Staying on mains hook-up over winter?

[Sedge5]

We’ve bought a 2011 Autosleeper Symbol this year - no room for fixed solar panel on roof. We thought it would be ok to leave the vehicle plugged in to mains over Winter (we tend to be March to October travellers). The vehicle is parked on our drive. However, I’ve recently read following in C&CC magazine:
‘. . . leaving a tourer plugged in permanently could also damage a battery. Not all systems are designed with smart-charging circuitry which will stop charging a battery when it’s fully charged. Other systems continuously deliver a current , whatever the battery state. This can lead to over-heating, which also harms the battery’

Being fairly stupid with anything technical could anyone advise on this. How can I tell if we have ‘smart-charging circuitry’ . . . or not . . . .?

Thanks in anticipation . . .

 

[Jaws]

Personally I would err on the side of caution..
Leave it on hook up one week in four ( or similar )
Of course, the other answer is whip a battery lead off both the hab and cab batteries, and leave it.
Put the leads back on a week before your next adventure and put it on hook up for a few day
Apart from the obvious, it is a bloody good anti theft device !

 

[The Dotties]

I leave mine hooked up to a timer. It has a meal of sparks for 15 hours a week, in one go.

 

[PhilandMena]

Contact Autosleeper and ask them. My 2011 motorhome can be left on hook up indefinitely and is when we are not using it.

 

[Robin McHood]

What PhilandMena said. It all depends on system you have which is why the C&CC article havers 'could also damage'. We have a Schaudt Elektroblok system and its fine being left on EHU over winter, which is what we do for this and the Alde heating, keeps RH and its contents in excellent condition and ready to go whenever there is a break in the weather. So check with Autosleeper.

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[autorouter]

A 3-stage smart charger often has 'IUoU' on the label. That means
I = constant current (amps) stage, until the voltage has risen to a high value Uo.
Uo = constant over-voltage stage, ie a high voltage of about 14.4V, until the current (amps) falls to a low value.
U = constant float voltage stage, about 13.4 to 13.8, which is a midges higher than the natural battery resting voltage, and a small current of a few milliamps is pushed into the battery to compensate for its natural self-discharge, and maybe a bit of current drain from alarm, step, frost protection valve etc.

 

[Sedge5]

Thanks everyone for the useful/sensible info - much appreciated ?

 

[rosalan]

I leave mine on permanent charge on the assumption that it is a fairly new van and likely to have a suitable cut-off for the battery. I also leave a fan heater on, with a thermostat set fairly low, to protect the furnishings from possible effects of a cold winter. Our bedding also stays mostly in the van.

 

[Larrynwin]

Don’t need it now but in the past I used a Cetek battery charger continuously in winter which controls charge without risk of cooking.

 

[WillH]

I have a solar panel but it's not enough in the winter. Van is on EHU all winter with a heater. Battery charge is swapped hab to chassis week about and it gets a run out every couple of weeks.

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[maison]

Although we have a solar panel we always leave on hook-up but through a timer switch.

Two hours, three times a week keeps fully charged and avoids overcharging.

 

[autorouter]

Two hours, three times a week keeps fully charged and avoids overcharging.

That's OK if it works for you, but not necessarily for everyone. Some chargers, for gel and AGM batteries for example, have a timed stage of a couple of hours or more in the second (high voltage) phase. You don't want to be repeating that three times a week.

You may prefer to set the timer to once a week, or even once a fortnight, for two hours or more.

 

[PhilandMena]

I also leave a fan heater on, with a thermostat set fairly low, to protect the furnishings from possible effects of a cold winter. Our bedding also stays mostly in the van.

A waste of energy, cost and use of your habitation services. A little ventilation as far apart as possible will stop damp.

 

[M-J]

Planning on leaving mine plugged in until feb with Alde heating on, wasn’t sure what temp to set or how often I should switch panel from hab to cab battery to keep them topped up without over charging?

Any ideas?

 

[rosalan]

I think the temperature could be set at a minimum level, just to prevent frost and low level damp. The greenhouse fan heater we use is set to around 10c but always available for a boost if I want to work inside the van

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[Sedge5]

Thanks to everyone for your helpful replies. For info I’ve had the following reply from Autosleeper today (why didn’t I think to contact them myself ?):

Your van has smart charging technology so no worries on that score.

I have been working here for more than 40 years and my top tips for over wintering a van are A) make sure you carefully drain the water out of the freshwater system and B) if it is at all possible leave the van hooked up to the mains –Your van and it’s batteries will love you for it!

 

[pseward152]

Leave mine on ehu from whenever it starts getting cold until warmer weather with a small radiator plugged in ,actually just bought a new rad from screwfix really small can leave it in the Motorhome garage

 

[nicholsong]

We drain water and leave on EHU, no heating, bedding and clothes stay in and we have no problems.

 

[PhilandMena]

Don’t need it now but in the past I used a Cetek battery charger continuously in winter which controls charge without risk of cooking.

The dogs Bo**icks !