Distance between battery charger and battery???

An alchemy of sparks, copper wire and earth

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
SamsBus2012
Registered user
Posts: 561
Joined: 15 Aug 2012, 10:24
80-90 Mem No: 11455
Location: Devon

Distance between battery charger and battery???

Post by SamsBus2012 »

Evening all. Just in the process of putting everythinhg back together and looking for some recommendations on siting a new charger for the leisure battery. The battery itself is under the passenger seat (also split charge wiring). All my 240v hookup kit is near the back - am i going to suffer voltage drop if I put the charger near the back and extend wires up to the battery? Looking at a Numax 10A charger.
Tom (aka Matt)
1986 Hightop with 1.9dg 4spd. The boys call him "Magnus"

User avatar
CovKid
Trader
Posts: 8411
Joined: 30 Apr 2006, 13:19
80-90 Mem No: 3529
Location: Ralph - Coventry (Retired)
Contact:

Re: Distance between battery charger and battery???

Post by CovKid »

You'll always get voltage drop (to some degree) over distance. Would it not make more sense to extend the mains side of charger?

Thinking about it, the voltage drop probably wouldn't be all that significant. Prepare for two pages of calculations on the subject though. :wink:
Roller paint your camper at home: http://roller.epizy.com/55554/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for MP4 download.

User avatar
SamsBus2012
Registered user
Posts: 561
Joined: 15 Aug 2012, 10:24
80-90 Mem No: 11455
Location: Devon

Re: Distance between battery charger and battery???

Post by SamsBus2012 »

Cheers.
Thinking a bit more, I could probably just about get the charger on the end of the cabinets just behind the driver seat. The 3 way fridge is just behind there with a 240 outlet. I coulod reconfigure that to a double socket. I'll have to extend the cables that come with the charger - not sure what they come with but I've got a couple of rolls of single 4mm so would have thought that sort of cross section should minimise drop... Not really my field of expertise! :?
Tom (aka Matt)
1986 Hightop with 1.9dg 4spd. The boys call him "Magnus"

User avatar
CovKid
Trader
Posts: 8411
Joined: 30 Apr 2006, 13:19
80-90 Mem No: 3529
Location: Ralph - Coventry (Retired)
Contact:

Re: Distance between battery charger and battery???

Post by CovKid »

Is your camper set up to charge leisure when you're driving and if so how?
Roller paint your camper at home: http://roller.epizy.com/55554/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for MP4 download.

User avatar
SamsBus2012
Registered user
Posts: 561
Joined: 15 Aug 2012, 10:24
80-90 Mem No: 11455
Location: Devon

Re: Distance between battery charger and battery???

Post by SamsBus2012 »

Yep, got a split charge relay set up under the passenger seat - just a simple 40A relay not a fancy one - I have looked at getting one of those but never seam to get round to it. I'm keeping a mains charger in for when we go camping with the kids - stereo, lights, water pump, phone charges, etc etc...
Tom (aka Matt)
1986 Hightop with 1.9dg 4spd. The boys call him "Magnus"

User avatar
nicq
Registered user
Posts: 1185
Joined: 24 Sep 2011, 19:03
80-90 Mem No: 10290
Location: Cranleigh Surrey

Re: Distance between battery charger and battery???

Post by nicq »

As long as the charger wires connect dirrect to the bat (both poss and neg) and the wire is capable of carrying Over 10 amps the voltage drop will be negligible.
2.1 Twin slider

User avatar
CovKid
Trader
Posts: 8411
Joined: 30 Apr 2006, 13:19
80-90 Mem No: 3529
Location: Ralph - Coventry (Retired)
Contact:

Re: Distance between battery charger and battery???

Post by CovKid »

and nothing wrong with the 40amp relay either. Thats all I've had in mine for many years and both batteries get charged fine.
Roller paint your camper at home: http://roller.epizy.com/55554/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for MP4 download.

User avatar
SamsBus2012
Registered user
Posts: 561
Joined: 15 Aug 2012, 10:24
80-90 Mem No: 11455
Location: Devon

Re: Distance between battery charger and battery???

Post by SamsBus2012 »

Cheers again both, so I'll just run 4mm cable I have and stick to what I've got.h
Tom (aka Matt)
1986 Hightop with 1.9dg 4spd. The boys call him "Magnus"

Post Reply