Hooking up to electric onsite

[soulboynumber1]

When i hook up to electricity on a campsite does the van automatically switch over to the leisure battery? or something like that?

ps i am the complete novice...................... complete novice.

I hope this post made somebody chuckle.

[irishkeet]

do you know what interior conversion you have?

where in london are you, if your close pop over and ill give you a hand, Im in Enfield

cheers

irishkeet

[irishkeet]

sorry just saw the autohomes bit on your signature...

[Red Westie]

Well it really depends on how your van has been wired but the common layout is to power all the 12volt camping anchillaries; lights, radio, water pump directly off the leisure battery all the time (whether or not the mains is plugged in) The starter battery remains isolated (unconnected) from these consumers therefore, leaving it charged and ready to start the vehicle when needed.
Nothing changes when you plug the mains in......all that happens is built in charger unit starts to replenish the charge in the Leisure battery preventing it from going completely flat. Some chargers are setup in such a way as to charge both batteries but like I say it depends on how it has been wired.
The switching you refer to, maybe the split charge relay that relates to the vans alternator charging both leisure and starter batteries when the engine is running but isolates (seperates them) when the engine is turned off, to ensure only the leisure battery runs down when camping.
Martin

[soulboynumber1]

do you know what interior conversion you have?

where in london are you, if your close pop over and ill give you a hand, Im in Enfield

cheers

irishkeet

Thanks Keet. Its an Autohomes conversion.

[soulboynumber1]

do you know what interior conversion you have?

where in london are you, if your close pop over and ill give you a hand, Im in Enfield

cheers

irishkeet

I'm over in Clapham South, would love to pop over sometime and pick your brains about these vans.

[Nicky]

Why not pop over to the Fox & Goose, Greywell meet this weekend. Lots of brains to pick there!

[soulboynumber1]

Well it really depends on how your van has been wired but the common layout is to power all the 12volt camping anchillaries; lights, radio, water pump directly off the leisure battery all the time (whether or not the mains is plugged in) The starter battery remains isolated (unconnected) from these consumers therefore, leaving it charged and ready to start the vehicle when needed.
Nothing changes when you plug the mains in......all that happens is built in charger unit starts to replenish the charge in the Leisure battery preventing it from going completely flat. Some chargers are setup in such a way as to charge both batteries but like I say it depends on how it has been wired.
The switching you refer to, maybe the split charge relay that relates to the vans alternator charging both leisure and starter batteries when the engine is running but isolates (seperates them) when the engine is turned off, to ensure only the leisure battery runs down when camping.
Martin

Thanks mate your advice is appreciated. I'm not really sure how the van is connected but i'm taking her to a VW specialist for a service next week so will pick their brains also.

Thanks again, hope you can help with my other questions in the not to distant future.

[soulboynumber1]

Why not pop over to the Fox & Goose, Greywell meet this weekend. Lots of brains to pick there!

Hi Nicky

Thanks for that, i'm away this weekend in her but i think your spot on i really need to come to some sort of meet to pick everyones brains......

[irishkeet]

do you know what interior conversion you have?

where in london are you, if your close pop over and ill give you a hand, Im in Enfield

cheers

irishkeet

I'm over in Clapham South, would love to pop over sometime and pick your brains about these vans.

no worries just drop me a PM and pop over some saturday
cheers
keet