Double Posted December 8, 2006 Posted December 8, 2006 I have a 2004 Ace motorhome based on Fiat Ducato. Whilst on site and on hook-up the vehicle battery does not get charged up as does the leisure battery. However, I was told by another Swift Group owner that he gets the engine battery charged on site by merely switching over on the control panel from 'caravan' to 'car'. I can see that this would serve to by-pass the on board charger which charges the leisure battery, but charge the vehicle battery.....? Am I missing something? (On my previous 'van I had a 'battery mate' installed to charge the vehicle battery from the leisure one when on site). John ;-)
chas Posted December 8, 2006 Posted December 8, 2006 Hi John-I fitted a small device from C.A.K. cost about £20 . It only needs 3 connections- 2 positive 1 negative and allows the leisure battery to reach full charge on hook up 13.6volts then allows van battery to trickle charge . When leisure battery drops below said voltage changes over again to charge leisure battery. Works a treat. chas
Steve OReilly Posted December 9, 2006 Posted December 9, 2006 The control unit of my motorhome (Autocruise not Swift) also gives a choice of 'car' or 'caravan'. If I want the leisure battery charged then I select 'caravan'; if the vehicle battery then I select 'car'. It seems to have worked for over 4 years. I haven't actually checked that there are connections from the 'caravan' charger to the vehicle battery but I often park the motorhome, connected to the mains, for up to 2 months at a time. I also use the 'car/caravan' switch to check the state of the respective batteries with the battery tester switch (obviously with the charger turned off).
mansell Posted December 9, 2006 Posted December 9, 2006 I have a hymer 640 starline and I think my engine battery does get charged when on hook up, unless you know different
Globetrotter Posted December 9, 2006 Posted December 9, 2006 German vans tend to have this feature as standard. Both my Karmann and now my Dethleplease have the same system-both batteries are charged on hookup.
Globetrotter Posted December 9, 2006 Posted December 9, 2006 OK-anyone know why when I type Dethle f f s it comes out as DethPLEASE in my post above? I have edited it twice and it still stays the same !!! D E T H L E F F S !!
mansell Posted December 9, 2006 Posted December 9, 2006 Hi, for the same reason as when I go from lounge to kitchen I have forgot what I want.
Globetrotter Posted December 9, 2006 Posted December 9, 2006 Dethleplease- see-it did it again!! The only way I can type what I want is to put gaps in ! DETHLE F F S. Why is this ?? >:-(
tonyishuk Posted December 9, 2006 Posted December 9, 2006 Glad its not only me !! I posted a reply saying that I hoped tht my handheld GPS would steer me away from C L I F F S came out as cliplease Even when I tried to edit it and apologise for my speeling ! (Probably will work now !) Do know the answer, but you are not alone :D
graham Posted December 9, 2006 Posted December 9, 2006 On our 3 year old Auto Sleeper the vehicle battery definitely trickle charges from the mains hook up when switched to car but our earlier Compass didn't so I guess it depends how the maker wires it. Why not ask their technical dept.
Philman Posted December 9, 2006 Posted December 9, 2006 Hi Double, on my Swift the built-in charger will charge either the Leisure battery or the Starter battery depending on whether the 3 position control switch is in the caravan or cab position. The centre position does not charge either battery but will run all the 12v electrics from the charger. The Leisure battery is not connected to the Starter battery. The control circuitry is supplied by 'Plug-In Systems'. Phil.
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