Post by JaG - Jean & Graham on Dec 1, 2013 22:13:53 GMT
Our outings are in a car and caravan. Power is supplied by two 110 amp leisure batteries whic has been ample for the type of caravanning we have always done.
Until recently we have either gone on sites with EHU or rallied for no more than two nights, so the problem of lack of power has never materialised. We also have an 80w solar panel, which during the summer months works fine.
Earlier in the year we joined a new caravan club for retired people who rally for either 5 or 7 nights normally. Most rallies are also with no EHU so battery and gas prevail and they rally throughout the year. This is where our problems began because we use quite a lot of power, especially as we use the colour TV for around 6 hours a day in the colder months of the year. The shower is used by us both daily and a laptop is used on a daily basis for business purposes. This has put a huge drain on the batteries. The last time we went out we ran out of power due to a faulty water pump, which ran for 6 hours at 8 amps without us noticing. Being November, with no sun at all the solar panel did virtually nothing. In fact it turned itself off because the power was so low in the battery.
We have looked at the alternatives, of which there are three that we can see.
1. Do nothing and hope it does not happen again
2. Buy a small Honda generator which is unpopular on any site and costs around £2.00 an hour to run
3. Purchase a battery to battery charger from Sterling
These system are not cheap, as the link will show however, they are perfect for a long term solution if we intend to continue caravanning on non EHU sites, which is highly likely due to cutbacks we have had to make to continue doing what we enjoy most. The initial outlay is very big, around £400 for a good system of battery to battery charger, monitoring guage and cables.
The way they work is very simple, and brilliant. The charger is connected to the car battery. The leads are connected to the caravan battery either by the 7S or 13 pin for low rate charging of around 6amp, or heavy duty cable via a link connector at the back of the car to the caravan battery to give up to 50 amps! The car engine is started, run on tick-over and will charge a flat battery in just over an hour. It charges in 4 stages and does not overheat or gas the battery. Only normal open cell acid batteries can be charged like this. Aviod gel, AMS and sealed batteries. The system will charge two batteries at the same time as well. Although it will never pay for itself it will make life very comfortable instead of watching the battery guage every time we switch something on.
We shall be making positive moves to purchase in the early part of 2014, all being well.
Until recently we have either gone on sites with EHU or rallied for no more than two nights, so the problem of lack of power has never materialised. We also have an 80w solar panel, which during the summer months works fine.
Earlier in the year we joined a new caravan club for retired people who rally for either 5 or 7 nights normally. Most rallies are also with no EHU so battery and gas prevail and they rally throughout the year. This is where our problems began because we use quite a lot of power, especially as we use the colour TV for around 6 hours a day in the colder months of the year. The shower is used by us both daily and a laptop is used on a daily basis for business purposes. This has put a huge drain on the batteries. The last time we went out we ran out of power due to a faulty water pump, which ran for 6 hours at 8 amps without us noticing. Being November, with no sun at all the solar panel did virtually nothing. In fact it turned itself off because the power was so low in the battery.
We have looked at the alternatives, of which there are three that we can see.
1. Do nothing and hope it does not happen again
2. Buy a small Honda generator which is unpopular on any site and costs around £2.00 an hour to run
3. Purchase a battery to battery charger from Sterling
These system are not cheap, as the link will show however, they are perfect for a long term solution if we intend to continue caravanning on non EHU sites, which is highly likely due to cutbacks we have had to make to continue doing what we enjoy most. The initial outlay is very big, around £400 for a good system of battery to battery charger, monitoring guage and cables.
The way they work is very simple, and brilliant. The charger is connected to the car battery. The leads are connected to the caravan battery either by the 7S or 13 pin for low rate charging of around 6amp, or heavy duty cable via a link connector at the back of the car to the caravan battery to give up to 50 amps! The car engine is started, run on tick-over and will charge a flat battery in just over an hour. It charges in 4 stages and does not overheat or gas the battery. Only normal open cell acid batteries can be charged like this. Aviod gel, AMS and sealed batteries. The system will charge two batteries at the same time as well. Although it will never pay for itself it will make life very comfortable instead of watching the battery guage every time we switch something on.
We shall be making positive moves to purchase in the early part of 2014, all being well.