Leisure Battery Charger

[Gandalf]

Afternoon all,

Not being electrically minded I'm after your recommendations on a Leisure battery charger? There's so many out in web world but I want to make sure it'll do the job.

All advice/guidance gratefully received.

[gypo]

this would do it and its simple to fit.
G

[California Dreamin]

Hi mate
The original BBB westy charger was just 6 amps and not particularly brite as in doesn't switch to float or pulse charge when the battery is fully charged.

So what you want is something a little beefier and smarter:

http://www.tayna.co.uk/Numax-Leisure-Ba ... P6127.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There is no need to have a charger that charges both leisure and starter batteries, just make sure you carry out the Westy interior light mod which puts all camping electrics on to the leisure circuit leaving the starter battery idle for starting the van. (mod takes about 30 minutes and is well documented) do a search.

So the Numax above or any similar multi stage charger, wired from the 230 volt circuit charging just the leisure battery/batteries.

Martin

[Oldiebut goodie]

Avoid kit like that - scotch blocks for connectors!!!!!

If you mean a split charge system there are lots of threads about it. Depending upon the size of your leisure battery a 70 - 100A setup is the most efficient.
If you mean mains charging - it depends upon the size of your leisure battery again. I use a Ring 20A charger for my 110Ah batteries.

[California Dreamin]

The ideal charge rate is 10% of the amp/hour rating of the battery/batteries you are using.

I couldn't agree with you more about scotch locs or other 'quick' connectors...avoid like the plague.

Gandolf has a Westy California so I'm wondering why he hasn't already got a split charge circuit and mains charger fitted? I guess it could have been a factory option which wasn't fitted or perhaps it was removed by a previous owner?

Martin

[Gandalf]

Removed Martin - what I'm after is something to charge the battery overnight when I want to give it a good charge before going away as, I think I'm right that the alternator doesn't give it a big enough charge to fully charge the LB?

[California Dreamin]

So are you talking about a portable charger, not fitted?

Overnight...8 hours....is generally too short a time to charge a large leisure battery from flat, like I say 10% of the amp/hour rating so 10 amps for around 12-14 hours on a totally flat 100 amp/hour battery.
Obviously we are presuming the worst senario here and the ideal charging time.

You can charge more quickly but this is not ideal, you would need something bigger like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/RING-Workshop-B ... 98&sr=8-27" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chances are the battery will never be completely flat, more like 25% charged and a 10/12 amp unit would be adequate to top up charge (100%) in that 'overnight' senario you describe.

http://www.directcarparts.co.uk/product ... y-use.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I do pretty much the same thing and charge my 110 amp Leisure a day or so before a camp. I use a 12 amp charger and leave it plugged in for a good 12-14 hours, the smart circuitry doesn't allow the battery to over charge so it doesn't really matter if I leave in on longer, my battery is rarely less than 50% charged when I start.
I believe you have the right idea....it is good for the battery to recieve a proper independant charge every now and then, especially if you know it has discharged quite a bit. The split charge circuit does charge the leisure battery but it does take many hours and as the charge sensing is reading two connected batteries the regulator gets a false reading so often doesn't charge the leisure battery fully.

Martin

[Oldiebut goodie]

That's the Ring charger that I use.

[Gandalf]

Spot on as always chaps - many thanks!