Caravan Battery Chargers

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The dumb charger and the solar panel on my 4yr old Bailey manages the battery without any problems.  Motor mover and self levelling systems used on a regular basis . 🙂

 

Sorry but that is totally incorrect. In fact, if you go back a few years you will see a technical article in the Club's magazine which says exactly the same and if you read manufacturers data this will confirm. 13.8 volts is a compromise to keep a well maintained battery topped up and not to provide excessive voltage to the caravans nominal 12 volt system. It has nothing to do with the length of time taken to recharge which is more dependent on current not voltage.

A sealed lead acid battery requires 14.4 volts to correctly recharge and condition the battery. A smart charger passes through various stage of current and voltage control and a good one will maintain a battery without damaging it so can be left permanently connected which you should NOT do with a Bailey charger. In fact my Bailey manual specifically stated that.

Every time I mention this somebody says “ well my battery is just fine”. That may be the case and, of course, you are entirely at liberty to believe what you wish, but I had two batteries fail prematurely before I worked out what the problem was. You may be lucky but the best way to treat your battery and get maximum life is as I have described.

Given our reliance on our battery, one would think that smart chargers would be the norm on all new caravans. I’m looking to buy a Clubman in the next month or so. Having had a look at their website, it just says “12volt charger”. I’ve emailed them to ask.

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It is usual on motorhomes but, for caravans, Swift and Coachman are the main manufacturers that do smart chargers. I don’t think Lunar fit them.

I tried to find the article by (the late) Ken Wickersham in the Club magazine archives but was unable to locate it. Think I got his name right?

Of course, a smart charger has to take the battery off-line whilst charging, and to supply the caravan with 12 volts at the same time so it makes it quite costly. Motorhomes have a starter battery plus leisure battery are used more without EHU and often have solar panels so the whole system is much more complex.

I have never had a battery fail prematurely.

And am happy to see a constant 13.8 volts from my Swift smart charger constantly. Or a bailey charger.

I now have a solar panel that will typically give out  around 13.6v on a sunny day. I does no harm whatsoever to keep a battery on 13.8volts.

My last battery was 9 years old before I left something on and flattened it otherwise I expect it would still be in service, one before was 7 years old when I let it go with the caravan.

 

I actually prefer the Bailey single stage charger as there's less to go wrong with the charger, some Swift smart chargers have been reported constantly giving out 14.4 volts and boiling batteries.

A lot of misinformation here. I shall say no more.

"I tried to find the article by (the late) Ken Wickersham in the Club magazine archives but was unable to locate it. Think I got his name right?"

Just for the record he was "John", and IMO he is a sadly missed technical contributor.