 110 amp hour battery last year , shop around if they are much dearer than this .

atb

Wizard

tykey

15/7/2009 at 10:54am
Location: Sheffield
Outfit: Mobile Dog Kennel

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Quote: Originally posted by wizard9956 on 14/7/2009
From info i have on a 1991 Corniche there's a good chance you have a charger/transformer
Wizard

That was my point. If the caravan has 12v sockets and lights, then the 12v must come from either a battery or a transformer.

So if you plug in the 240v EHU and the 12v thingies come on, then you've got a transformer, and a battery isn't necessary (if you only go to EHU sites)

If they don't come on, then you haven't got a transformer, and you need a battery to make these work. If you've only got a battery charger, it won't be connected to anything else other than the battery, so the argument it isn't safe isn't relevant!

If you haven't got 12v sockets and lights, you wouldn't need a battery, would you

Post last edited on 15/07/2009 11:12:59

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