Leisure battery help?

[burnsy79]

I’m pretty sure I should know the answer to this, 18 months in to owning my camper. But we mostly have electric hook up.

Can you charge your leisure battery when idling?

We are heading to Dubbed Out at the end of the month and last year we ended up running the leisure battery to zero. I’m pretty sure I’ve damaged the cells as I’ve did this twice now.

 

[burnsy79]

I know I’m having a conversation with myself here, but got the answer. Stupid question right enough.

 

[jimc91]

If your leisure battery is a lead acid/agm battery you should not run it below 50%, almost certainly knackered now

 

[kipperman]

Beyond your knackered leisure battery, the answer is that there is a modest amount of charge at idling, but above idling the voltage and charge rate will increase. Not a quick process. You will, however, incur the wrath of your fellow campers doing this (if you are suggesting recharging whilst camped up). Not great for the engine nor the environment either- sounds like you need to go down the LiPO4 route.

 

[burnsy79]

If your leisure battery is a lead acid/agm battery you should not run it below 50%, almost certainly knackered now

Yup! Only has about 80% capacity now.

 

[burnsy79]

Beyond your knackered leisure battery, the answer is that there is a modest amount of charge at idling, but above idling the voltage and charge rate will increase. Not a quick process. You will, however, incur the wrath of your fellow campers doing this (if you are suggesting recharging whilst camped up). Not great for the engine nor the environment either- sounds like you need to go down the LiPO4 route.

LiP04 might be the route. I’ll get searching on here for a thread.

 

[Salty Spuds]

LiP04 might be the route. I’ll get searching on here for a thread.

Plenty of info to go at & the current price of Lithium makes it a no brainer. The biggest cost now is upgrading the charging side to kit that has a lithium profile. That is unless you already have it.