Couple of questions. (1 Viewer)

Dec 27, 2016
61
16
Lichfield
Funster No
46,606
MH
A Class
Exp
2013
I ( sorry Goose ) We are lucky enough to be able to keep mhome at home so can put EHU on at any time,and hence battery charging, so what would you funsters recommend as on/ off periods?
Second question do we travel with fridge winter covers on, the fastenings don't look that strong.
PS Have tried searching both questions.
 
OP
OP
AndyLes
Dec 27, 2016
61
16
Lichfield
Funster No
46,606
MH
A Class
Exp
2013
:rolleyes:Sorry asked twice !?! But wouldn't allow post with original title, then blow me it has
 
Apr 27, 2008
11,793
13,948
Eastbourne East Sussex
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2,327
MH
Hymer low profile
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Since 1972
How often to put ehu on will depend on the parasitic drain from your batteries. I should think on average putting it on a couple of days in a month would keep everything charged up without risk of damage to the batteries.
Some do leave it on permanently but with the float type charger common on motorhomes you could overdo things and lose electrolyte and possibly damage the plates .
I have travelled with winter covers on without losing them.

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pappajohn

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Aug 26, 2007
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If it's a modern motorhome it should have a smart charger so can be left on indefinitely.
If the battery is fully charged the charger will only supply a small maintenance charge.
Water/electolyte is only lost due to overcharging which 'boils' it off which a smart charger won't do.
As a precaution the electrolyte level should be checked periodically anyway.

Think of older type emergency backup lighting batteries in some old buildings....the batteries could be on charge constantly for years and possibly only checked bi-annually, if that often.
 
Oct 30, 2010
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Can't really answer your question, although we do keep ours hooked up most of the time.
I really answered because I love you avatar. Just Jane at East Kirkby I assume.

Richard.

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maxi77

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Mar 20, 2013
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In general most lead acid batteries give best service if maintained on a float charge. Most power units cam do this but some may need to have the correct setting applied
 

Lenny HB

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Oct 18, 2007
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The charger should be fine left permantly on but if worried about just run it one day a week to keep the batteries topped up.
Fridge vent I take mine off when travelling I don't trust them to stay put.
 

Glandwr

Banned
Jul 10, 2014
1,057
3,301
the Berwyn Mountains
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32,350
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Hymer S740
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since 2009
Keep mine permanently on EHU at home with on and 12v s/w down as well. By mistake it was off for a week or two last year (in winter). On switching on there was no charge taken in, the solar panels (2x80) had kept batteries (3x100) topped up.

I do consider it important though to run engine once every month or so, particularly to release the air hand brake that I fear might get stuck on.
 
Aug 6, 2013
11,941
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Kendal, Cumbria
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Le-Voyageur RX958 Pl
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since 1999
Keep mine permanently on EHU at home with on and 12v s/w down as well. By mistake it was off for a week or two last year (in winter). On switching on there was no charge taken in, the solar panels (2x80) had kept batteries (3x100) topped up.

I do consider it important though to run engine once every month or so, particularly to release the air hand brake that I fear might get stuck on.
Air handbrake?

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Mr Chrysalis

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Jul 8, 2016
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I ( sorry Goose ) We are lucky enough to be able to keep mhome at home so can put EHU on at any time,and hence battery charging, so what would you funsters recommend as on/ off periods?
Second question do we travel with fridge winter covers on, the fastenings don't look that strong.
PS Have tried searching both questions.
We keep ours at home and it is always plugged in to EHU. We have a Batterymaster so chargers only kick in when required. Fridge and freezer are in constant use on 240v.
Fridge winter covers - I have never had to use them in even the coldest conditions in the UK. Fridge works fine without. I do use them for washing the Moho. I once took the Moho to a local (high) car wash - the type which has a brush and a lance with soap, water, purified water). I put the covers on but didn’t bother tightening the catches. Then promptly forgot they were on and drove home. One of them was still on when I got home, the other was lying on the road, slightly damaged ( read mashed up!)
Keep mine permanently on EHU at home with on and 12v s/w down as well. By mistake it was off for a week or two last year (in winter). On switching on there was no charge taken in, the solar panels (2x80) had kept batteries (3x100) topped up.

I do consider it important though to run engine once every month or so, particularly to release the air hand brake that I fear might get stuck on.
Now there is something I didn’t know even existed, but now I do, I really need an air hand brake.
 

Glandwr

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Jul 10, 2014
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the Berwyn Mountains
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since 2009
Yep air handbrake on a sprinter 616. Trouble you can't leave it with the handbrake off as you would normally if parked for a long time. Air reservoir runs flat after a couple of weeks. Failsafe is on.

Dick
 
Mar 10, 2016
558
617
Scotland
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41,942
MH
A Class RMB 750HE
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Three years and counting, 30 years a tent tower.
Yep air handbrake on a sprinter 616. Trouble you can't leave it with the handbrake off as you would normally if parked for a long time. Air reservoir runs flat after a couple of weeks. Failsafe is on.

Dick
It is indeed a nuisance. I tend to leave mine off as leaving it on wouldn't make any difference in long term. Just start everything up every wee while and exercise it a few times.

@tonyidle . Yes, its an interesting idea, not sure what MB's thinking was behind it. Basically it has a small 12v air compressor and heater/drier which operates the air cylinder holding the parking brakes off. If left for a while or if there is a leak the parking brakes come on. There is a warning light for it. Of course the schoolboy in me rather likes the professional whoosh as the brake comes off/on just like the big boys..:D2 Now if it just had a turbocharger that howled like the older Landrover Discos, that would make my day... brmmm brmmmm(y)
 
Aug 6, 2013
11,941
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Kendal, Cumbria
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Le-Voyageur RX958 Pl
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since 1999
It is indeed a nuisance. I tend to leave mine off as leaving it on wouldn't make any difference in long term. Just start everything up every wee while and exercise it a few times.

@tonyidle . Yes, its an interesting idea, not sure what MB's thinking was behind it. Basically it has a small 12v air compressor and heater/drier which operates the air cylinder holding the parking brakes off. If left for a while or if there is a leak the parking brakes come on. There is a warning light for it. Of course the schoolboy in me rather likes the professional whoosh as the brake comes off/on just like the big boys..:D2 Now if it just had a turbocharger that howled like the older Landrover Discos, that would make my day... brmmm brmmmm(y)
Even better you have most of equipment needed for a big wagon horn ........ :)

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Jun 30, 2011
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Barnard Castle, UK
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Concorde Concerto
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The normal handbrake wasn't thought to be heavy duty enough for the 6 tonne Marc 616, hence the air one. We had the Hymer S820 616 uprated to 6400kg and we used every ounce of it.

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Mr Chrysalis

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Jul 8, 2016
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I can see a possible design flaw... sound wagon horn and back wheels lock up.... mmmm:Eeek:
That’s OK, you’re not allowed to use the AirHorn on the open road anyway. Other way around works: you arrive, park up and announce your arrival as you brake. @RVOC
 

Glandwr

Banned
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Daughter bought as a joke present a set of "air horns" for my nearly acquired van that are operated electrically. They play something like "I wish I was in Dixie". That was 8 years ago. I'm afraid they are still in the box.:D

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Mr Chrysalis

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Jul 8, 2016
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Daughter bought as a joke present a set of "air horns" for my nearly acquired van that are operated electrically. They play something like "I wish I was in Dixie". That was 8 years ago. I'm afraid they are still in the box.:D
There will others on the forum who might like them. Why don’t you put them up for sale in Classifieds, or just save yourself the hassle and send them to me;)
 

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