Question on battery chargers....

Post by **1_eyed_jim** » 29 Apr 2012, 19:40

Evening! Need to buy a battery charger but have no idea about chargers. What general rule do I need to follow here? Heard mixed messages about it some people telling me get one that is 10% of your batteries capacity eg mine is 70ah so need a 7amp charger and other people telling me 50% so need 35amp charger???

Thanks

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 29 Apr 2012, 20:05

Leisure or starter?

Post by **1_eyed_jim** » 29 Apr 2012, 20:49

Sorry was talking about starter battery.

Post by **1_eyed_jim** » 29 Apr 2012, 22:56

So managed to borrow a 4amp charger it's a really old Einhell with a ammeter. Connected it up and all was well the ammeter said it was at 2.5a but about an hour later it said 0. Thought no way has it charged it already??? However I noticed that it had tripped out and when I turned it back on it was again at 2.5a. It keeps tripping out though. Is it not the correct one or is it faulty? Charging in the house BTW

Post by **California Dreamin** » 29 Apr 2012, 23:04

Yes you are right....typically the ameter will show the full 4 amps (in this case) on a flat battery but only for the first few minutes then it will slowly drop and hold somewhere in the middle for 10 - 16 hours slowly dropping over that time to a minimal 0.5 - 1amp showing that it has reached full charge.

The charger shouldn't keep tripping so might be faulty but equally it could be the result of a faulty battery,,,hard to say.

Martin

Post by **California Dreamin** » 29 Apr 2012, 23:11

As far as charge rate is concerned I was always told that 10% of the amp hour rating was the ideal but thats not to say something less won't do a good job, it's just that it will take considerably longer.
So 10% of the amp hour rating for 12 - 14 hours or 5% for double that.
Trickle charging is actually kinder to the battery but is obviously not as convenient.
Battery charges that have automatic staged charging are best, ones that switch to a float charge state once they sense the battery is fully charged.

Martin

Post by **1_eyed_jim** » 30 Apr 2012, 08:51

Thanks for your help. So was thinking the charger I would like is £40 and thought I might as well get a hook up and forget charger fitted like a Amperor and hook the van up? See....

http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/westy ... 40854.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post by **California Dreamin** » 30 Apr 2012, 21:44

Yep but the charger really doesn't need to have two ouputs like the original Westy...as long as you carry out the simple interior light/radio mod which switches power supply for these to the leisure. That way the starter battery is left completely untouched whilst on camp (no drain so doesn't need charging).

Martin

Post by **1_eyed_jim** » 30 Apr 2012, 22:26

Thank you. Excellent advice as always!

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