hi first time poster here just got the bongo last week (known what one is for 10 days now).
we have a numex 85 leisure battery in it - it's brand new
what should we do to care for these - is it good practice just to recharge it before a trip or monthly? if it is a good idea what kind of charger ?
does the electric hookup charge it or only partially?
thanks and sorry for the first of probably many questions
battery care
Moderators: Doone, westonwarrior
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pippin
No lead acid battery likes to be left discharged for very long so it is best to keep it charged.
A float charge is best for long-term over-winter use.
Your electric hook-up does not in itself necessarily have a charger.
You will need to hunt around to ensure that there is one.
My charger unit has a tiny switch with "float" or "fast" settings.
I leave it at "float" and occasionally hookup at home to keep the battery topped up.
When we are out camping and on hook-up I switch to "fast" because the battery needs more of a charge because of the load on it.
In fact we rarely bother with hookup on sites now as we find the daily run to the beach or whatever is sufficient to recharge.
The compressor fridge is soooooo efficient!
You will need to have a look to see what sort of charger you have (if any) and read the instructions.
A float charge is best for long-term over-winter use.
Your electric hook-up does not in itself necessarily have a charger.
You will need to hunt around to ensure that there is one.
My charger unit has a tiny switch with "float" or "fast" settings.
I leave it at "float" and occasionally hookup at home to keep the battery topped up.
When we are out camping and on hook-up I switch to "fast" because the battery needs more of a charge because of the load on it.
In fact we rarely bother with hookup on sites now as we find the daily run to the beach or whatever is sufficient to recharge.
The compressor fridge is soooooo efficient!
You will need to have a look to see what sort of charger you have (if any) and read the instructions.
are you meaning that you have a charger in the bongo as part of the setup or is it just a case of having a charger in the garage
i dont think there is anything sophisticated in our's from what i can see it just a connection from the main battery but not 100% sure
if i pay a charger from shop what is recommendation or do i want to be looking at fitting something internal to the bongo
i dont think there is anything sophisticated in our's from what i can see it just a connection from the main battery but not 100% sure
if i pay a charger from shop what is recommendation or do i want to be looking at fitting something internal to the bongo
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pippin
The basic electric hook-up gives you one or more 13A socket outlets in your Bongo, preferably via a small consumer unit with a main switch and earth leakage trip.
The next thing that is probably fitted is a charger unit hidden somewhere behind the panels.
This will run off one of the trips/breakers on the said consumer unit and will provide a charge current at 12V nominal to the secondary battery, if fitted.
Look under the bonnet.
The main engine battery is on the driver's side.
There may be another battery on the passenger side.
That may be an original (optional) Japanese second engine battery to cope with very cold winter starting.
If there is one there then it may still be connected in parallel to the other engine battery. You can tell by the very thick original-looking cable that goes from its positive terminal and disappears down below the fan unit inside ribbed plastic tube.
If there is a battery on the passenger side that looks different from the one on the driver side and has obviously non-original wiring to its positive terminal then this is likely to be the secondary battery that you have mentioned.
If so, then any charger unit would be connected to this to keep it charged when on hook-up.
The people you bought it from (converter?) should be able to tell you if there is a charger unit fitted.
If not then your only option is to use an external battery charger connected direct to the battery terminals. Be advised that there are simple chargers that will hopelessly overcharge your battery if left connected for a long time and there are better intelligent chargers which will not.
The next thing that is probably fitted is a charger unit hidden somewhere behind the panels.
This will run off one of the trips/breakers on the said consumer unit and will provide a charge current at 12V nominal to the secondary battery, if fitted.
Look under the bonnet.
The main engine battery is on the driver's side.
There may be another battery on the passenger side.
That may be an original (optional) Japanese second engine battery to cope with very cold winter starting.
If there is one there then it may still be connected in parallel to the other engine battery. You can tell by the very thick original-looking cable that goes from its positive terminal and disappears down below the fan unit inside ribbed plastic tube.
If there is a battery on the passenger side that looks different from the one on the driver side and has obviously non-original wiring to its positive terminal then this is likely to be the secondary battery that you have mentioned.
If so, then any charger unit would be connected to this to keep it charged when on hook-up.
The people you bought it from (converter?) should be able to tell you if there is a charger unit fitted.
If not then your only option is to use an external battery charger connected direct to the battery terminals. Be advised that there are simple chargers that will hopelessly overcharge your battery if left connected for a long time and there are better intelligent chargers which will not.
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dandywarhol
- Supreme Being
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- Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2005 10:18 pm
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