Hi All
continuing eith the battery theme, I purchased a new one 2 months ago, and 
have just taken off the 'van
what is the best way to keep it in tip top condition until I take the van 
out again.

thanks in advance

lofty

Lofty wrote:

> Hi All
> continuing eith the battery theme, I purchased a new one 2 months
> ago, and have just taken off the 'van what is the best way to keep it
> in tip top condition until I take the van out again.
> 
> thanks in advance

We don't take ours off, just leave it hooked up to the mains and use
the caravan trickle charger to keep it ticking over.  Mind, we also use
it roughly every two to three weeks, so longest it's been 'off-road',
or not in use, is probably one month ... last year when the Disco was
on blocks while I replaced the rear diff after it lunched itself in
France.

-- 
Paul - xxx

'96/'97 Landrover Discovery 300 Tdi
Dyna Tech Cro-Mo comp

"Lofty"  wrote in message 
news:b86dnfgrs-uCGXnXnZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk...
> Hi All
> continuing eith the battery theme, I purchased a new one 2 months ago, and 
> have just taken off the 'van
> what is the best way to keep it in tip top condition until I take the van 
> out again.
>
> thanks in advance
>
> lofty
>


Hi Lofty

If you keep the van at home or you have access to mains just leave it 
connected to the onboard PSU

Won't over charge but will keep it topped up over the winter

Metwo

"METWO"  wrote in message 
news:xYWdncgQLqAiLnnXnZ2dnUVZ8tKdnZ2d@bt.com...
> "Lofty"  wrote in message 
> news:b86dnfgrs-uCGXnXnZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk...
>> Hi All
>> continuing eith the battery theme, I purchased a new one 2 months ago, 
>> and have just taken off the 'van
>> what is the best way to keep it in tip top condition until I take the van 
>> out again.
>>
>> thanks in advance
>>
>> lofty
>>
>
>
> Hi Lofty
>
> If you keep the van at home or you have access to mains just leave it 
> connected to the onboard PSU
>
> Won't over charge but will keep it topped up over the winter
>
> Metwo

Hi Metwo

Due to where I live I have to keep my van stored on a farm, with about 300 
others, so no electric
to keep on charge

lofty>

"Lofty"  wrote in message 
news:ReGdnckPtpYynXjXnZ2dnUVZ8rWdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk...
>
> "METWO"  wrote in message 
> news:xYWdncgQLqAiLnnXnZ2dnUVZ8tKdnZ2d@bt.com...
>> "Lofty"  wrote in message 
>> news:b86dnfgrs-uCGXnXnZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk...
>>> Hi All
>>> continuing eith the battery theme, I purchased a new one 2 months ago, 
>>> and have just taken off the 'van
>>> what is the best way to keep it in tip top condition until I take the 
>>> van out again.
>>>
>>> thanks in advance
>>>
>>> lofty
>>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Lofty
>>
>> If you keep the van at home or you have access to mains just leave it 
>> connected to the onboard PSU
>>
>> Won't over charge but will keep it topped up over the winter
>>
>> Metwo
>
> Hi Metwo
>
> Due to where I live I have to keep my van stored on a farm, with about 300 
> others, so no electric
> to keep on charge
>
> lofty>
>
In that situation I would take the battery home and put it on a maintenance 
charger; some full size normal chargers have a maintenance facility but I 
use one of the small chargers sold for the purpose e.g. 
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&partNumber=188946&langId=-1
 Barry

Aldi and Lidl had their chargers on offer recently - they're perfect for 
keeping batteries charged up if you don't have electricy at the van.

