Leisure Battery - charging whilst using??

[isaune]

Hi there

I am going to be using my electric hook up for the first time over Easter and I wondered if I am able to use it to CHARGE my leisure battery at the same time as actually USING the leisure battery.

At the moment, I run a few things (mini TV, coolbox, phone charger, kettle etc) off the leisure battery using lighter socket connections and it would obviously be a bit more hassle to have to carry 2 leads for everything - ie use a mains lead when electricity is available and a 12v lead at other times. I would rather just continue to run everything through the battery if possible.

This is the battery charger I am using

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/p ... HARGER.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you agree that it will do no harm to charge the leisure battery at the same time as using it, then what setting should I have the charger on - 12v fast charge or one of the trickle settings?

Grateful for your advice - thanks

Ian

[lloydy]

that charger seems more suited to charging a battery removed from the van. I'd rather get something like this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CTEK-MXS-5-0- ... 1525wt_698" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
You need to ad up the amp hours all your stuff uses and then get a charger that produces more amps, otherwise the batteries will still go flat

[isaune]

OK - thanks Lloydy.

So am I right in thinking that there is nothing wrong in principle with charging a battery at the same time as using it?

[1664]

At the moment, I run a few things (mini TV, coolbox, phone charger, kettle etc) off the leisure battery

Kettle???

[isaune]

Well, I must admit, I haven't bought the 12v kettle yet, but I figured it would be worth getting one of them, rather than using one of th egas rings??

[1664]

Heating anything off 12v is very high current demanding - far more than a battery will cope with.

[isaune]

Hmmmm - ok - maybe I will stick to the kettle on the gas ring!!

It's just that I have read about these 12 volt travel kettles and thought I might as well make use of the leisure battery's charge rather than use up my gas??

BTW - 1664, re the earlier part of this thread, do you see anything wrong in principle with charging the leisure battery at the same time as using it?

Cheers

[CovKid]

No, other than why have a leisure battery then . Just use a 12v transformer with enough amps and switch that in instead of direct from leisure battery. I have something similar only its a whopping 17amps

I have a socket bank attached most of the time but could fit a switch on leisure circuit to use this instead I suppose. Just never bothered.

[lloydy]

As covkid says, no problem with charging and using at the same time, some chargers, like the one i linked to can be used as a power pack, ie if your batteries flatten it will give you power direct from the mains (12v). Nothing wrong with the one you linked to, just a bit agricultural

[CovKid]

Battery chargers tend to be very rough output to be honest. Not sure I'd want to be running sensitive equipment from a battery that was being charged, even if the charger kept up. Better to have a smooth, dedicated supply. There are some nifty 12v supplies around and at least you know you're getting 12.5v rather than anything up to 14v

No reason why you can't charge the leisure from a charger (independently) while you're running from a dedicated supply. This has come up before and the consensus was that its too crude (if not risky) trying to power and charge at same time. Do one or the other but not both. I'd agree with that.

If it were me, I'd get one of those marine battery switches so you can switch out the battery and on to a dedicated supply with enough amps in reserve. Circuit would be simple enough. With some thought you could rig it so that as soon as dedicated supply is on and in use, battery charger takes over and charges leisure - or do the whole thing with relays.

[California Dreamin]

Battery chargers tend to be very rough output to be honest. Not sure I'd want to be running sensitive equipment from a battery that was being charged, even if the charger kept up. Better to have a smooth, dedicated supply. There are some nifty 12v supplies around and at least you know you're getting 12.5v rather than anything up to 14v

No reason why you can't charge the leisure from a charger (independently) while you're running from a dedicated supply. This has come up before and the consensus was that its too crude (if not risky) trying to power and charge at same time. Do one or the other but not both. I'd agree with that.

If it were me, I'd get one of those marine battery switches so you can switch out the battery and on to a dedicated supply with enough amps in reserve. Circuit would be simple enough. With some thought you could rig it so that as soon as dedicated supply is on and in use, battery charger takes over and charges leisure - or do the whole thing with relays.

I don't really understand this reasoning as most factory camper installations charge the leisure battery or both batteries, once the hookup is connected. This is without any restriction on the use of 12volt anchillaries.
As for the argument about sensitive electronic equipment being used: if a good quality power adapter is used to power a laptop for instance, they are designed to work with a varied 'input range' yet still provide a clean steady output for the computer. If this isn't the case I suggest you get a better quality laptop adapter.
Whether on mains supply through a charger or running the engine and having 'alternator charge output' the actual voltage can vary from 12 volts (flat battery) all the way upto 14.5 volts (modern alternator regulator output setting or stand alone charger).

Martin

[horns]

We run pretty much everything in the van off 12v power - even sensitive stuff like a laptop - whether wild camping or on hook-up, and it's never been a problem using the battery whilst it's charging. Like you say, it's convenient to only have to carry one set of cables and adaptors.

Thinking about it, charging and powering stuff at the same time is what your car battery usually does - running your radio, lights etc whilst getting charged by the alternator.

[1664]

Thinking about it, charging and powering stuff at the same time is what your car battery usually does - running your radio, lights etc whilst getting charged by the alternator.

Bingo

Also, because your battery is connected to the charger at the same time as the equipment, the battery should actually act as a smoothing device and stabilise the supply

[bigherb]

No problem with charging and using power from the leisure battery it's actually the best way to do it, keeping the battery fully charged will make it last longer. Forget the Argos charger you would be better off with a dedicated leisure battery charger that's what they are designed to do. Something like this
http://www.tayna.co.uk/Numax-Leisure-Ba ... P6127.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
10A output is OK for average use if you use any more power the battery supplies the rest and recharges when the load is lighter.

12v kettles use about 15amps and take around 1/2 an hour to boil. If you are on hook up just use a mains travel kettle.

[CovKid]

Yep, all fine advice. Just avoid those basic chargers. They also tend to hum if you have the radio on, which gives you some idea of how basic they are

Martin, you're right but onboard charging systems are a whole lot better than your average standalone 'my battery is flat' type ones. They're just not designed for charging AND running stuff. More to the point, there are only certain chargers that suit leisure batteries as you know. Come to think of it, I'm not sure how even the intelligent chargers would respond to charging a battery that was also feeding accessories. However, one designed for this work would be fine.