Newb question, sorry. 12v & 240v

[Nij]

Ok, I understand basic electirics, and have no worries about doing basic wiring (done car wiring and my home in the past).
In 'my van' I want a 12v strip light (possibly 2) and a couple of 'reading'/down lighter (again 12v). When on a campsite I want to hook up to 240v, so I need a transformer for the 12v leisure side. How do I wire this? As surly the transformer will be part of the 12v system also?

Cheers in advance and I know it's going to be a obvious answer,
Nij

[California Dreamin]

The best way is to have a leisure battery charger but take the power for the leisure anchillaries from the Leisure battery. The leisure battery is then being charged whilst on hookup but doesn't go flat because there is more charge than discharge.
Taking that point further....the charger needs to be more powerful than the likely maximum discharge (normally anything over 8 amps will do) and a device that switches to 'float' charge state once the battery is fully charged (you don't want the battery to boil dry with over charging).

Something along the lines of:


http://www.leisurebatteryshop.co.uk/10- ... -Batteries" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Martin

[Nij]

Cheers bddy