On 27 Oct, 00:52, "DieSea"
<DieSea.NoSpamPle...@nnttwlwoorrlldd.ccoomm> wrote:
> "Neil"  wrote in message
>
> news:uaq9e5dudj1605tk7gne6fajca1qs6toqd@4ax.com...
>
>
>
> > On Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:00:15 -0000, "Lofty" 
> > wrote:
>
> >>Hi All
> >>continuing eith the battery theme, I purchased a new one 2 months ago, and
> >>have just taken off the 'van
> >>what is the best way to keep it in tip top condition until I take the van
> >>out again.
>
> >>thanks in advance
>
> >>lofty
>
> > One of thoses automatic chargers from Aldi would do the job.  I kept
> > my 'van battery connectred to one all through last winter.  The
> > battery lost no electrolyte at all and the specific gravity in all
> > cells stayed at 1.30.  My battery will over-winter the same way again
> > this year.  Alternatively you could pay 4 times the price for a Cetec
> > one!
>
> > Neil
>
> > (Reply via group please)
>
> Or perhaps do as I do
>
> Run a fused lead from the grey socket on the Discovery
>
> It keeps the battery charged as  run around
>
> Swap it every month or so with the second battery
>
> With 2 virtually fully charged batteries I can mange at least a weeks water /
> light and radio during the winter
>
> DieSea

I leave mine on the drive and connect it to the mains to keep the
battery topped up. but every so often it is worth taking it out and
giving it a good charge with a good charger.

www.caravanningamigos.co.uk

On Nov 5, 12:10 pm, muzz  wrote:
> On 27 Oct, 00:52, "DieSea"
>
>
>
>
>
> <DieSea.NoSpamPle...@nnttwlwoorrlldd.ccoomm> wrote:
> > "Neil"  wrote in message
>
> >news:uaq9e5dudj1605tk7gne6fajca1qs6toqd@4ax.com...
>
> > > On Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:00:15 -0000, "Lofty" 
> > > wrote:
>
> > >>Hi All
> > >>continuing eith the battery theme, I purchased a new one 2 months ago, and
> > >>have just taken off the 'van
> > >>what is the best way to keep it in tip top condition until I take the van
> > >>out again.
>
> > >>thanks in advance
>
> > >>lofty
>
> > > One of thoses automatic chargers from Aldi would do the job.  I kept
> > > my 'van battery connectred to one all through last winter.  The
> > > battery lost no electrolyte at all and the specific gravity in all
> > > cells stayed at 1.30.  My battery will over-winter the same way again
> > > this year.  Alternatively you could pay 4 times the price for a Cetec
> > > one!
>
> > > Neil
>
> > > (Reply via group please)
>
> > Or perhaps do as I do
>
> > Run a fused lead from the grey socket on the Discovery
>
> > It keeps the battery charged as  run around
>
> > Swap it every month or so with the second battery
>
> > With 2 virtually fully charged batteries I can mange at least a weeks water /
> > light and radio during the winter
>
> > DieSea
>
> I leave mine on the drive and connect it to the mains to keep the
> battery topped up. but every so often it is worth taking it out and
> giving it a good charge with a good charger.
>
> www.caravanningamigos.co.uk- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Neighbour gave me his four ex-truck (lorry) batteries.
One of them was dud the others so-so. But worth keeping around.

Time again to give them a short low amp refresher charge!
Which we do every couple of months. Out in the cool storeroom which
never freezes.

Although a more sophisticated charger would 'float' them at the
recommended 2.15 to 2.17 volts per cell.
So for six cells (typical lead acid 12 volt auto battery); 6 x 2.17 =
13.02 volts.

For charging maximum voltage should be about 2.3 volts per cell. 6 x
2.3 = 13.8 volts.

Can't say the same for the small m.cycle type battery in the truck
camper.
It's been ignored for at least a couple years now. Must take it out in
case if freezes this winter.

Thanks for the reminder.

terry explained :
> So for six cells (typical lead acid 12 volt auto battery); 6 x 2.17 =
> 13.02 volts.
>
> For charging maximum voltage should be about 2.3 volts per cell. 6 x
> 2.3 = 13.8 volts.

Those figures are wrong. 13.8v is the float charge voltage, the voltage 
at which a lead acid battery can be kept on charge indefinately. 14.3 
-14.4 is the voltage needed to bring a battery up to a full charge 
level, but once full charge has been attained the voltage should be 
reduced to 13.8v

-- 
Regards,
        Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk