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Post by penny13 on Dec 16, 2013 14:25:57 GMT
Ok dealer has just told me to be able to wildcamp for three nights off of batteries I need to mains charge for 48 hrs plus first ! I have two 110 batteries and a 150 solar panel ! Also charging of the alternator whilst driving not the same as hook up charge ! Brand new batteries solar panel and van ! Thank you
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Post by Is it spring yet, dormouse? on Dec 16, 2013 14:33:46 GMT
Can't help much, Penny, electrics and batteries are a bit of a mystery to me But - I might be totally wrong - I would have thought that charging batteries while driving is no different to charging on hook-up, though? Depends on how long you're driving for? Surely a charged battery is a charged battery, no matter how it's charged if you see what I mean? And this 3 nights wildcamping - doesn't that depend on how many battery dependent devices you're using and for how long over a 3 day period?!
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Post by penny13 on Dec 16, 2013 14:52:52 GMT
Exactly my point Marie batteries are a mystery to me ! They even had the audacity to hand me a sheet on it ! But I am sure a fella will happen along and give me a clue Glad you had a good weekend despite weather ! But we are Wilders ! They had to apologise about my hab door they said it was fine ! I knew it wasn't and it wasn't ...
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Post by Oldish Hippy on Dec 16, 2013 15:00:40 GMT
well all light are led avtex tv not sure on what that takes diesel heater takes a lump out of batterys on start up hot water is gas depends on what your pump is solar panel isnt a going to put a lot in this time of year
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Post by Lee & Linda on Dec 16, 2013 16:48:27 GMT
Penny you have approx. 100amp/hrs. of power.(You can't use all the power in a battery without damaging it) This means that for instance you can run a light or appliance which has a consumption of 1 amp for 100 hrs. So to work out how long your batteries will last you will have to find out how much each electrical appliance consumes and then add them all up. As you can see it's not an easy task. But over time you can find out by watching the voltage meter and when it reaches approx. 11.4 volts the batteries are nearly flat. Hippy's right in the winter the solar is not very efficient and will put only a small amount of charge into the batteries. Charging on hook up will fully charge the batteries, because they will be charging for hours rather than minutes, driving would but you would have to drive for a long time.
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Post by penny13 on Dec 16, 2013 17:31:57 GMT
Thank you going to get my head around this watt amp thing lol you made it sound simple or simpler ! Only have green to red lights can't see how many amps I use ! Will put it on hook up as much as possible my son has relaxed now he has had his eletric bill lol I have been on hook up for three days out wilding tonight at the knapp so let's see how batteries do Dealer is going to test them on some machine for two days ! What's that about ? Thanks again Lee Linda
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Post by Firefox on Dec 16, 2013 17:57:18 GMT
Your mains charger will probably charge at about 4-5 amps.
Therefore you get about 24h x 4A = 100 Ah of charge in a day.
That should be all you need to top up your batteries. The 48 hours assumes they are completely flat (which they should never be as LeeLinda says - that damages them) Then you would need 200Ah or two days charge.
So what the dealer says is over the top. Try to maintain them above 12V (50% charge) and give them a good 24h mains charge if you are using them for days without alternator charge.
Otherwise use alternator/solar panels to keep them topped up from night to night. But he is right, alternator charge is a blunt sword. It won't top up your batteries as well as a good 240v electronic smart charger. If you get 95% from a 240v charger, you'll probably only get 80-90% from an alternator charge, unless you have a B2B or other box of tricks fitted.
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Post by X on Dec 16, 2013 18:27:48 GMT
Ok dealer has just told me to be able to wildcamp for three nights off of batteries I need to mains charge for 48 hrs plus first ! I have two 110 batteries and a 150 solar panel ! Also charging of the alternator whilst driving not the same as hook up charge ! Brand new batteries solar panel and van ! Thank you I have the same trouble ! Half the problem is the modern electrics on both the base vehicle and the habitation side seem to eat power when just sitting ! I have 2 11o amp batteries too bu get less time off grid than did with a single 85 amp on both my other vans ! Not fitted solar yet but next on list ! I carry my £ 50 generator when away for more than 3 or 4 days now ! You are not supposed to wild camp these piles of shite are built for sites !
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Post by penny13 on Dec 16, 2013 18:51:40 GMT
How did you get a £50 generator Charlie ? Don't start me on new lump of plastic ! Plus I don't talk technical and they take advantage of that ! I don't even run all the lights often just use a torch grrrrr
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Post by Firefox on Dec 16, 2013 19:06:52 GMT
They were selling cheap gennies at Aldis for about £60 this summer Or www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/281201102996 etc They are 2 stroke, and noisy, and probably won't last long, but camping, you only run it occasionally. It's not like you are using it on a building site 12/7 so it may fit the purpose.
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Post by X on Dec 16, 2013 19:29:25 GMT
They were selling cheap gennies at Aldis for about £60 this summer Or www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/281201102996 etc They are 2 stroke, and noisy, and probably won't last long, but camping, you only run it occasionally. It's not like you are using it on a building site 12/7 so it may fit the purpose. I know I feel totally ripped off ! Mine only been going for 8 years ! It is a scandal To be fair I do not use it often but it has always started when needed ? Look at Kims he ran that thing every day and was only the same as mine ? If I wanted to run one a lot I would go for a honda I think ?
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Post by X on Dec 16, 2013 19:32:43 GMT
How did you get a £50 generator Charlie ? Don't start me on new lump of plastic ! Plus I don't talk technical and they take advantage of that ! I don't even run all the lights often just use a torch grrrrr Yes I am the same not often more than one light on at a time and I often turn power off during the day ! Started on at Swift And Sarjent electrical when it was new but soon got bored and gave up ! Might sort it one day maybe ? Gennie was a B&Q special 8 yeas ago but you can still get them from about £60 upwards ! Good as a back up
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Post by Lee & Linda on Dec 16, 2013 21:30:20 GMT
I you buy one of the cheap generators take care some of the cheaper ones can mess up battery chargers.
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Post by penny13 on Dec 16, 2013 22:44:33 GMT
Not buying one yet Have been in the bus since 2 pm with tv on lights on diesel heating on, charge looking good may need eletric hook up more than I have been doing ... Will wild tue wed and see where I am by then In the meantime trying to understand the bloody things that determine my life lol
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Post by Firefox on Dec 17, 2013 2:43:02 GMT
They were selling cheap gennies at Aldis for about £60 this summer Or www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/281201102996 etc They are 2 stroke, and noisy, and probably won't last long, but camping, you only run it occasionally. It's not like you are using it on a building site 12/7 so it may fit the purpose. I know I feel totally ripped off ! Mine only been going for 8 years ! It is a scandal To be fair I do not use it often but it has always started when needed ? Look at Kims he ran that thing every day and was only the same as mine ? If I wanted to run one a lot I would go for a honda I think ? LOL, I should probably have said be prepared for the cheap ones to fail as they do use some cheap parts, but when you think about it £60-80 is a pretty amazing price for a new petrol engine and an alternator plus electrics. On the small models you will often get low wattage - 700/800w which is limiting but it is ample for charging batteries, running small power tools and even a scorpion saw!
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Post by penny13 on Dec 17, 2013 15:53:06 GMT
Well after charging my battery the whole weekend it worked, so I will keep an eye and go on hook up more often ! I am also determined to understand them
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Post by christinephil on Dec 17, 2013 17:27:12 GMT
charging on the move is faster than hookup, only trickle charge on hookup
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