Battery Charging

[wotme]

Can I connect up a trickle charger to the engine battery leaving it under the bonnet without disconnecting the battery terminals.
No doubt I will be slated for thinking it can be that easy

 

[TheBig1]

yes, so long as you switch the power off before turning the key to start. Many people do just that with classic cars in the garage over winter

 

[funflair]

Yes

 

[Blackadder]

The Fiat handbook says no - but then says it's OK to connect leads to jump-start. Duh?
I finally found a guy on the Fiat stand at the NEC who explained that yes, you can connect a charger without disconnecting anything. However, he said it's essential to connect the negative lead to the chassis earth terminal ( in the middle of the bulkhead) not to any other convenient piece of metal. Apparently there have been cases of fried wiring, hence the handbook reticence.

 

[pappajohn]

Thousands of Fiat's out there with fried ECUs then.
You connect Neg lead, either charger or jump, last and to a remote earth incase the battery is/has been Gassing and the lead causes an arc when connected.
At the time of connection the charger shouldn't even be switched on and final jump lead connection should be to earth on the boost vehicle.

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[Blackadder]

Funny - you'd a'thought that a Fiat factory technician would know what he was talking about. You might also wonder why they go to the trouble (and expense bearing in mind the thousands of vans they make) of providing the specific earth connection.

 

[pappajohn]

Funny - you'd a'thought that a Fiat factory technician would know what he was talking about. You might also wonder why they go to the trouble (and expense bearing in mind the thousands of vans they make) of providing the specific earth connection.

You'd also wonder why there aren't thousands of vans with fried electrics after the owner, or worse, the white van man has connected jump leads wrongly because they didn't read the handbook.....or even know there was one.
They are covering there own arse.

 

[mitzimad]

Funny - you'd a'thought that a Fiat factory technician would know what he was talking about. You might also wonder why they go to the trouble (and expense bearing in mind the thousands of vans they make) of providing the specific earth connection.

they provide an earth connection as the battery under the floor is inaccessable the also provide a poitive point reason the provide an earth #popint specifically is to stop 1diots clamping on to unsuitable pipes which could rupture if shorted

 

[wotme]

Another lesson learned, I only joined this forum a few months ago when I was looking to buy my first MH. I've picked up no end of helpful information from you guys, most of which is straight forward but there are a few discussions way over my head. I'm used to fixing things with a lump hammer or a 24inch wrench I'm beginning to realise I need a more delicate tool kit and it would help to have a degree in science or physics to maintain a motorhome.