Leisure Batteries Through Winter

N

NickiandDoraCandyCopper

Messages
12
Location
Walkington, East Yorkshire
Vehicle
T6.1 Ocean 199
Hello my learned friends.

Please can the non - solar people share your wisdom on how you are trickle charging your leisure batteries over winter from home? Can you plug in a 6.1 Cali via its charging point somewhere, with some sort of adapter and charger at home, without taking the batteries out?

We’ve just made the cardinal error of not hooking up every month resulting in the poor van having a flashing lights display fit (AA rescue required). Second battery is now “low”. Hooking up at a campsite on a few days and she’s ticking over on the drive on and off until then. Thank you in advance.
 
NickiandDoraCandyCopper said:
Hello my learned friends.

Please can the non - solar people share your wisdom on how you are trickle charging your leisure batteries over winter from home? Can you plug in a 6.1 Cali via its charging point somewhere, with some sort of adapter and charger at home, without taking the batteries out?

We’ve just made the cardinal error of not hooking up every month resulting in the poor van having a flashing lights display fit (AA rescue required). Second battery is now “low”. Hooking up at a campsite on a few days and she’s ticking over on the drive on and off until then. Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...
You plug your lead into the California and the other end is plugged into a domestic socket using a UK 3 pin plug adapter purchased at most camping/caravan shops or online.

1769516415288.png


Edit - Correct adapters
 
Last edited:
Yes, the adaptor needs to be the other way round.

Standard 13Amp domestic plug to a 16amp Socket.
Then your usual hook-up cable can be used to plug your Cali in.

This one is on Amazon

16amp to 13amp Adapter Hook Up Cable 3 Pin UK Electric Hook Up Adapter 230v for Camping Caravan Motorhome Mains to UK Plug (3 Pin to UK Hook Up)​

Visit the HowseHold Store
 
Hopefully the posts above solves your issue. Personally I leave the van hooked up most of the time, when not being used - particularly in winter. The general advice, from those on the forum with relevant expertise, is that lead batteries are best kept fully charged or near to (unlike others such as lithium which apparently prefer 80% charge for optimum longevity).

Depending on how your are connecting to the mains, one of these options will suit your need:

 
Last edited:
When I first got the van I was very careful about charging the leisure battery at home. But after a year or so I became lazy / complacent. Whilst my van is used at least monthly that might only be short journeys in the winter. My leisure battery has lasted incredibly well. 10 years on its perhaps list 20% capacity but is still going strong. The engine battery on the other hand had to be replaced after about 6 years.
 
DM said:
When I first got the van I was very careful about charging the leisure battery at home. But after a year or so I became lazy / complacent. Whilst my van is used at least monthly that might only be short journeys in the winter. My leisure battery has lasted incredibly well. 10 years on its perhaps list 20% capacity but is still going strong. The engine battery on the other hand had to be replaced after about 6 years.
Click to expand...
Not sure what van you had but as starters are generally stop/start they will only last a certain amount of stop start cycles vs a leisure which does not have that repetitive load.
 
Thank you for the great advice everyone and posting the links to the adapters. I’m desperate to get those batteries charged back up!
 
NickiandDoraCandyCopper said:
Just out of interest, what would the adapter without the plug on the end connect to? A generator? Is it handy to have both? Thanks
Click to expand...
WG has updated the image and TBH it’s the only one we have ever used. The van came with an EU one which we used in France when I left the doors open and got a flat battery.
 
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