Power options

[seahorse]

I'm new to all this - just bought my first camper and would be grateful for advice.

There's no 240v hook-up fitted, and I'm hoping not to have to stay on campsites much if possible and need to figure out how to keep things powered.

I've got gas running for the cooker and fridge, but not sure what to do about electricity. The interior lights work fine already. There's currently only the main battery under the driver seat and it has two extra poles with nothing attached, presumably used to power the fridge on 12v if I wasn't using gas? Would it be ok to just keep the fridge on gas permanently, even while mobile?

I already own a small inverter which connects to the lighter socket and gives me a standard 3-pin socket which is fine for powering my laptop and any other small appliance, one at a time, as long as the engine's running to charge the battery of course.

There's space for a leisure battery under the passenger seat. The main battery has already been prone to dipping just low enough to refuse to start the engine. Would it be worth getting a leisure battery too? It might be handy for jump starting the main battery if nothing else! But if that's all, maybe a jumpstart power pack would be better. Do interior lights drain the main battery much when parked up in the evening? If I had two batteries what would I need to be able to keep both charged?

Or how about using a generator instead?

If anything needs to be fitted by someone with knowhow and you could recommend someone near south-east London - whether a garage or fellow T25 afficionado - I'd be grateful. Thanks in advance.

[scoobydrew]

Hi and Welcome.
The fridge will be fine on gas, but not when mobile.
I would fit a Leisure battery, it should be ok if fully charged for a couple of nights, but will depend on what your running of it, lights and water pump no problem.
I would not use it to jump start the van, different types of battery etc.

Have you checked all round the van, coz if its the one in your pic it looks like a devon which should have 240 hook up.

[seahorse]

Thanks. Is it actually unsafe to use gas while mobile, or is it just that it won't work because of not being level or something.
Probably won't even use the water pump, just a few 5 litre water bottles refilled with tap water as required. So that just leaves the two interior lights - too much for the main battery? I wouldn't really know how to set them up to run from a leisure battery.
Yes, it's a Devon, but there's definitely no mains hookup. The seller pointed that out too.

[kevtherev]

If I had two batteries what would I need to be able to keep both charged?

It really is easy to set up an aux battery.

simply put one (code 096 or 067) in the other "box" at the back of the passenger seat.
go to the wiki and follow the guide that you understand, to fitting a split charge system

find out which wires attached to your starter battery work the lights and pump, by disconnecting them all and reconecting one by one.... once identified, attach them to the new battery.

the water pump is there to make life easier, and so is a leisure battery.

hook up systems are available at Towsure.

[Lafawnduh]

Hi there...sorry to dig up an old thread...didnt think it right to start yet another about leisure batteries...

If i set up a split charge system, will the leisure battery will continue to be "topped up" as we drive and/or if the engine is turning over?

We're heading to Glastonbury this year, obviously there is no hook up...but im hoping that over the week, if i periodically start the engine and leave her running, the leisure battery will be recharged.

Am i correct in thinking this?

[andisnewsyncro]

Is it actually unsafe to use gas while mobile, or is it just that it won't work because of not being level or something.

Don't do it, you don't want to be driving around with your gas on at all. Turn off the regulator before you drive anywhere.

If i set up a split charge system, will the leisure battery will continue to be "topped up" as we drive and/or if the engine is turning over?

We're heading to Glastonbury this year, obviously there is no hook up...but im hoping that over the week, if i periodically start the engine and leave her running, the leisure battery will be recharged.

Am i correct in thinking this?

It should, the split charge set up keeps both batteries charged whilst driving, but only alows power to come from the leisure when stationary, so you don't flatten your starter battery. you can reduce the drain on the leisure battery by using led lighting rather than tubes etc. Just make sure your stereo is wired into it too and not the starter battery as they often are, for some reason...

[1664]

If i set up a split charge system, will the leisure battery will continue to be "topped up" as we drive and/or if the engine is turning over?

We're heading to Glastonbury this year, obviously there is no hook up...but im hoping that over the week, if i periodically start the engine and leave her running, the leisure battery will be recharged.

Am i correct in thinking this?

The leisure battery will charge off the alternator once the starter battery is fully charged and the relay switches. It will charge on tickover but it will take some time depending on how discharged it is. Whatever you do, don't run it right down else it'll try and draw a very heavy current from the alternator and may just blow the fuse(s) in your split charge system.

[Lafawnduh]

Thanks for the info...

It probably wont get used TOO much to be honest....lights etc will probably torches etc....maybe use it for powering/recharging a DVD player and the 12v fridge we have.

Actually, the fridge has a cigarette lighter connection....it never gets used...should i rewire it to the leisure battery? i would've thought running the fridge off the main battery is a bad idea, the battery would never last...even if i turn the engine over for a while each day

[1664]

If it's an absorption fridge don't connect it to any battery without the engine running as it's too heavy a load (8-9 amps approx) and will completely flatten a battery in no time. If it's a compressor type fridge it shouldn't draw anywhere near that much and should be ok.

Running interior lights shouldn't present too much problem as long as they're not left on for hours on end.

[Lafawnduh]

Forgive my ignorance...in the instructions...to quote...

"The coolbox works perfectly at every normal angle of inclination, thus offering significant advantages compared to conventional compressor or absorption cooling units"

So that doesnt really suggest its either????


The fan on the top of the coolbox has "Long Life Time - 12v / 0.25a" written on it.

Oh dear am i seeing my own simple error....coolbox, not fridge?....we have what looks like a hand held cool box, but with a cooler/fan on the top...its powered by the lighter socket

[1664]

"The coolbox works perfectly at every normal angle of inclination, thus offering significant advantages compared to conventional compressor or absorption cooling units"

So that doesnt really suggest its either????

Possibly; or maybe they are just saying it doesn't have to be level unlike the others....

The fan on the top of the coolbox has "Long Life Time - 12v / 0.25a" written on it.

Oh dear am i seeing my own simple error....coolbox, not fridge?....we have what looks like a hand held cool box, but with a cooler/fan on the top...its powered by the lighter socket

Well whatever it is, 0.25 amps is not much so you can connect that up no problem. If it relies on a small fan keeping things cool I doubt it's much cop. Have you had it working? Can you put a link up to similar ones on t'internet as I'm curious to have a look at it......

[jamesc76]

We ended up with a cool box like that when the fridge inb the van bust, also got a 240 to 12v convertor, it would actally freeze it self up in the fins in the lid!!! Well shocked But if you keep opening um there not brill

[Lafawnduh]

Cant even find it online..lol, must be awesome




Pretty simple thing...so this could be ok to keep plugged in? And maybe just turn the engine over once or twice a day??

[Oldiebut goodie]

The cool boxes run on Peltier plates. Like these

[Oldiebut goodie]

It is perfectly safe to use the fridge on gas whilst mobile - some fridge /van handbooks state it thus. I run mine on gas permanently - just switch it off before entering a service station.
People who say that the gas has to be turned off quite happily drive along with their petrol connected. - They should turn that off too!!