Cab & Leisure Batteries Charging (1 Viewer)

[RGR723]

Hi
Moving from caravan so this aspect is new to me.
Have been reading on other posts about keeping both batteries charged, can anyone confirm on Autotrails when connected to the mains both cab and leisure batteries will be kept charged?
With the caravan, only one battery I used to have it on timer for 2 hours a day will this be sufficient to maintain both battery in the MOHO.

 

[Spriddler]

As a definitive answer......when you have EHU connected use a multimeter to ascertain the voltage at the batteries' terminals. Then disconnect the EHU and read the voltages again after say, 20 mins. If the readings are lower than with EHU connected they are being charged. If the reading of a battery is the same as when on EHU then that one isn't being charged.

 

[Jev88]

Only you can tell really. Put a multimeter on a battery when on EHU - if it reads over 13 volts then some charge is going there.

 

[Old Gibber]

My Auto Trail PVC certainly charges both batteries. I don't need a multimeter to tell me this, the voltage is displayed on the panel above the door. When the mains charger is connected, both batteries show a voltage of about 14.5v showing the charger is supplying both.

 

[bertiebasset]

On my 2010 Savannah I have to change the selector over to charge whichever battery. This is why I have removed the 2 leisure batteries into the garage to charge infrequently. The vehicle battery remains in situ to enable alarm and tracker to work. This is charged for one hour a day with a cheap Lidl charger, via a smart plug and Alexa. Just checked it and it is showing 13+V. The 2 leisure I check occasionally and they have not been charged for over 2 weeks still showing 12.6v

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[Lenny HB]

At's normally have a Sargent distribution system most of which are capable of charging the starter battery. But they do it an odd way and it has to be set up on the control panel, they have a smart charge feature that swaps the charging between leisure & starter battery in 4 hour blocks. i don't know much about them but a few people have been caught out with flat starter batteries unaware they need to set the system up to charge the starter battery.

 

[scotzsue]

Can't help with your van, but today went to storage to check our van, solar and battery master both batteries are above 13, admittedly on the panel but there has never been more than a .1 difference when we use a volt meter

 

[Spriddler]

My Auto Trail PVC certainly charges both batteries. I don't need a multimeter to tell me this, the voltage is displayed on the panel above the door. When the mains charger is connected, both batteries show a voltage of about 14.5v showing the charger is supplying both.

Mine's not so clever - just a green LED and a red LED. The red LED lights up when the voltage is below 11.5 which (as far as I'm concerned) is too late.

 

[mitzimad]

As a definitive answer......when you have EHU connected use a multimeter to ascertain the voltage at the batteries' terminals. Then disconnect the EHU and read the voltages again after say, 20 mins. If the readings are lower than with EHU connected they are being charged. If the reading of a battery is the same as when on EHU then that one isn't being charged.

wouldn't it be easier to measure the voltage off hook up then plug in and see it the voltage rises? no need to wait for the float to dissipate

 

[Spriddler]

wouldn't it be easier to measure the voltage off hook up then plug in and see it the voltage rises? no need to wait for the float to dissipate

Yes, it probably would.
My post was more a suggestion of a way to tell whether a battery was being charged or not by comparing voltage differentials.

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[U.Toadifact]

My PVC has the rather odd Sargent charger which alternates batteries every so often However owing to the constant drain on the starter battery I noticed that the starter battery would occasionally get quite low. Hence I bought an Optimate dual charger, switched off the van built in charger and now use the Optimate to maintain both batteries independently. On hook up at home I just plug the Optimate into a. 240v socket in the van.

I can monitor the charging through the Sargent app.

OptiMate 2 Duo x2 Dual Bank — OptiMate UK

OptiMate 2 Duo x2 Bank TM-572 UK, Charger, OPT2D X2, OPT-2D X2, TM572

www.optimate.co.uk

 

[RGR723]

Hi
Thanks for all the responses several ways to tell, from the control panel to using a multimeter, plus checking that the Sargent charger is programmed correctly (all very logical when explained simply) thanks

 

[Cush]

What age is your autotrail? Some era vans need the control panel to be used to select which battery receives or gives the voltage.
Cush