nora Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Hi campers Well not been into this camping long so much to learn ,done a few weekends but all on sites with hook ups now want to try this wild camping but a little worried about battery running down . Could anyone please tell me how do i make sure my vechicle battery does not get driansd while i am using my leisure battery. Also have been reading on this site about battery must have a vent pipe on but the battery in my motorhome does not is this ok or not. :$ :$ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Jones Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Hi Nora I'm no professional at this (Dave Newell, are you there?) but I'll do my best. If your batteries are wired correctly, it shouldn't be possible to drain the vehicle one. There should be a relay - a sort of automatic switch - which connects them together when the engine is running (so both of them get charged up) but disconnects when the engine stops, so however much you use your 12v "caravan" stuff it can't touch the vehicle battery. There may be a manual switch if you've got a "control panel" for the electrics inside - if so, switch it to the "site" rather than "travel" position. If your van has been converted professionally, that's how it'll be. If it's a DIY conversion, it should still be right but it's worth checking. Anyone who knows a bit about electricity should be able to take a look and confirm it's OK, or there are people on here who can tell you how to check if you're stuck - ask again. As for the vent pipe - I honestly don't know, and I haven't read the thread you referred to, but .... There's no vent pipe on my battery - we've had our old wagon for 7 years and as many countries, and I'm still here! There are so many things now that are supposed to be essential, which we've managed without for years. No doubt someone who knows more about this will respond before the day is out! Enjoy yourselves Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brambles Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Hi Nora, You have not said what model of Motorhome/camper you have. However, normally the liesure battery is charged via a split cahrguing relay fron the Mail charging cicuit for engine battery. When you are camping you should be using power from Liesure battery and not engine. If you have a swutch fro selcting which batter is used, some motorhomes do and some don't then make sure you select Liesure. There will be plenty of power for a few nights just running normal things like lights and heater fan. And if you are moving on each day it will recharge. Re vent pipe, depends where battery sits, If it is in a well ventilated box with holes to ouside but sealed to living area you are probably ok, however most are fitted under driver or passenger seat in which case there should be a vent pipe. Of course it is also possible you have the luxury of a sealed gel battery which does not need venting. If you can give more details then more specific answers can be given. So question is, where is battery? What type is it? if you are not sure see look to see if it has a row of 6 filler caps on top. Even if battery is in it's own ventilated box and has a little nozzle on teh side at top, it is worth fitting a vent pipe (PVC) and taking downwards and out through bottom of vehicle to ouside world. As to the Engine Battery, some have vent pipes fitted and some do not. I personally prefer a vent pipe in case the battery ever gasses as it ages and drops of acid get forced out. I do not want them dripping on my nice battery tray and rather they were routed way down clear of anything and onto road. Fiats and Peugoet generally have a plastic tray fitted under battery to catch any acid or water that is splashed onto battery and that is then drained through a pipe down to the road below. Hope that all makes sense as I have waffled on a bit. Jon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brambles Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Tony, where is your battery sited - If in habitation area and it is a flooded (normal) lead acid, you definetly need a vent pipe for safety. Under normal conditions you should not get gassing, but as battery ages or if it is charged more than 14.4 volts then gassing can/will occur. It is extremely explosive hydrogen. Ok most will get away with it, but why risk being the one who does not. Jon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nora Posted March 28, 2007 Author Share Posted March 28, 2007 Hi again well thank you for all your help (so far) I AM READING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION OFF THE BATTERY SO HERE GOES IT IS A MARINE AND RECREATION ENERGY SQUADRON S F L 110 12V 110AH BUT NO AIR VENT *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nora Posted March 28, 2007 Author Share Posted March 28, 2007 New User Posts: 6 Hi again well thank you for all your help (so far) I AM READING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION OFF THE BATTERY SO HERE GOES IT IS A MARINE AND RECREATION ENERGY SQUADRON S F L 110 12V 110AH BUT NO AIR VENT (^) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brambles Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Nora, Your battery is a Sealed For Life flooded wet lead acid battery. Don't worry to much about terminology, basically it is a sealed for life battery and does not require a vent. It is also leak proof and is actually a darn good battery and 100% maintenance free. Jon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Leisure battery really needs a vent pipe to outside of van as when it charges it gives off Hydrogen gas which is not only corrosive, but highly explosive. as regards running down battery when stopped, I agree with above comments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 I hope Frank doesn't spot this thread. He'll be on here in a flash. Calling you all a load of snivelling parasites for not wanting to keep the fat cat capitalist site owners in the manner they deserve. