Charging Leisure Batteries (1 Viewer)

[combi]

I will be collecting the motorhome from its winter storage at the weekend and I intend to charge the leisure batteries with my smart charger which is supposed to give a good maintenance charge.

My question is that as my van has a solar panel what is the best way to charge - should I connect the charger to one battery at a time or should I disconnect the batteries and charge individually? If I do this what happens to any charge that the solar panel generates.

I try to read all the posts re leisure batteries but it all goes over my head!!

Many thanks

cakeboy

 

[haganap]

why?

Can you not just plug it in to your electiricity at home?

How long a journey are you going on?

 

[combi]

Thanks for the reply.

The Smart Charger is supposed to carry out a desulphation charge and I thought it would be a good idea as they haven't been used for a while.

cakeboy

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[beachcaster]

Are you saying you have two leisure batteries connected together.

So should you treat them as one ...or two ?

barry

 

[combi]

There are two batteries and I assume that they are connected (the electrics are a complete mystery to me).

Instructions for the charger say only charge one battery at a time. My main concern is what happens to the electricity generated by the solar panel. Should I wait until dark!!

Thanks

cakeboy

 

[icantremember]

There are two batteries and I assume that they are connected (the electrics are a complete mystery to me).

Instructions for the charger say only charge one battery at a time. My main concern is what happens to the electricity generated by the solar panel. Should I wait until dark!!

Thanks

cakeboy

Surely if you have a solar panel the leisure batteries should have been kept charged while layed up.

I would just hook-up to the mains when you get it home for 24 hours or so.

It is more likely to be the starter battery which will be low but this also should be charged by your on board charger.

Brian

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[combi]

Thanks for the reply.

The motorhome has been stored undercover, I have had the vehicle battery at home connected to the smart charger.

cakeboy

 

[icantremember]

Thanks for the reply.

The motorhome has been stored undercover, I have had the vehicle battery at home connected to the smart charger.

cakeboy

Ah right so starter battery is ok then, as said I would just hook-up to recharge the leisure batteries.

Having said that I would put a tester on them before to check voltage charging because if they have disscharged much below 10.5 v they are probably US.

 

[Wildman]

If it has been stored out of doors and your batteries are not fully charged then you have a problem. We have been using our van on and off all winter and batteries are fully charged. Do check that your 4 stage charge can charge the type of batteries you have they are designed for lead/acid and not in most cases Gel or sealed batteries. might vary from charger to charge so do be sure. Abattery will only sulphate if left in a discharged state, if you have not used it but solar on all the time then unless you have a naff (slang for knackered) battery then they will be fully charged and fine.

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[beachcaster]

get it home.and plug in the van to an external point letting your internal charger do the work......leave it for a couple of days and see how things are.......this should top up the leisure batteries...and by then the solar panels should be topping things up...and if you have been looking after your vehicle battery all could be well.

This is the simplest thing to do if you do not have a meter or know how to use one...Or pop into maplins and buy a cheap one....then visit your local friendly battery shop and ask him to show you how to test your battery.

You can then test all the batteries on the van....which by then may be ok.

barry