Charging camper when parked.

[normal rules]

I have put the van in the garage to do some work in the winter. If I plug it into the mains, does it charge both the leisure and vehicle battery?

[itchyfeet]

depends if you have a charger unit installed and how it's connected.

[scottbott]

there was no charger in my Autosleeper so I fitted a Ctek charger to the RCD so it charges as soon as I hookup,works a treat

[California Dreamin]

Most 'pre-installed' chargers do NOT charge both batteries. However, the black box (BBB) charger on a Westfalia does.

Use a SMART charger every 6 - 8 weeks on both (overnight should do it).

Martin

[normal rules]

So it charges leisure battery?

[itchyfeet]

Alot of split charge relays ( to charge both batts from alternator)work off an alternatior charge light feed, so both batts would need to be charged seperately by a mains charger because they only connect together when engine running.

My split charges relay is a voltage sensing type so when the starter batt sees the charging voltage ( from alt or mains charger) it connects to the leisure so both will charge from a single charger.

Some may say better to charge batts seperately as they may need different charge but if you are just trickle charging then it's no problem.

[lodgey62]

I'm with him,just fitted a voltage sensing relay, does what Itchy says and I'm delighted with it.All the lot cost about £70

[itchyfeet]

mine is like this, I'm sure there are better quality ones, just make sure it's fused lower than the relay and the wiring is rated more than the relay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Sel ... SwymxVJ4pC" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAMPER-VAN-SE ... Sw~OdVeer2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;