Care of batteries/charging over winter

[Jammi]

We bought our first van in January this year, an Autosleeper Broadway 2015, we’ve been using it regularly all year. Taking it off somewhere a couple of times a month.
We had our last weekend away at the beginning of October and although we still plan to use over winter we probably won’t have time to get away again. Now till after Christmas.

We had to take it for an mot a week or so ago and it struggled to start. Managed to jump it using the car and after getting back from the garage attached the EHU as both batteries were getting low at 11.6

We have solar which had worked well over summer and while we’re away we hardly ever use EHU, but obviously solar will be struggling now.

Is it normal or advisable to leave the van on EHU permanently over the winter? Or will this cause harm?
Or could we get away with charging for a week, then off for a week?

What do others do to keep everything running smoothly over winter?

Thanks in advance
J

 

[VXman]

It shouldn't harm it being on EHU permanently - the charger/control unit should regulate it. However, it shouldn't be neccesary.

Personally I put mine in EHU for a day or two every couple of weeks just to top it up.

 

[Jammi]

It shouldn't harm it being on EHU permanently - the charger/control unit should regulate it. However, it shouldn't be neccesary.

Personally I put mine in EHU for a day or two every couple of weeks just to top it up.

Thanks for the reply..
Ok I’ll try that. Just a charge up every couple of weeks and see how we get on…
Just didn’t want to kill the batteries by overcharging or letting them get too low!

Is the vehicle battery likely to be ok if only driven once a month over winter?

 

[Spriddler]

Managed to jump it using the car and after getting back from the garage attached the EHU as both batteries were getting low at 11.6

Is 'back' at your home or in storage?
You could fit a timer set to 'On' for a couple of hours each week.
Mine's in my drive with an EHU outlet available and if unused for a couple of weeks I take it for a fast 20 mile run. I can check the cab and hab batteries instantly with a voltmeter that plugs into the cig lighter sockets and would put the charger on if either reads down at about 12.3v which neither has more than a couple of times in 11 years. I did replace both batteries after 5 years.

Also have a look at this similar thread posted this morning .......

Keeping your car battery charged when you are away for several weeks.

Hi all, I was wondering what other members do when they are away for several weeks at a time to keep their car battery charged? Having retired 18 months ago after one of our early trips when we arrived home our car battery was flat! This year we have had a couple of trips of 6 weeks away, my...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Jammi]

Is 'back' at your home or in storage?
You could fit a timer set to 'On' for a couple of hours each week.
Mine's in my drive with an EHU outlet available and if unused for a couple of weeks I take it for a fast 20 mile run. I can check the cab and hab batteries instantly with a voltmeter that plugs into the cig lighter sockets and would put the charger on if either reads down at about 12.3v which neither has more than a couple of times in 11 years. I did replace both batteries after 5 years.
Also have a look at this thread posted this morning on the same subject.......

Keeping your car battery charged when you are away for several weeks.

Hi all, I was wondering what other members do when they are away for several weeks at a time to keep their car battery charged? Having retired 18 months ago after one of our early trips when we arrived home our car battery was flat! This year we have had a couple of trips of 6 weeks away, my...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

It’s stored at my parents as we don’t have room at ours. So I could set a timer switch yes. But I’m popping over there regularly anyway.
Will check the other thread.
Thank you.

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[mikebeaches]

You might need to check if plugging in the hook-up charges the cab battery, or only the leisure battery?

Our current van does both, but the previous one didn't. As a consequence we used to put a trickle charger on the cab battery for 24 hours or so every 2 or 3 weeks. Fortunately no need now, just plug in for a day every 2 - 4 weeks if the van isn't being used.

 

[Jammi]

You might need to check if plugging in the hook-up charges the cab battery, or only the leisure battery?

Our current van does both, but the previous one didn't. As a consequence we used to put a trickle charger on the cab battery for 24 hours or so every 2 or 3 weeks. Fortunately no need now, just plug in for a day every 2 - 4 weeks if the van isn't being used.

I think it charges both….
After plugging in I checked the control panel and both batteries were showing at 14 something volts.
Will pop over tomorrow, unplug and gave a look. Thank you.

 

[VXman]

Is the vehicle battery likely to be ok if only driven once a month over winter?

I guess it depends on how good the battery is at the moment. With a good battery it should be possible. I'd be tempted to go for fortnightly.

 

[Richard n Ann]

I'd buy two optimate 2 maintainers and leave them connected 24/7. Letting them partially discharge is cycling them, and batteries only have so many cycles before they die.

Using maintenance chargers is better than the van's own ehu charger because in the event of a battery fault they can't deliver a big current and get the battery hot, when unattended that's important.
The optimate 2s just give 0.8 amps

 

[Jammi]

I'd buy two optimate 2 maintainers and leave them connected 24/7. Letting them partially discharge is cycling them, and batteries only have so many cycles before they die.

Using maintenance chargers is better than the van's own ehu charger because in the event of a battery fault they can't deliver a big current and get the battery hot, when unattended that's important.
The optimate 2s just give 0.8 amps

Thanks for that I’ll look into it.
D’you need to remove or disconnect the batteries to attach these?

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[Richard n Ann]

Thanks for that I’ll look into it.
D’you need to remove or disconnect the batteries to attach these?

No, they come with ringlet leads you connect and leave on the battery, then when needed the maintainer can be plugged in.

 

[The Artilleryman]

My winter setup is to isolate cab battery (red button on ignition switch), shut down hab. electrics. Then take it off isolate/shut down 1st of each month and connect EHU and charge for 24hours. Then isolate/shut down again.

Has worked well for last 3 years.

 

[Marauder]

Managed to jump it using the car an

Martin Bushnell does not recommend 'jump starting' vehicles with secondary elecrical systems - see here:

Jump Starting a Motorhome

Why you should think twice about Jump Starting a Motorhome

www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk

 

[Jammi]

Martin Bushnell does not recommend 'jump starting' vehicles with secondary elecrical systems - see here:

Jump Starting a Motorhome

Why you should think twice about Jump Starting a Motorhome

www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk

Martin Bushnell does not recommend 'jump starting' vehicles with secondary elecrical systems - see here:

Jump Starting a Motorhome

Why you should think twice about Jump Starting a Motorhome

www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk

Ah..oh dear!

Thank you for that. Will bear in mind for the future and hope we haven’t done any damage!

 

[VXman]

Martin Bushnell does not recommend 'jump starting' vehicles with secondary elecrical systems - see here:

Jump Starting a Motorhome

Why you should think twice about Jump Starting a Motorhome

www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk

Switch off electric control unit and disconnect leisure batteries before jump starting? Would mitigate his concerns?

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