Charging Vehicle Battery Using Mains Charger

NRM

NRM

Joined
Oct 16, 2018
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Wales
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56,773
MH
Rapido 8096DF
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NEWBIE
I have a Fiat Rapido A class motorhome and the solar is struggling to keep the vehicle battery charged; currently at 12.2V
Want to give the vehicle battery a proper charge using a separate mains charger.
Suggestions please as to suitable chargers; so far been looking at Noco Genius and CTEK chargers, but open to suggestions and views on different makes.
Can the charger be safely connected directly to the positive terminal and the earth strap, without disconnecting the battery from the vehicle electrics?
The battery is located in the floor of the motorhome cab, just in front of the passenger seat.
Thanks
 
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CTEK MXS 5 is a brilliant charger. Not cheap but well worth the money.
Comes with a connector you can permanently attach to the battery, then plug the charger in when needed. Better than croc clips. Although it also comes with those.
 
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I have a Ring 6amp 6v/12v charger, about £36 on Amazon.
Comes with both Croc clips or O ring permanent connections to positive and negative terminals.
It charges well and has 3 different levels of charging with a maintaining function.
Very pleased with mine which is plugged into my 240v 3pin sockets and powered whilst connected on EHU.
I do charge my engine battery though through my cigarette socket, which on the age of my vehicle, is a permanent live, ie not required to have the ignition on.
Hope that helps.
 
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NRM said:
I have a Fiat Rapido A class motorhome and the solar is struggling to keep the vehicle battery charged; currently at 12.2V
Want to give the vehicle battery a proper charge using a separate mains charger.
Click to expand...
Surely your Rapido already has a mains charger built into the distribution unit, so plugging into a mains supply, will charge up both your engine and leisure batteries...............or have I missed something here?

I've had to do exactly that myself today, as my starter battery was down to 12.2v.

Jock. :)

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JockandRita said:
Surely your Rapido already has a mains charger built into the distribution unit, so plugging into a mains supply, will charge up both your engine and leisure batteries...............or have I missed something here?

I've had to do exactly that myself today, as my starter battery was down to 12.2v.

Jock. :)
Click to expand...
You may be right, mine is a 2020 model and honestly don't know if there is a mains charger built in for the vehicle batttery, although can't see one in the electrics locker; can only see the one for the leisure batteries.
 
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As post #4 above, I’ve got permanent connections to +ve and -ve battery terminals and charge using a CTEK charger 24/7
Been like that for 9 years
 
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NRM said:
You may be right, mine is a 2020 model and honestly don't know if there is a mains charger built in for the vehicle batttery, although can't see one in the electrics locker; can only see the one for the leisure batteries.
Click to expand...
Most modern mains chargers on MHs, provide a 3 or 4 stage charge to the leisure batteries, and a trickle charge to the starter battery. Our old 1999 Hymer had that facility.

Have a read of the manual, and safe yourself the expense of buying something you may well not need. ;)

Cheers,

Jock. :)
 
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NRM said:
I have a Fiat Rapido A class motorhome and the solar is struggling to keep the vehicle battery charged; currently at 12.2V
Want to give the vehicle battery a proper charge using a separate mains charger.
Suggestions please as to suitable chargers; so far been looking at Noco Genius and CTEK chargers, but open to suggestions and views on different makes.
Can the charger be safely connected directly to the positive terminal and the earth strap, without disconnecting the battery from the vehicle electrics?
The battery is located in the floor of the motorhome cab, just in front of the passenger seat.
Thanks
Click to expand...

I use a Noco Genius 5 charger permanently connected to the starter battery. It keeps the battery charged and in good condition.
When on EHU it is powered by the mains, when not on EHU I power it from a small power bank which provides mains voltage.
It is never disconnected unless I need to charge other batteries.

I bought it from Halfords when they were doing a decent deal on it.

I half think that the 2A charger would have been sufficient although the 5Amp charger is suitable for batteries up to 120Ah.

Although my van has a Schaudt EBL which has a trickle charger for the starter battery, I felt that a proper charger with bulk/absorb/float/etc profiles will maintain the starter battery far better than a trickle charger could

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NRM said:
You may be right, mine is a 2020 model and honestly don't know if there is a mains charger built in for the vehicle batttery, although can't see one in the electrics locker; can only see the one for the leisure batteries.
Click to expand...
That may well do both via the main control panel.
Check voltage of both batteries when on hookup, if there's little, if any, voltage difference then both are being charged.
If the engine battery is considerably lower then it isn't being charged.
You can use any charger but need to switch on and off every 2 or 3 weeks for maybe one day or risk overcharging.
My old car has been on constant charge for the last 6 years on a cheap, basic Aldi smart charger and the battery is ok
 
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Don't forget that if your vehicle has a smart alternator and battery monitor module (usually fitted onto the -ve battery terminal) any -ve connections should be onto the chassis side of the battery monitor module. i.e. to an engine, chassis or body stud or bolt.
 
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JockandRita said:
Surely your Rapido already has a mains charger built into the distribution unit, so plugging into a mains supply, will charge up both your engine and leisure batteries...............or have I missed something here?
Click to expand...
This has got to be the best suggestion to look at first.

And if the Rapido charger does not charge the starter battery, then a long term fix would be to fit a battery to battery maintainer to look after the starter battery.

If you do need to use a purchased charger for a one off charge, do not worry about things like smart alternators and shunts. They are irrelevant for a one off plugged-in charge.. Just connect the charger to the battery terminals. No need to disconnect or remove the battery.
 
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LithiumConvert said:
This has got to be the best suggestion to look at first.

And if the Rapido charger does not charge the starter battery, then a long term fix would be to fit a battery to battery maintainer to look after the starter battery.

If you do need to use a purchased charger for a one off charge, do not worry about things like smart alternators and shunts. They are irrelevant for a one off plugged-in charge.. Just connect the charger to the battery terminals. No need to disconnect or remove the battery.
Click to expand...
Battery Master from vanbitz will keep VB topped up from LB but only if LB has a higher differential it only works one way.
 
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Check or test the battery voltages then plug into ehu and see if the voltages go up. That will tell you that you have an onboard charger and whether you have any need for a stand alone charger. Almost certainly you will have one on such a recent van.
 
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