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ol bluey 
Groupie
Joined: 06 Apr 06
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 65
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 Topic: Charging leisure battery
Posted: 19 Apr 07 at 09:05 |
is it possible to have 2 leisure batteries in and have them both charging as you drive? and also link them up together in parrallel to provide power when camper (that bit isnt essential)
not sure if the one battery is actuallyon its way out, but the incar pc is putting a big drain on it anyway :)
Edited by ol bluey
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Joker_Club
Vanorak
Joined: 14 Sep 06
Location: Sunny Lancs
Status: Offline
Points: 3733
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Posted: 19 Apr 07 at 09:26 |
No problemo mate, got two 70 amp batts wired in parallel in mine, works fine. You really need two batteries that are matched, ie both the same amperage and a similar age, or the weaker one will always be dragging the better one down (so all the info says anyway)
If your LB is nearly sha**ed, then worth getting two new ones from the same source and type so you know what you have go is OK.
Make sure you use heavy enough wiring to connect the two, and use similar heavy fuses between the batts, in case of a dead short. Fuses need to be as close to the terminals as you can. I used 100 amp wiring and Maxi-fuse holders, currently ( !) got 50 amp fuses in with no probs, but may have to go up a bit on fuse rating if the invertor tries to drag too much current when the microwave gets used
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Sunny Lancs
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dub dub campers
Yardie
Joined: 18 Apr 07
Location: Mid Wales
Status: Offline
Points: 901
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Posted: 19 Apr 07 at 18:09 |
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best option would be to link the third battery to a solar trickal battery charger (avalible from northen tools) to help the alternater with the charging of 3 batteries, as alternaters are designed to cope with the recharging needs of the vechile uasage from factory, so any after market add ons drawing power will require adition amps from alternater, what ampage alternater do you have? also with the solar charger you know when parked up for a few days your batteries are being charged, without the engine being run.
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dub dub
Stuart Roper,
Lampeter, Mid Wales
07966 270767,
dubdubcampers@aol.com
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Joker_Club
Vanorak
Joined: 14 Sep 06
Location: Sunny Lancs
Status: Offline
Points: 3733
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Posted: 19 Apr 07 at 19:30 |
Standard alty is 65 amp, 90 amp are available. Mine charges everything just fine. Loadsa info on alty charging batteries on Club 80-90, Wiki, this forum etc. Alty unlikely to get anywhere near putting out 65 amps apparently, but if it did it wouldn`t take too long to bring partialy flat batts back up.
Solar chargers OK as you say, but how many watts is worth having to be useful? Those small trickle-charger dash-top ones only put out a fraction of an amp, and a 10W unit is the size of a sunroof, anything bigger needs a regulator/diode unit etc. and you`re over £100 straight away. Also, where would you fit it? So not really "best option" IMHO 
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Sunny Lancs
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dub dub campers
Yardie
Joined: 18 Apr 07
Location: Mid Wales
Status: Offline
Points: 901
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Posted: 20 Apr 07 at 21:10 |
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my solar charger, is a wind out (5 meter cable) free standing so can always angle to the sun (max performance) fits under seat for easy storage and is 80 watts, always keeps levels top up even if didn't start van for week.
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dub dub
Stuart Roper,
Lampeter, Mid Wales
07966 270767,
dubdubcampers@aol.com
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Joker_Club
Vanorak
Joined: 14 Sep 06
Location: Sunny Lancs
Status: Offline
Points: 3733
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Posted: 20 Apr 07 at 22:32 |
80 Watts is hardly a trickle charger mate Thats quite a serious panel ! How big is it? One of those suitcase jobbies? Do you have the regulater/diode control thingy?
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Sunny Lancs
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dub dub campers
Yardie
Joined: 18 Apr 07
Location: Mid Wales
Status: Offline
Points: 901
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Posted: 23 Apr 07 at 16:26 |
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It came with the leads to attatch to the battery(croc clips) says it will charge a flat battery in about 12/24 hours, its about 26 inches by 10 inches, i made a little frame to mount so when parked up i can angle to sun to keep battery levels up, cost £85 from northen tools
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dub dub
Stuart Roper,
Lampeter, Mid Wales
07966 270767,
dubdubcampers@aol.com
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Charging leisure battery