Clever leccy guys heres one for you

[L' Hobo]

I think the charger and the jump starter do different jobs and your starter pack will not charge the battery. You are right about the voltage drop issue which is why an appropriate charge on the starter battery is important as most vans have some ongoing drain on the battery from trackers etc

Yes, I understand that a stand alone charger is different from a booster pack but when one uses it, you are supposed to connect it up and give it a few minutes to settle which, I presume, is transmitting a small amount of charge into the battery.

+ As I can charge my Tablet, phone etc. from it. When it's connected to the battery, as long as there is no heavy demand on it, like trying to start the vehicle, I thought, maybe, the Lithium battery inside the NOCO might be used to supplement power used by the alarm & radio etc.

I'm happy to say I have never been in this situation as I use my van for a run out/camp every week so just exploring possibilities?

 

[Nanniemate]

How long did it run after you started it, if you just started it to check it worked then turned it straight off then you used a lot of power out of the battery and didnt replace it

I intended to take it out so it was running for about 20 minutes but not on high revs so not much charge going back in. It does not normally stand for this long but with planes being more cost effect it was on the drive through the cold spell without being hooked up while I was away. Unfortunely I have been tied up with other things so its been lonely and left on the drive as even day out plans have been scuttled by other events. Then I was going to take it away this week but had a feeling she would not start even though the van is saying plenty of power there. I think maybe its sulking as the car has been used lately and I think its sibling jealousy

I was thinking if whilst its on EHU I could plug the charger in and run it to the battery without having to introduce extension leads and give the EHU a little help.

 

[autorouter]

Yes you can. I bought a C-TECH MXS 5 when I first started fulltiming. I usually have this hardwired in so that as soon as I am on hookup it goes into maintenance mode.

Me too. I also use it to charge the scooter if necessary, it has a motorbike mode as well.

 

[JohnH17]

Just to add, I was surprised to find on Elddis Accordos that EHU charges the leisure battery but not the vehicle one. I picked up a wire from the vehicle battery that goes back to the solar panel controller (which does charge both), so now and again over winter I connect EHU, plug the battery charger into a mhome socket and connect it to the battery wire and earth - it only charges at 4A so I'm not worried about voltage drop or heating. Only thing I did do was double check that the +12 and 0v charger output were isolated from the mains-in earth (just in case). Very simple and no need to leave a battery charger balanced under an open bonnet in bad weather. Probably this isn't relevant (I've forgotten the question - an age thing) but maybe it'll help someone else...

 

[autorouter]

so now and again over winter I connect EHU, plug the battery charger into a mhome socket and connect it to the battery wire and earth - it only charges at 4A so I'm not worried about voltage drop or heating.

Just make sure it's a smart charger - a multi-stage intelligent charger that continuously monitors the battery volts and amps, and adjusts its output accordingly. Most chargers nowadays are smart chargers, but that old charger in the shed that you used on your Ford Anglia might not be, and could overcharge your expensive battery and ruin it.

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[JohnH17]

Well, it's not what I'd call 'smart'! It's just constant current (the 4A) to 14.7v (or probably nearer 14.3 with .1ohm cable resistance), then drops to 13.8v constant voltage indefinitely. Not at all like the old selenium bridge rectifier in the charger I used to charge the old Ford Anglia with (WRW426 - I can remember that from 55yrs ago, just can't remember last week) - but, what I want to know, how did you know I had an Anglia??!!

 

[Johnthebike50]

If your on ehu can you plug a battery charger in and the charge your vehicle starter battery through the van

Definitely, I have charged a fellow Motorhomers flat battery using my EHU.

 

[Nanniemate]

Yesterday went and checked the panel to see how much charge had gone in and she fired up first time. Left ehu on and she's going out today
Thanks for all your responses