Battery Life (Pippin - are you there?)

Dago & Mrs D · Post by **Dago & Mrs D** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:09 pm

I know this has been covered in part before - and I have done the searches - but I can't find the specific answer, so sorry Pippin (who I know will chastise me)

, but could you humour me this once.

How long would our leisure battery last without hookup - running a compressor fridge, ceiling lights when necessary (minimal this time of year), the tap, our 12v shower. If we then added a 36W coolbox and a DVD what impact would that make? I just plain don't understand electricity in any shape or form, let alone the maths that go with it! But if someone could do the calculation for me, or let me know (in language a 5 year old would understand) how to work it out, I'd be very grateful. We don't want to use hook up on our iminent european meanderings but don't want to find the battery is flat either!

Many thanks from a dense Mrs. Dago

pippin · Post by **pippin** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:21 pm

Three to four days without running the engine or using hookup, but shower use will reduce that.

DVD will not greatly reduce the capacity.

Less than a day if you add on the coolbox. Leave it at home!!

Our experience in Brittany last year was that hookup wasn't necessary.

We tended to go out and about at least every other day (shopping, sightseeing, beach) and the short runs were enough to keep the leisure battery topped up.

Your experience is likely to be similar, unless you use thecoolbox, but I have told you to leave it behind!

I await with interest on your return a report from you on whether my predictions were accurate!

Dago & Mrs D · Post by **Dago & Mrs D** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:28 pm

Thanks, Pippin. Last year I did feel we were paying a lot for electricity and wondering whether we actually needed it. Perhaps if we end up stopping somewhere for a long time we won't risk it but if, as I'm sure they are, your calculatons are correct, then we certainly won't bother to hook up for shorter stays. We will take the coolbox but only run it from the engine when we are on the move. We'll let you know how we get on.

Many thanks

kit · Post by **kit** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:50 pm

Dago wrote:We will take the coolbox but only run it from the engine when we are on the move.

Do as pippin says...leave the coolbox and let the engine concentrate on charging the leisure battery.

Dago & Mrs D · Post by **Dago & Mrs D** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 5:19 pm

OK, last silly question then I promise I'll shut up! If, as I suspect we will do, travel a few hundred miles between sites, if we connect the coolbox to the vehicle battery 12v socket whilst we are driving, will the leisure battery still charge up?

Mrs. D

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 1:48 am

Dago wrote:OK, last silly question then I promise I'll shut up! If, as I suspect we will do, travel a few hundred miles between sites, if we connect the coolbox to the vehicle battery 12v socket whilst we are driving, will the leisure battery still charge up?

Mrs. D

YES

pippin · Post by **pippin** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 8:59 pm

YES, but less charge will go into the secondary battery, so it depends how much it needs charging up.