Charging Leisure Battery at home?

[T6ChrisO]

Hi all,

I have no understanding of battery charging etc so Im going to ask a potentially stupid question....... Is there a way I can charge my leisure battery at home? Reason I ask is that I hire my camper out and if people have stayed off grid, the battery always comes back really low. Now if my next customers also want to be off grid and dont plan on driving far, the battery wont be fully charged.

 

[DXX]

Fit solar and your problems will be over

 

[Deaky]

Hi all,

I have no understanding of battery charging etc so Im going to ask a potentially stupid question....... Is there a way I can charge my leisure battery at home? Reason I ask is that I hire my camper out and if people have stayed off grid, the battery always comes back really low. Now if my next customers also want to be off grid and dont plan on driving far, the battery wont be fully charged.

Absolutely. Just connect it to a smart charger, something like this MXS 5.0 UK

Comes with crocodile clips to attach to the battery or a plug that you can permanently fix to the battery and just plug the charger into.

 

[T6ChrisO]

Fit solar and your problems will be over

I know, im aware solar would do this but cant afford to have it installed yet

 

[T6ChrisO]

Absolutely. Just connect it to a smart charger, something like this MXS 5.0 UK

Comes with crocodile clips to attach to the battery or a plug that you can permanently fix to the battery and just plug the charger into.

You're a star mate, thank you

 

[T6ChrisO]

Absolutely. Just connect it to a smart charger, something like this MXS 5.0 UK

Comes with crocodile clips to attach to the battery or a plug that you can permanently fix to the battery and just plug the charger into.

£78 on Amazon at the minute too

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-MXS-5-0-Reconditions-Motorcycle/dp/B00FC42HAA/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=MXS+5.0+UK&qid=1664537653&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjQ2IiwicXNhIjoiMC41MiIsInFzcCI6IjAuNzIifQ%3D%3D&sr=8-1

 

[Deaky]

£78 on Amazon at the minute too

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-MXS-5-0-Reconditions-Motorcycle/dp/B00FC42HAA/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=MXS+5.0+UK&qid=1664537653&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjQ2IiwicXNhIjoiMC41MiIsInFzcCI6IjAuNzIifQ%3D%3D&sr=8-1

It's not suitable for lithium if you have that.

 

[DXX]

I know, im aware solar would do this but cant afford to have it installed yet

Fair enough but offset the cost of knackered battery replacement and it works out much cheaper

 

[T6ChrisO]

Fair enough but offset the cost of knackered battery replacement and it works out much cheaper

Yeah its certainly in my plans for next year, just need to get some money in the business first

 

[T6ChrisO]

It's not suitable for lithium if you have that.

No mate, not running Lithium

 

[Salty Spuds]

Hi all,

I have no understanding of battery charging etc so Im going to ask a potentially stupid question....... Is there a way I can charge my leisure battery at home? Reason I ask is that I hire my camper out and if people have stayed off grid, the battery always comes back really low. Now if my next customers also want to be off grid and dont plan on driving far, the battery wont be fully charged.

Does the van have EHU & a mains charger? If so, just plug it in at home. If not, that’s a gaping hole in your setup tbh.

 

[T6ChrisO]

Does the van have EHU & a mains charger? If so, just plug it in at home. If not, that’s a gaping hole in your setup tbh.

Its does yes but Id need a commando socket on my wall I'd assume?

 

[Salty Spuds]

Its does yes but Id need a commando socket on my wall I'd assume?

Nope, either buy an adapter or make up a short lead with a 13A plug on one end & a 16A blue socket on the other. An essential part of any EHU kit.

Electrical & Power | Caravan Batteries | Halfords UK

Browse our range of camping electricals, including everything from camping extension cables to bulbs and batteries for a caravan/motorhome.

www.halfords.com

 

[T6ChrisO]

Nope, either buy an adapter or make up a short lead with a 13A plug on one end & a 16A blue socket on the other. An essential part of any EHU kit.

Electrical & Power | Caravan Batteries | Halfords UK

Browse our range of camping electricals, including everything from camping extension cables to bulbs and batteries for a caravan/motorhome.

www.halfords.com

The things im learning today!

 

[Oceanis]

I got one of these attached to the garden shed ....

 

[IestynD]

If like me the leisure battery isn't somewhere very accessible in my case under the passenger seat.

I didn't want to have to remove the seat every time I wanted to top up the leisure battery so I made up an extension cable by buying adapters that work with Victron battery chargers (the adapter (pigtail thing)) works with other brands as well.

I cut the male end of one of these and attached it to the battery by way of cable through the bulk head and behind the dash under the floor to the passenger seat base. That way I just pop the bonnet, plug my charger in and hey presto the leisure battery is charging.

Highly recommend making it as easy as possible if its a regular thing.

Good luck and if you want any more pictures/advise just ask.

 

[T6ChrisO]

If like me the leisure battery isn't somewhere very accessible in my case under the passenger seat.

I didn't want to have to remove the seat every time I wanted to top up the leisure battery so I made up an extension cable by buying adapters that work with Victron battery chargers (the adapter (pigtail thing)) works with other brands as well.

I cut the male end of one of these and attached it to the battery by way of cable through the bulk head and behind the dash under the floor to the passenger seat base. That way I just pop the bonnet, plug my charger in and hey presto the leisure battery is charging.

Highly recommend making it as easy as possible if its a regular thing.

Good luck and if you want any more pictures/advise just ask.

Thank you! Mine also isnt in the best place so I think my best option is going to be installing a commando outlet Or just buy the 3 pin plug adaptor that was kindly linked above

 

[Salty Spuds]

Thank you! Mine also isnt in the best place so I think my best option is going to be installing a commando outlet Or just buy the 3 pin plug adaptor that was kindly linked above

Our van is permanently plugged in when at home. We have a small heater that we leave on low during the winter to keep the damp out.

 

[T6ChrisO]

Just want to thank everybody for their input, its realy appreciated and I know its embarassing asking what others may seem as general knowledge ha ha. But if you dont ask, you dont find out!

 

[Dellmassive]

just to add some extra info on the above . .

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