Long Holiday How to Leave Van

[Thepominlaw]

going away over Christmas for a 6 week period just wondering what I should do to keep battery ok as I have work the day after I return. It’s the original 5 year old battery and I occasionally get the 12 volt low infotainment system will turn off message so was planning of changing it but wanted to wait until after the holiday.

No power outside so a trickle charger will be tricky. Will starting it and letting it idle be an alternative. What’s your thoughts?

 

[Dellmassive]

Fully charged the battery for 24/48hra b4u go.

Add in a solar trickle charger if you can.

A 50 watt – mounted panel should do the trick.

 

[Dellmassive]

Have a look here for more information,

Thread '[Guide] Battery Maintainer (for Starter battery) -- How I Done It --'

25 Nov 2020

[Guide] Battery Maintainer (for Starter battery) -- How I Done It --

Right so its that time of year again . . . . . . . . Winter & (Lockdown 2020)




The van might be layed up not being used, which will lead to a flat battery in around 3 weeks.

The cold weather doesn't help the battery's either.






This Thread is about using "what you have" to "back charge" the starter battery...

lets look at some options. . . . . . . .

1# Connect a 240v/EHU charger to the starter battery and leave it connected, that's fine if you have a drive way etc, have a look for the...

• Dellmassive
• battery drain dellmassive how to guide vehicle battery
• Replies: 108
• Forum: Electrics, Lighting, ICE, Security

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[Dellmassive]

Most people with a leisure battery are now using the able mal AMT 12-2. Trickle charger.

That will trickle charge your starter battery by taking power from the leisure battery.

Depending on the size of your leisure battery you can get months of starter battery charge.

 

[Dellmassive]

If you have a portable battery pack.

Then you can charge the starter battery even with no mains outside the house.

Post in thread '[Guide] Battery Maintainer (for Starter battery) -- How I Done It --'

23 Dec 2022

Winter 2022 - Mobile EHU and battery charging via 12v socket.


right so its winter / xmas 2022 so the van will be layed up for a while. . .

possibly 2 weeks or more. . .

so this time i thought i would demo the Mobile EHU method using a Portable Power Pack and mains charger.


this is what we are going to use . . .





I've fully charged the ECOFLOW River Pro 600 . . . .

its 720Wh capacity. ( your see why this numberr is important later)




+++


next up we have the charger . . .

im going for a small...

• Dellmassive

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[Thepominlaw]

I have one of these can I use that? If so what would I need to buy

BLUETTI Solar Generator Elite 30 V2 with 60W Solar Panel (Ships Separately), 288Wh LiFePO4 Portable Power Station, 600W AC Outlets (1500W Power Lifting)​

Didn’t realise I could charge via the 12v lighter socket though

 

[manfrotto]

Maybe get a jump starter as well - Just in case all else fails. I have one and only used it once to test it out, but wouldn't be without it especially away and off grid.

 

[Badjamin]

Is it worth just taking battery out and leaving it in your nice warm living room with a trickle charger keeping it healthy. Not too much of a job to pop it back in when you get back.

Also, don't leave handbrake on

 

[Thepominlaw]

Only 12v socket that appears to be constantly live is the one on top of the dash, the one by the gear stick is only on with ignition. I’m assuming I need to use the one on the top with a trickle charger. Would the NOCO genius 5 be okay

 

[DaveD]

Is it worth just taking battery out and leaving it in your nice warm living room with a trickle charger keeping it healthy. Not too much of a job to pop it back in when you get back.

Also, don't leave handbrake on

I agree, but I'd go further, I'd use the opportunity to buy a new battery.

 

[JumpShip]

Disconnect the battery , make sure its fully charged and leave it disconnected until you get back .job done

 

[Dellmassive]

Only 12v socket that appears to be constantly live is the one on top of the dash, the one by the gear stick is only on with ignition. I’m assuming I need to use the one on the top with a trickle charger. Would the NOCO genius 5 be okay

Yes...

That's what I use.

With a 12v plug adapter.

 

[cgtmiles]

just leave it, if you plan to get a new battery anyway what’s the worst that could happen? Maybe preorder the replacement battery

 

[Bargy62]

just leave it, if you plan to get a new battery anyway what’s the worst that could happen? Maybe preorder the replacement battery

@Thepominlaw That's the best plan why spend loads of money trying to keep an old battery alive spend the money on a new battery
Leave on the old battery
Buy a new one before you go on your trip trickle charge indoors swop over when you get home

 

[Thepominlaw]

Good point didn’t want to get the new battery fitted then let it stand. Plus garage quoted £425 for new battery seems quite a lot to me

 

[DXX]

Disconnect the battery , make sure its fully charged and leave it disconnected until you get back .job done

Then there is no alarm and the insurance wood be void.

 

[Thepominlaw]

Then there is no alarm and the insurance wood be void.

Yes insurance specifies alarm

 

[DXX]

Good point didn’t want to get the new battery fitted then let it stand. Plus garage quoted £425 for new battery seems quite a lot to me

I’d get a new battery, fully charge it at home and leave it out of the van.
Fully charge the old battery in the van.
Go on holiday.
Fit the new battery when you return.

 

[Ayjay]

Sorry if it's stating the obvious but you could just take this as a hint that you need a weatherproof socket on an outside wall. The individual parts or, indeed, complete kits are readily available and it's not a particularly job difficult to do (even for an idiot like me!).

 

[dubber36]

@Thepominlaw That's the best plan why spend loads of money trying to keep an old battery alive spend the money on a new battery
Leave on the old battery
Buy a new one before you go on your trip trickle charge indoors swop over when you get home

There shouldn't be any need to trickle a new battery. Just imagine if every battery in a warehouse full of batteries was on trickle charge before being picked off the shelf and sold.