Charging batteries ?

[Vicdicdoc]

My van setup has engine battery and twin leisure batteries in the back all connected & charged by the alternator when engine is running and by the solar panel when parked up . . . But there Doesn't seem to be method of recharging the batteries via 240v when on hook up,this is the Sterling B 2 B unit - should I open it up and add wires from the 240v hook up into the Sterling unit or carry a separate small 240v to 12v battery charger ?

 

[Garywrench]

Do those have a 240v input ?? I didn’t think they did . If not a seperate two stage charger can be had from a few places , or one of these is designed to charge leisure batteries in caravans /motorhomes
https://sargentltd.co.uk/shop/product/supercharge_151/153

 

[groyne]

I don't think the Sterling is designed for 240v use, as you say, it's battery to battery, so connecting it to the mains doesn't seem like a good idea. My 240v system is very basic, just a fusebox and 2 sockets, one for the Truma Combi, and one to plug in a CTEX MSX25 battery charger for the batteries if I ever need to use hookup.

 

[LibertyHall]

We used the Ctek MXS 25 which was hard wired to the leisure battery’s. In the two years we’ve had it we’ve only used it once!

 

[trevskoda]

Lidl are doing a 5 stage charger for sort of £15,two will work back to back charging all batterys ie,van start and service batterys.

 

[mistericeman]

If i

Lidl are doing a 5 stage charger for sort of £15,two will work back to back charging all batterys ie,van start and service batterys.

IF its like the last one I bought.... Its not auto start (ie you have to push a button after powering it up)

Might be worth checking IF that's important to you.

 

[trevskoda]

If i

IF its like the last one I bought.... Its not auto start (ie you have to push a button after powering it up)

Might be worth checking IF that's important to you.

If you dont mind spending then numax chargers on the bay at £50 use a 5ah for engine and a 10 or 20ah for service batts.

 

[Vicdicdoc]

Ok cheers I’ll check them out

 

[mistericeman]

Yup I use one of Alpha batteries 7 stage 20 amp automatic ones.

https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/12v-20a-connect-forget-automatic-leisure-battery-charger/

 

[trevskoda]

There are some ones from china on the bay which look like numax at much less dosh.

 

[wildebus]

There are some ones from china on the bay which look like numax at much less dosh.View attachment 1111

Slight OT one .... I've been trying to find a cheap low-power 6V smart charger but can't spot one. Any idea?

 

[trevskoda]

Slight OT one .... I've been trying to find a cheap low-power 6V smart charger but can't spot one. Any idea?

Loads on ebay,why 6v as very few use it now unless you have a very early honda 50 cub.

 

[wildebus]

Loads on ebay,why 6v as very few use it now unless you have a very early honda 50 cub.

I couldn't find one - got a link?

 

[mistericeman]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/264044006822

 

[wildebus]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/264044006822

cheers.
I was ideally hoping for a charger under a tenner like Trev seems to manage to locate (That charger costs twice as much as the battery I want to be charging )

 

[Vicdicdoc]

I just been to my local Lidl, they have 6/12v battery chargers ~ £20

 

[wildebus]

I just been to my local Lidl, they have 6/12v battery chargers ~ £20

I will have a look

I started finding cheaper ones but their functionality is quite limited, so started looking at the better ones again I can also use on a standard 12V Car Battery to recharge, not just trickle-charge.

 

[khorne]

If you get a battery charger then connect this to the car battery. When the car battery is charged, and the 240 charger is running, then the B2B charger will kick in and will charge the house battery.