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Topic: Charging/connecting a 2nd battery

JTLM

06/2/2014 at 4:05pm
Location: Peterborough
Outfit: Audi A6 3.0 Quattro + Hymer Nova 435

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I've bought a second leisure battery to use when we're on longer rallies. It's the same type, rating and close in age to the main battery.

The intention is to keep the second battery at home on trickle charge and take it in the tow car in a properly secured battery box. There may be times when this battery will need to be charged by the tow car. The tow car has a 12v socket in the boot.

Once on site I want to move the battery box under the bed beside the existing battery, and connect them together simply and quickly (and safely). The second battery may need to be put back in the car for a good top-up during an off-EHU stay.

The caravan has a Schaudt Elektroblock 109-5 controlling the existing setup. Schaudt have confirmed to me that connecting two batteries in parallel is not a problem.

I also have a small 20W solar panel which is connected to the main battery by crocodile clips when off-EHU and when in storage.

My questions are how do I safely charge the second battery from the tow car? And how do I safely, and quickly connect/disconnect the second battery in parallel with the main battery?

Please do not suggest solar power as we have already discounted that option.

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Cheers,
JT + LM

a great mind thinks alike

ajturs

06/2/2014 at 4:49pm
Location: bobsbabes other half
Outfit: Sterling Eccles Sport 636 Hyundai i800

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Here is a few ideas for charging:

Leave connected: Plug car into caravan, on-board charger will charge both, note some things may not run with car connected. (Check with manufacturer if charger can cope charging 2 in parallel)

Jump Leads battery to battery (Not much control of charge rate)

Get charge controller for a solar panel (inputs to car battery or lighter socket, Need to check fuse rating of socket vs charger rating), output to spare battery)

Carry mains battery charger and use socket in toilets/house of the site (Ask owners permission) :)

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LobeyDosser

06/2/2014 at 4:59pm
Location: Argyll Scotland
Outfit: 1997 Bailey Ranger 470 4

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The easiest way to charge a second battery in the boot of the car is to run a 12n plug from the trailer bar 12n socket straight into the boot of the car when you are going for a run. This will charge the boot battery.

Rather than connecting batteries in tandem, why not just switch the batteries over when you need to top one up.

If you are driving about each day, with one battery in the boot and the other in the van, you should have an endless supply of 12v power.

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Lobey.

michael

06/2/2014 at 5:27pm
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Caravan now Sold

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a split relay charger is the way to go. have a word with Halfords. a secure box in the boot is required too, with breather pipe.

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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.

JTQU

06/2/2014 at 5:37pm
Location: Hampshire
Outfit: Hymer Nova S

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As it is a Hymer Nova the batteries are in the habitation area so must be VRLA type ideally GELs?
I have a portable second battery but keep it outside in a weatherproof box. Mine is a sealed LA, so not safe to use inside the van, and I dont couple it to the van's battery but use it to drive just the TV. The TV being the "killer" user.
I planned to recharge it in the car and tested that but dont find in two years a need to do this, even though we rally off EHU extensively. My incar charging is via inverter driving a CTEK charger, so the battery would be properly charged.
On a site it is charged via an 85 W solar cell and a Morningstar Duo charge controller. This handles the two battery requirements totally independently; it is smart enough to sense when the portable battery is not there.

JTLM

17/2/2014 at 12:17pm
Location: Peterborough
Outfit: Audi A6 3.0 Quattro + Hymer Nova 435

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Apologies for the late response.

Your last post, JTQU, got me wondering... I had the opportunity at the weekend to check the existing/primary battery (fitted by the dealer when we bought the van last August) and it is a lead acid battery. Furthermore, it is not vented. There is a red sticker on the battery partition with German and English versions of only replace with a Gel battery (or something like that).

I'm very concerned now as to whether this is safe.

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Cheers,
JT + LM

a great mind thinks alike

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