Leisure battery - what can I run off it?

[lloyd]

Sterling looks good, but expensive. Smallest charger is as much or more then generator with 12 volt charger built in.

Have to wonder how Sterling can charge 5 times faster? .. and if it does I wonder how hot / how much gassing battery does?

[matty o]

my too bit worth
Solar is pants cost far to much will not generate enough power to run lights or water pump let alone anything else the only thing they are good for is keeping the battery top up if not being used for a long time.

Generators are noisy (even the quiet ones) and a pain for others near by and where do you store it without stinking the van out.

The best battery set up is 2 leisure batteries connected together as this gives you more available power than one the same size as the total and a 3 stage charger like a ctex.

gel batteries has the advantage that they can fall over and not leak but due to this they can not be charged properly as they can not gas as well at the higher charge rates needed to perlong their life

Remember why are you going away is it so that you can watch tv and have all the other electric bits or are you going away to get away from these.

other options plug all you items in
buy a motor home
stay at home
stay on a site with electric

[TravellingChick]

Thanks all, a good debate with lots of info.

I don't really intend to run much off it tbh and think the option of a 2nd battery is probably the most expedient one.

Light in the evenings would be good but I've also got a wind up lantern, the ipod and phone are important but both will charge of the cig lighter attachment when we're rolling if need be. The DVD player is probably really the biggie, oh and my hair straighteners of course

Sarah

ps: I'm joking about the straighteners btw!

[andisnewsyncro]

ps: I'm joking about the straighteners btw!

Can't remember how or why but I have seen 12v straighteners advertised to plug into a cig socket........ I think we were looking for a random birthday presnet for a mate's son....

Go on, you know you want some

[TravellingChick]

ps: I'm joking about the straighteners btw!

I think we were looking for a random birthday presnet for a mate's son....

A likely story along the age old lines of "My friend has a little problem................."

Sure you don't already have yours tucked away somewhere?

[andisnewsyncro]

No really, he's a 17 year old trainee hairdresser and we were looking for a car related gift for when he was old enough to learn to drive.............

I'm just digging myself deeper here aren't I

[TravellingChick]

Yup!

Me think you do protest too much!



Is he planning to run a mobile hair dressing salon from his car then?

[wee bugger]

ps: I'm joking about the straighteners btw!

Can't remember how or why but I have seen 12v straighteners advertised to plug into a cig socket........ I think we were looking for a random birthday presnet for a mate's son....

Go on, you know you want some

You get pink 12v ones in the car section at our local Asda...

[Vanagonman]

my too bit worth
Solar is pants cost far to much will not generate enough power to run lights or water pump let alone anything else the only thing they are good for is keeping the battery top up if not being used for a long time.

Generators are noisy (even the quiet ones) and a pain for others near by and where do you store it without stinking the van out.

The best battery set up is 2 leisure batteries connected together as this gives you more available power than one the same size as the total and a 3 stage charger like a ctex.

gel batteries has the advantage that they can fall over and not leak but due to this they can not be charged properly as they can not gas as well at the higher charge rates needed to perlong their life

Remember why are you going away is it so that you can watch tv and have all the other electric bits or are you going away to get away from these.

other options plug all you items in
buy a motor home
stay at home
stay on a site with electric

Good points. A site with electric is always my first choice. Buy a Motorhome? Too big and cumbersome. Two batteries connected in parallel (or two 6 volts in series) is a good idea for Travellingchick as her needs sound meager (providing she has a split charger).

Generators (silent portable ones) are nowhere near as noisy as people periodically starting their engines to charge their leisure batteries and are great to be used for wild camping and at non-campsite outings. As for the smell, suitcase portable gennys have switchable fuel caps that don't vent (so no smell) and if you're that anal, you can get a small trailer to put it in if it stinks too much or put it in one of these on the back of your van:


But seriously, why not all options? Get a huge battery with over 85 amp hours (or two) with a split charger, a 240v-to-12 volt charger, a solar panel rated with at least 60 watts and a silent suitcase generator. That way you are prepared for any inevitability; for example if your engine battery runs flat after you exhausted your leisure battery(s) after a couple of days of wild camping. Without a generator, you're left calling RAC and hoping they can find you or trying to flag down a car with jump leads.

As for

why are you going away is it so that you can watch tv and have all the other electric bits or are you going away to get away from these.

Well, what do you do when the weather suddenly turns ugly (e.g. rain & cold - typical British weather) and the three preteen/teen kids aren't content with eating out of canned food tins and reading novels/playing board games in a cramped tin can of a van? You know you can't go out in the elements, and the location you picked suddenly no longer has it's nature appeal! What do you do? Why would an oven/fridge/portable toilet or TV/laptop/DVD player suddenly ruin the experience? In fact, it saves the experience - it's not solely about camping, but having a good time with the family on an outing.
If I was to use your argument, I would say that instead of your VW camper, why not sell it and just buy a more fuel efficient car with a big boot? Then just bring a tent and get rid of all creature comforts that 'ruin' the camping experience. Who needs a sink, cooker, fridge, cushioned bed, heating anyway?? Get the jist?!!

[matty o]

Fair points

For me i just find it a bit sad when come 7:30 no one is about as they all disappear in to there caravans to watch eastenders
This then leave me with nothing going on to watch and have to result to talking to the wife.

Being fed up in bad weather is part of camping in England, but I do understand being in a small van with fed up kids could be an issue.

A 85 to 100amp battery should last a long weekend if staying for longer I would suggest going for a drive to explore the area and charge to battery that way.

[lloyd]

Have never seen that happen with 80-90, even when it's -9c. We all group around in the Sprags, under awnings or fires for hours.... sometimes so late we don't know what time we get into our campers.