tricklec harging your battery while laid up

[gti mad man]

Does anyone have there battery constantly trickle charging whiel its laid up for winter?

if so is it safe what charger?

[Red Westie]

This won't exactly charge your battery from flat but it will keep it active and prevent sulphation which is the main problem with camper batteries and being laid up for months on end. (I've got two....one for the leisure one for the main starter battery)

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223251

[syncrosimon]

I have a Sterling battery charger which doubles up as a 12v power supply when hooked up. It has three separate outputs for separate batteries. I use two, one for the leisure bats, and the other for the starter bat. after it has charged it drops to a float charge and can be left connected for ever. It treats the batteries as individuals.

http://www.sterling-power.com/products- ... charge.htm

I got the 30 amp one, but in reality have never had to use it because this (see below) keeps the batteries charged properly all the time.

http://www.sterling-power.com/products-altbatt.htm

Really good British designed and part made stuff.



There is also a Sterling 800w inverter.

Simon.

[plurker]

.

[ricicles]

cetec chargers work well. there seems to be a lot of copies about now. use one that will not overcharge your batt and all will be well. mine started after 4 weeks standing and it has no chokes

[rainman]

If you've got a zig unit and you plug into the mains, switch to mains charging, does that not charge up the batteries? I've got one of those solar jobbies too and I don't think it does much but a little blue light blinks which makes me happy.

[FergusT25]

have you thought about a solsr panal trickle charge ( approx £30 quid flee bay)

[bangadrum]

A warning about cheap solar chargers.
DON'T leave them on the dash whilst driving, the hot air outlet melted the rear of one we had and very nearly shorted the cig-lighter out. I also noticed some sunlight related damage that I think would have eventually lead to the same problem.

Other than that they're quite useful and we found a summer days worth of solar charging pretty much covered a few hours use of the LED lamps in the van for the evening.

[venividivici]

I was thinking about replacing the charger in my LT Florida with a Sterling, as the factory-fitted one makes a loud buzzing noise when powered up. I'm also not sure if it's up to scratch to charge the 2 80Ah leisure batteries I've put in, and it doesn't charge the starter battery.

Simon, that one you have, is it fan cooled? And does the fan come on when it's plugged in, or only when it gets hot? Just wanted to know if it's nice and quiet when plugged in.

Thanks

John

[syncrosimon]

I was thinking about replacing the charger in my LT Florida with a Sterling, as the factory-fitted one makes a loud buzzing noise when powered up. I'm also not sure if it's up to scratch to charge the 2 80Ah leisure batteries I've put in, and it doesn't charge the starter battery.

Simon, that one you have, is it fan cooled? And does the fan come on when it's plugged in, or only when it gets hot? Just wanted to know if it's nice and quiet when plugged in.

Thanks

John

Yes it is fan cooled, and when it is bulk charging the two 75amp hr leisure bats, and the starter, the fan does come on. The fan goes off as necessary. On my system I have the charger on a separate circuit breaker, and leave it off most of the time, as the Sterling Alt-Bat charger does such an excellent job of looking after the bats, it is not necessary if you are driving every few days. we do use hook ups in the winter, for the kettle, toaster and electric fan heater, but not the charger. Tend to just use the charger when not using the van, to top up the batts, or when working on the van and using the inverter etc.

We spent three days laid up in a beach side campsite next to the sea at Calvi in Corsica, it was hot and the compressor fridge, and roof fans were on a lot. the bats were fine for those three days without hook up, and charged in about 1 1/2 hrs when driving.

It is the best battery system I have ever seen, I would never ever go back to a simple split charge relay which is the reason why people need hook ups.

[Pepperami]

From a motor cycle shop buy an optimate battery charger. I have had my bike battery on charge for about two years using one of these and every time i test it it's fully charged. When i finally get it put back together i bet you it starts on the button. Which for a Vee twin is no mean feat. Tony

Clickety http://www.optimate3.com/classic/

[bigherb]

Like syncrosimon I use a Sterling charger, just the 6 amp one and would go along with what he says. Works well at maximum continous output due to the fan cooling and can be left on permanently as a floating charge to keep the battery topped up.

[venividivici]

Sorry - I didn't see your replies until now. Thanks very much for the info - really useful. Sounds like Sterling is the bomb! I'll put Sterling stuff on the list of things to save up for...

Thanks again

John

[Therunner]

Just use it all year round

Melvin

[lhd]

I was thinking about replacing the charger in my LT Florida with a Sterling, as the factory-fitted one makes a loud buzzing noise when powered up. I'm also not sure if it's up to scratch to charge the 2 80Ah leisure batteries I've put in, and it doesn't charge the starter battery.

Are you sure it doesn't charge the starter battery because it should do. They do Buzz a little but not really noticeable maybe it's on the way out.
T'onions charges both his 110ah batteries.