Home

   Log in or Register



Insurance Quotes
forums Campsite Search Comp Directory tips virtual brochure Profile
Tent and Awning Reviews Competitions Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Shopping Diary Advent Calendar

Advertisement

Message Forums

Welcome Guest Register Login Search The Forum Posts Since Last Visit
 Reception - All Forums
  Caravans and Caravanning
Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: charging a battery Post Reply Post New Topic
23/8/2011 at 12:16am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
View TADGER's Profile View Profile   Reply to TADGER Reply   Quote TADGER Quote  
Joined: 17/2/2010

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   22

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Is it ok to charge a leisure battery with a car battery charger


23/8/2011 at 5:28am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Coachman Pastiche
View DaveCoaches's Profile View Profile   Reply to DaveCoaches Reply   Quote DaveCoaches Quote  
Joined: 30/7/2011

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1247

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

In short, yes but not ideal. A proptietory charger charges in stages so that as the battery voltage increases the charge voltage is increased, giving a steady charge. A car battery charger gives a constant voltage so the charge rate starts high and slowly decreases as the battery voltage increases. Leisure batteries do not like the faster charging that a car battery charger offers when they are low. Having said that, the car alternator charges a lot faster than most battery chargers when you plug the grey plug in and start the engine so it seems that what people don't understand they don't worry about. I have always used car chargers on my batteries and never had a problem with them. They have always outlasted the warranty by a considerable margin.


Discounted Insurance Quotes for UKCampsite.co.uk visitors! Up to 12.5% off!
UKCampsite.co.uk users are rewarded with up to 12.5% off Caravan Guard touring caravan insurance, folding camper and trailer tent insurance, and 5% off motorhome and campervan insurance. Static caravan insurance is also available. Get an online quote now

23/8/2011 at 8:06am
 Location: west country
 Outfit: None Entered
View millermicm's Profile View Profile   Reply to millermicm Reply   Quote millermicm Quote  
Joined: 29/3/2009

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   4665

Site Reviews Total: 15
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

yes.

-------------
Steve




23/8/2011 at 4:25pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
View TADGER's Profile View Profile   Reply to TADGER Reply   Quote TADGER Quote  
Joined: 17/2/2010

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   22

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Cheers for the replys


23/8/2011 at 8:55pm
 Location: Hertfordshire
 Outfit: Various tents
View davek0974's Profile View Profile   Reply to davek0974 Reply   Quote davek0974 Quote  
Joined: 30/8/2006

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   284

Site Reviews Total: 8
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

You have to really punish a battery to damage it, leaving them flat is normally the worst thing to do.


Advertisement



24/8/2011 at 1:44pm
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
Joined: 15/5/2008

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   9587

Site Reviews Total: 23
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 3  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 4  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 11
Site Nights 2021: 3
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 24
Site Nights 2018: 0

I was advised not to use a car battery charger to charge a leisure battery as the power input is too great and can buckle the interior lead plates due to the acid getting too hot too quick. My battery charger is a proper designed unit with a 4 stage charge input which has a maximum input of just 1.8 amps which the slow feed rate is ideal for charging a leisure battery. Some people call them a smart charger.


24/8/2011 at 3:10pm
 Location: Norwich
 Outfit: Citroen Relay Campervan
View Francophile1947's Profile View Profile   Reply to Francophile1947 Reply   Quote Francophile1947 Quote  
Joined: 23/1/2007

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   1870

Site Reviews Total: 17
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 24/8/2011I was advised not to use a car battery charger to charge a leisure battery as the power input is too great and can buckle the interior lead plates due to the acid getting too hot too quick. My battery charger is a proper designed unit with a 4 stage charge input which has a maximum input of just 1.8 amps which the slow feed rate is ideal for charging a leisure battery. Some people call them a smart charger.
That's the wrong way around. Leisure batteries have fewer and thicker plates than a starter battery, so can happily take a higher charge rate. We used to charge the leisure batteries on our hire boats at up to 20A with no problems at all. A charge rate of 1.8A would have been useless, as each battery would have taken over 2 days to charge.

-------------
Cheers
John


24/8/2011 at 6:51pm
 Location: Middlesex
 Outfit: Iveco Motorhome + lotsa tents
View Delta9's Profile View Profile   Reply to Delta9 Reply   Quote Delta9 Quote  
Joined: 14/7/2004

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   5899

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Use a smart charger!  like the RING RSC16 Smart Battery Charger 

 CLICK HERE

Then if you can afford it buy a merlin smartgauge, it will tell you the true state of charge of your battery. Used by the MOD too.. The best one money can buy.

Want to know about charging and the true state of your batteries?

CLICKHERE



-------------
DELTA..
aka Paul








“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions.”








24/8/2011 at 10:18pm
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
Joined: 15/5/2008

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   9587

Site Reviews Total: 23
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 3  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 4  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 11
Site Nights 2021: 3
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 24
Site Nights 2018: 0

Ref to reply from John:

That's the wrong way around. Leisure batteries have fewer and thicker plates than a starter battery, so can happily take a higher charge rate. We used to charge the leisure batteries on our hire boats at up to 20A with no problems at all. A charge rate of 1.8A would have been useless, as each battery would have taken over 2 days to charge.

             _______________________________________________________

I was advised to trickle charge a leisure battery which is why I do exactly that by charging at 1.8 amps. It is correct what you say though that it can take two days to recharge as I have just returned home after 3 weeks with no electrics but with only a generator recharge and it has actually taken 2 days to recharge the battery fully again to full capacity. The advice I received was from an auto electrical company so I took the advice as somewhat accurate so the information posted on here was from the experts in the trade.



25/8/2011 at 9:20am
 Location: North West
 Outfit: Elddis Avante 554
View CandP's Profile View Profile   Reply to CandP Reply   Quote CandP Quote  
Joined: 16/4/2005

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   613

Site Reviews Total: 4
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

I have a CTEK XS7000

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ctek-CTE-XS7000-Battery-Charger-Functional/dp/B000RI0BUE

Dogs Danglies of chargers :)



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Caravans and Caravanning - Top of Page

Printer Friendly Version Printable version      Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...














5809 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Recommend to Friend  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Shop!]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Contact Us]  [Tent Reviews



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024


Advertisement


Advertisement


UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar


Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder