Permanently fitted leisure battery charger?

[Millie Master]

When I originally made 'Millie' I did so with the wiring system designed for use only off grid and as such I didn't bother to fit a permanent switchable battery charger, instead on the very rare occasions we ever used an EHU I clipped in the CTEK smart that I use mostly at home to keep the batteries fitted to our other cars fully topped up and conditioned.

But this year we have been to a lot of sites that have EHU and this facility as well as the constant demands of the 12V fridge I have been using the hook up far more frequently which becomes more than somewhat of a pain because each time we arrive back on site and hook up, one of us has to go crawling around under the bed and into the electrics cupboard to not only plug in the CTEK charger but to then have to programme it for the correct type and voltage of the battery.... we both find this to be a right royal pain!

As this is the case, I now want to fit a permanent charger similar to the ones we used to have fitted to our caravans in years gone by....... but which is the most suitable and more importantly, the easiest to use? Oh by the way I have 2 x 150ah gel leisure batteries wired in series (pos/pos - neg/neg) I also have a split charge relay which presumably would switch over when the LB's are fully charged.

Many thanks one and all for your thoughts

 

[wildebus]

When I originally made 'Millie' I did so with the wiring system designed for use only off grid and as such I didn't bother to fit a permanent switchable battery charger, instead on the very rare occasions we ever used an EHU I clipped in the CTEK smart that I use mostly at home to keep the batteries fitted to our other cars fully topped up and conditioned.

But this year we have been to a lot of sites that have EHU and this facility as well as the constant demands of the 12V fridge I have been using the hook up far more frequently which becomes more than somewhat of a pain because each time we arrive back on site and hook up, one of us has to go crawling around under the bed and into the electrics cupboard to not only plug in the CTEK charger but to then have to programme it for the correct type and voltage of the battery.... we both find this to be a right royal pain!

As this is the case, I now want to fit a permanent charger similar to the ones we used to have fitted to our caravans in years gone by....... but which is the most suitable and more importantly, the easiest to use? Oh by the way I have 2 x 150ah gel leisure batteries wired in series (pos/pos - neg/neg) I also have a split charge relay which presumably would switch over when the LB's are fully charged.

Many thanks one and all for your thoughts

If you have a Bi-Directional VSR (which sounds like you do), then as soon as the voltage on EITHER side hits [typically] 13.2V, the relay will engage and any charging system will charge both Leisure and Starter Batteries, so yes, having a charger on one side (either Leisure OR Starter) will actually charge both sides.
It is a common misconception that it it switches when one battery is fullly charged. That is not how it works and there is no intelligence in these devices that know when a battery is full - it is purely and totally based on a voltage level. If the Leisure Battery Bank is very low, it may take some time for the voltage to hit 13.2V, but it will reach that value long before a battery is fully charged.
(I am just emphasising this point as it is such a common and repeated belief).

You want a "fit and forget" charger that will just run when you plug in. And also a Smart Charger that will both put in the right voltage level when charging and when floating (rather than a set constant voltage).
I always gravitate to the Victron Range as they work very well, have a 5 year warranty and will carry on with the last setting chosen when you plug in to EHU again. If you get the Bluetooth enabled model (so either the IP67 models or the IP22 BlueSmart ones), you can also control and monitor via your phone, which is very handy.
The Victrons are not cheap, but are no more pricey than the CTEKs of the same rating. TrevSkoda will be able to provide you with the eBay Chinese Specials as well (I like a known quantity if something is running unattended and when I am sleeping )

for a 300Ah Battery Bank, you would ideally want something of at least 30A. In the Victron Range the IP22 30A 1 Output BlueSmart charger would be the one I would go for as a standalone charger at around £200. Here is a link to that IP22 30A charger on my store where you can download a datasheet
Go bigger than 30A and you are hitting big money (a 40A charger will be twice the price of a 30A).

 

[RAW]

for a 300Ah Battery Bank, you would ideally want something of at least 30A.

Sylvia is back from the garage having had timing and carb sorted plus two new front boots and tracking. (£500 lighter)
She was at the Garage for a good few weeks with only Solar and I picked her up with the Edecoa Inverter beeping as the Alpha Battery had dumped below 50%

So now I have plugged the Van into 240V at home. Hoping the old charger will charge the Alpha Battery in the way I have wired it, in theory it should as the Alternator provides charge when the engine is running so the run from Charger to older leisure battery at Front and then back to Newer Leisure Battery at rear should be feasible for power. However, seeing no charge from BMV and no increase in Alpha voltage overnight so maybe with 230AH of batteries the old charger cannot cope ?
So when I get home later will get the multimeter out and see what gives

 

[SquirrellCook]

I'm about to upgrade Murky's Mains charging to Victron units Blue Smart IP22 Battery Charger 12V - 15A 1 Output for the habitation batteries. Blue Smart IP22 Battery Charger 24V - 12A 1 Output for the Engine start. If my calculations are correct, due to the new efficiency I should be able to increase the charge current for the same energy consumed by the old chargers. Plus all the other added benefits of these new charges.

 

[RAW]

I'm about to upgrade Murky's Mains charging

What are you doing with the old kit and what is it ?

 

[SquirrellCook]

What are you doing with the old kit and what is it ?

TecMate TM202 12 → 24V 3.5A Battery Charger, with EURO, UK Plug
At 12V they are 7A
I would say they are about 5 years old, but Anita could look that up I expect.
I have 3 of them. I think they were about £150.00 each. So make me an offer.
I thing I have learnt though is disconnect them from the battery when done.
Edit, just found some spec.
2 sets of connecting cables, one with crocodile clips for bench charging, the other with in-line battery protection fuse & ring terminals for permanent fixing to battery posts, allows sure & fast connection/disconnection. AccuMate PRO 12/24V. Automatic constant current 3-stage charger for 12 and 24V lead acid batteries Separate selectable programmes for 12V at 7A & 24V at 3.5A Suitable for standard, MF or GEL, automotive & stand-by power lead acid batteries 3-stage charging follows circuit activation if the battery retains >2V(12V) /4V(24V); bulk charge using constant current to overcome abnormal battery resistance, absorption stage to ensure good plate saturation, battery-interactive maintenance mode using float voltage limited at 13,7V Charge voltages are automatically temperature-compensated through a built-in sensor A built-in computer-type cooling fan ensures cool operation Clear LED indications of programme selection and charge programme status Includes 2 detachable and replaceable power cords for UK & continental EU use

 

[RAW]

Same as these https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/battery-chargers/9053808/

?

 

[SquirrellCook]

Yes that's the ones, but I don't want anything like that for them.

 

[wildebus]

They look like good units and being switchable 12/24V are very handy.

 

[RAW]

Would you take £50 for one ??

 

[SquirrellCook]

Would you take £50 for one ??

Ha ha, how did you guess? I think there is only one charge lead for each one.

 

[Millie Master]

for a 300Ah Battery Bank, you would ideally want something of at least 30A. In the Victron Range the IP22 30A 1 Output BlueSmart charger would be the one I would go for as a standalone charger at around £200. Here is a link to that IP22 30A charger on my store where you can download a datasheet

Thanks for all that Dave about which I shudder for the following 2 reasons, (a) I am not at all techi and don't even have a mobile phone and (b) I am about as tight as anyone could be with very deep pockets and exceptionally short arms!!

I honestly only want and need an exceptionally basic set up that is quite literally as easy to use as the systems that came fitted as OE equipment on the caravans that I used to own where quite literally all you had to do was plug into the mains and then make sure the charger was turned on.

Phil

 

[RAW]

Ha ha, how did you guess? I think there is only one charge lead for each one.

Oh, so you have TWO of them and only two charger leads ?

 

[SquirrellCook]

I have Three of them. Originally supplied with two options for the charge lead.
Option one. Wired in.
Option two. Crocodile clips

All I know I have is the "wired in" type charge lead.

 

[RAW]

Three, why ? Seems a lot of chargers to have unless you have many batteries or multiple vehicles

 

[SquirrellCook]

Three, why ? Seems a lot of chargers to have unless you have many batteries or multiple vehicles

24 volt starting. 2 x 12 volt 90ah So using one charger on each battery to keep them balanced.
12 volt habitation 2 x 6 volt 220ah The remaining one for emergency use on this.

As all the chargers were the same, if a problem occurred they could be swapped or moved. As it happened they never left their homes.

 

[RAW]

I see, thanks

 

[wildebus]

Thanks for all that Dave about which I shudder for the following 2 reasons, (a) I am not at all techi and don't even have a mobile phone and (b) I am about as tight as anyone could be with very deep pockets and exceptionally short arms!!

I honestly only want and need an exceptionally basic set up that is quite literally as easy to use as the systems that came fitted as OE equipment on the caravans that I used to own where quite literally all you had to do was plug into the mains and then make sure the charger was turned on.

Phil

Well, once fitted, it is just "plug in and you are charging". Can you get more simple?
You can still probably get the BluePower versions which are the same without Bluetooth and a bit cheaper (Those are being phases out though).

Remember the OE kit on the Caravan was just a set voltage power supply and not a proper battery charger. You can still get those as well for peanuts if you really want to not treat the battery well

 

[GEOFF]

Phil - Millie Master - if your batteries are as you stated (plus to plus and neg to neg) they are in parallel and not in series. Just saying. Geoff.

 

[Millie Master]

Phil - Millie Master - if your batteries are as you stated (plus to plus and neg to neg) they are in parallel and not in series. Just saying. Geoff.

I never was any good with the black art Geoff, many thanks as always for pointing me in the right direction. And having written that Geoff, in my situation, what type of charger would you fit?

Phil