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sax Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Hello Peter, I agree with your comments about our learned friend. The thing that annoys me is the publication on other forums of locations that in the end become overrun. My idea is to wild camp, and enjoy it, move on after one night, make a note for future use and keep quiet. We have an area locally which for many years had a height bar. After a bit of lobbying etc it was taken down. I like to use the M/H as a base for a day sea fishing there. Then some idiot said in MMM and another forum that it was a good free site. Others came and immediately started camping there for days at a time. Result? A local councillor told me that the barriers are due to come back. I gave up passing the time of day and and volunteering a friendly caution to the regular users because of the blast of abuse received. I totally wrongly thought that M/H owners and users were a nice bunch. I am sure you lot on this forum site are, but be assured there are some low life dregs out there, foul language and threatened violence being natural to them. Sorry to rant on again. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Hi Sax I agree with you. As I would like to use mine for a weekends sea or fly fishing. But all the reservoirs I know have barriers. It wasn't always like that but caravanners used it for a weeks fishing and that was that. I don't see why we should feel like criminals or worse just for wanting to spend a night or two where it's not causing anybody any annoyance. My wife's read so much about it in the Mag's that she won't stay anywhere now if it's not at least a C.L. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brambles Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Yes, There is a good point mentioned there about some remote wild campng spots relatively undiscovered and tolerated by locals becoming overly popular and then having retrictions placed on them. Sometimes it is best not to share your little gems. Some places are fine to share, for exampe parking on the front in Dover, but the little hideaway carpark by a play park maybe not good to share except with friends or people you meet. One thing I will say though, is where ever you wild camp, always leave it tidier than when you arrived so the camping fraternity does not get a bad name, does not matter if it is someone elses rubbish you pick up, you might get the blame and clearing up a bit or filling a pot hole with loose stones is your way of saying thankyou to other users of the area for letting you stay the night for free. J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sax Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 Hello Brambles, Totally agree. Never leave a trace of ones presence and peferably support local trade. With me, the local pub. I was well trained by old style travellers back in the late 50's/early 60's. My father was then an estate manager near the Herts/Essex border and each year would welcome a bunch of true gypsies ( trad painted horse drawn wagons or vardies) A lovely bunch from Worcestershire area looking for country work before returning for the fruit picking. Dad used to have up to ten or dozen gathered in those days. In return for the camping they laid hedges, lopped trees and general gardening. As a youngster, I would visit at teatime, sit and listen around their cooking fires whilst they instructed me in the arts of true wild camping. How to poach, fish and live off the land. (Sorry Peter, it was many years before I cast a fly, worms are much easier, although frowned upon by the experts as being bad form. At least they provided an almost instant meal) When these wonderful people eventually moved on (remember, they did not even carry a chemical Elsan on board) the only trace of their passing were wheel marks on the grass and a certain amount of horse waste which mother trowelled into buckets for her roses if they had not brought it up to our house themselves. Everything was buried deeply. We shall never see their likes again. The current bunch of new age travellers and didicoyes have destroyed everything. I am third generation Rumanian and very proud of it. Romania and Romany are interlinked obviously, a country of gypsies. I am sure my bloodline led me to want the travelling life and am in no way ashamed. I do wonder what the impending 'invasion' of new EU neighbours will bring though. Wild Camping? Go for it and as Brambles advised, do not leave a trace. Apologies for rambling on and boring you all again, Have fun, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nora Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share Posted March 29, 2007 hi thanks to all for there help i feel better now about wild camping looking forward to my first try once again many thanks. :-> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twooks Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 ok Mike - what's didicoyes? *-) I know us gadjes have brought a lot of rom words into the english language, but I've not come across that. B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terrytraveller Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 A diddycoy is a gipsy or Irish traveller, in my book. Regards Terrytraveller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Frank Wilkinson Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 peter - 2007-03-28 9:06 PM I hope Frank doesn't spot this thread. He'll be on here in a flash. Calling you all a load of snivelling parasites for not wanting to keep the fat cat capitalist site owners in the manner they deserve. :D Actually I only stay on CC and CCC sites in this country and as they are both owned by the members I suppose that I'm a bit of a communist!As for 'fat capitalists' I would suggest that you try calling one of my oldest friends by that offensive epithet. He's about to lose his house because his business has failed despite his best efforts. You may also look at my biggest rivals Jessops whose shares were floated at 150p and today are at 15p as they're projecting a loss of several million pounds.I love it when people who've never taken a risk in their lives and worked in the public services or large companies talk about 'fat capitalists'. Very amusing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twooks Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 shame about Jessops - have always found them friendly, helpful and knowledgeable B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 Hi Nora, An easy test is to disconnect the negative terminal of the starter battery and see if the van electrics still work. Its most likely that they will. Then turn ON the ignition switch and make sure that the dash board does NOT light up. Oh yes, if your radio is key code make sure you have this information first. Good luck C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Frank Wilkinson Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 twooks - 2007-03-29 4:56 PM shame about Jessops - have always found them friendly, helpful and knowledgeable B-) Yes, they were when they were smaller but acquisition after acquisition to enable them to fool the city by boasting about having over 300 shops has left them with 150 shops that probably don't make money.They run on minimum staff, most of whom are demoralised and have stores in towns that cannot possibly support a good specialist photo retailer. In some towns they've two stores where one would be more than enough and the chickens have come home to roost, as those of us who know the trade backwards have prophesied for some time.Ah the joys of being fat capitalists!What we need is a return to a socialist economy so that we can enjoy the lavish benefits of countries such as the old USSR, East Germany, North Korea and Cuba.I was in East Germany during the height of the Cold War and it was scary how all those from West Germany were risking their lives by climbing over the Berlin Wall so that they could sample the free, democratic and wealthy society of the East. That's why they built the Berlin Wall you know, to stop the millions of people wishing to emigrate to the communist utopia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 Frank Wilkinson - 2007-03-29 3:25 PMpeter - 2007-03-28 9:06 PM I hope Frank doesn't spot this thread. He'll be on here in a flash. Calling you all a load of snivelling parasites for not wanting to keep the fat cat capitalist site owners in the manner they deserve. :D Actually I only stay on CC and CCC sites in this country and as they are both owned by the members I suppose that I'm a bit of a communist!As for 'fat capitalists' I would suggest that you try calling one of my oldest friends by that offensive epithet. He's about to lose his house because his business has failed despite his best efforts. You may also look at my biggest rivals Jessops whose shares were floated at 150p and today are at 15p as they're projecting a loss of several million pounds.I love it when people who've never taken a risk in their lives and worked in the public services or large companies talk about 'fat capitalists'. Very amusing!Frank.....No need to throw your toys out of the pram. It was said tongue in cheek. I am sorry about your friend, but could he not see what was coming and take evasive action?. The bit at the bottom about the rest of us not taking risks is a bit rich, and I guess aimed at me about whom you know nothing, and even less about any risks I may have taken in my working life. It's not only people running a business that take risks. We all do one way or another. Just taking out a mortgage is one example and having children. Because those that are employed are taking a risk that their employer knows what he/she is doing, and judging by some of the muppets running businesses these days that is certainly a giant leap of faith.But I knew it would get you running out of your lair. (lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 Peter You and Starspirit weren't separated at birth by any chance???? :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 Yeah...but I got the best bits. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sax Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 Hello Peter, This thread has drifted off again. But, I was delighted to see Frank back and obviously firing on all cylinders. I find his comments always extremely enjoyable (though sometimes a bit fearsome in the past). Back to the subject being discussed at present. With the loss of our privately run photographic/camera shops Jessops quickly moved in and completed the 'massacre'. Good prices, much better choice but staff who must be on sales commission like so many computer/electrical stores and act like pre-programmed morons. I have had my bargains, but I would welcome a branch of Wilkinson in town, where I am sure good advice would be available. At least I would be able to understand my new Digi SLR and Digi video camera. Cheerio, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 I'm sure Frank could oblige after he makes a bid for the soon to be defunct Jessups. Must say I've never been in a Jessups store. Last time I was in a photo shop was when Dixons used to do cameras. Went digital when they first came out and bought a Nikon 800 and am still satisfied with it . Brilliant little camera and only 2.2 megapixels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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