Stupid Newbie query about EHU in Storage Facility

[FEC]

Hello All,
Newbie MH owner here with possibly most basic Q you've ever read on this forum (a competition idea perhaps? )
I recently bought a Swift Escape (2019) and have been using/learning about it over the summer/autumn. Generally happy and learning as we go. I keep the van in a storage facility at the moment which has a metered EHU system based on cards. (I haven't used this so far as we've been using the van regularly over the summer and batteries seemed good without need to top them up) However, with the cold weather it has sat in storage for the last 4 weeks or so (I have already winterised it following guidance on this forum -drained the boiler etc all that seems fine).
But when I went to take it out recently the engine battery was flat and when I hooked up the EHU cable to the power, the leisure battery was showing 'poor'.
So to my most stupid question: (it's not about the engine battery) I have hooked the van up via the EHU cable and the microwave light is on, so there is power going into the van. However, I have turned the Swift mains console off inside as I didn't want to leave it on power and then lock the van up and leave it.
So, (cough....) is the EHU cable sitting there just doing nothing if the van is not 'powered up' inside -or does it charge the leisure battery automatically even when the system is turned off? Any constructive responses very welcome

On the engine battery front (it was newly fitted in the summer) the swift system showed vehicle battery is good so I have bought a 8v battery charger and maintainer (should have done this before I now realise) and hopefully will get it started without having to source a new vehicle battery. If its knackered then I've learnt an expensive lesson.
Thanks for any guidance forthcoming and apologies for the entry level knowledge base! -Numpty out

 

[Gaston aires]

There is no need to turn off the internal mains at the console. This will disable all the 240 v system including the charger. No surprise then that the batteries are flat. You can turn off the 12v system if you like and this will enable the batteries to charge. Your system should self regulate the charging and there are far more “ battery experts“ on MHF than I to help you.
I’ve never turned off the mains in my previous vans except to do maintenance.
Phil

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

No solar capability? If the van's not under cover you could place a 100w or so panel in the windscreen laying flat. That connected to the cab battery would keep it topped up ready for duty. The panel could also be used for off grid camping, and easily orientated to the suns angle for maximum harvesting.
Mike.

 

[Ingwe]

Hello, welcome. Firstly, no question is ever the most basic or stupid In relation to motorhomes. What’s obvious to some is puzzle to others.
We too keep our van in storage under cover. So we have no light for the solar panel to keep our leisure battery charged. But we have fitted a Battery Master (available from this site’s shop) and so now, every few weeks or so, we connect the van to EHU and the leisure battery charges and the Battery Master keeps the starter battery fully charged too. We have messed about with a weekly time so that we keep the van on EHU and the timer turns it on for three hours once a week say on Wednesday.Bit as we like to keep a look out on the van we now go and visit it once a fortnight at least just to see all’s ok and I check the batteries then with a multimeter.

When in storage, we keep the master switch turned to off. This means that the power is on, the pump cannot run, neither are any of the 12v sockets active bit of course the mains charger is on and unaffected by the master switch being turned off.

 

[FEC]

Thanks Phil, Mike and Ingwe for these really helpful replies. It is under cover and doesn't have solar in any case, so we need a solution such as the battery master or a trickle charger (I've just bought a Ring 8v Charger/maintainer) but there might be better solutions and the battery master seems more versatile? When the charger arrives I'll go and fit it and switch the power console on, which might at least get things moving in the right direction. Thanks again for the advice -much appreciated.

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[westhamman]

Welcome to fun, no answer to your question, there is no stupid question or conversation here, which of cours is as it should be.

 

[autorouter]

(I've just bought a Ring 8v Charger/maintainer)

It's an 8 Amp charger, not 8 Volts. The voltage is '12V' or '24V', auto-sensing. It is a multi-stage intelligent charger, and is exactly what you want for this job.

It charges basically in three stages, called Bulk, Absorption and Float. It constantly monitors the voltage and amps of the battery, and adjusts its output to optimise the charging.
In the bulk stage it outputs a constant 8 amps, and the voltage slowly rises. When it reaches the 'Absorption voltage' (about 14.4V) it switches to the absorption stage.
In the absorption stage the voltage is fixed at the absorption voltage, and the amps gradually reduces. When it reaches a pre-set level (about 0.8A) the charger decides that the battery is now 100% full, and switches to the float stage.
In the float stage, the charger applies a carefully selected voltage, about 13.5V, that is just enough to put in a very small charging current. This is to make up for the small self-discharge of the battery, and keep it topped up to 100% without overcharging it.

A multistage charger like that can be left connected to the battery indefinitely if you want. I have something similar, a CTEK MXS5.0, which is a 5A multistage intelligent charger, that is connected permanently to the starter battery. It can left connected while driving, it won't cause any problems. When I plug in the EHU it automatically charges the starter battery and keeps it at 100%.

The Ring charger is a '7-stage' charger. As well as bulk, absorption and float the other stages are short diagnostic stages to check the battery is OK, or a 'conditioning' stage that is optional and is only rarely used.

 

[FEC]

Thanks that is really helpful info and useful to know. I didn't realise that it could be kept attached to the battery, so that does seem to be an ideal option. It should arrive in a day or two so hopefully I can get it attached and start charging things up -and be back in action after Christmas. Thanks again for taking the time to respond and for the guidance.

 

[gus-lopez]

However, I have turned the Swift mains console off inside

My mate always used to turn off the Sargent unit & wondered why the batteries never charged.

 

[Bognor Saint]

We too keep our motorhome in storage. Previous motorhomes we turned off the control panel and requested EHU and both batteries charged ok. Our recently acquired Bailey has proved different. I requested EHU, I'm able to monitor battery via tracker app. Battery didn't seem to be charging and after a visit to check things I found out that the control panel needed to be left on to enable charging to take place.

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[FEC]

Thanks Autorouter for this really detailed and helpful response. And good to know that the bit of kit I've bought will do the job in terms of charging things on an ongoing basis. Much appreciated advice.

 

[Brains]

If you are going to keep the van, then I'd be inclined to fit a solar panel to the roof and a battery master.

 

[FEC]

Solar would be a great addition to the van so yes will look at getting that I think- thanks for the advice

 

[starquake]

Solar would be a great addition to the van so yes will look at getting that I think- thanks for the advice

We keep ours in storage (outside) and it's a good thing we have the panels, and they are wired for both hab and leisure, as the alarm (Vanbitz) does use a fair amount of power. We had a false alarm Saturday and the battery was down to 12.2V on the starter just from that, and we immediately following afternoon went, started van and brought it home to both recharge and load for the xmas break.