Can you leave your Cali Plugged in all the time to Charge the Batteries?

[G3WRT]

I was surprised that my leisure battery had gone down to 38% without even using it for a few weeks. That battery has a different chemistry to the main car battery. It is a deep discharge type and so can be drained and recover. The main starter battery cannot. In the light of this observation I am going to plug the car into the mains more often to charge it. Those batteries are expensive.

They also 'self discharge'.

 

[MarkRubinstein]

We don't drive our van every day, or even every week. It's never occurred to me to plug it at home to charge it up (and it wouldn't be possible anyway as we live in a flat). This has never resulted in the slightest problem over ten years of ownership, so why bother? When we go away in the van, the leisure battery charges up while driving. We seldom have a hook-up (unless it's included in the campsite price) - no problem. So I'd say don't worry about it, it'll charge up enough while you're driving.

Thank you. We have only had our cali for 6 months but have never plugged it in as it would be extremely difficult where we live and chosen not to when at sites. It is our only vehicle but not used every day and for most journeys we probably don’t use anything on the leisure batteries and when in trips away is us just the fridge and lights.

Are we really going to have problems with our batteries? They charge up when we drive and are not used much.

 

[California_Ocean]

Thank you. We have only had our cali for 6 months but have never plugged it in as it would be extremely difficult where we live and chosen not to when at sites. It is our only vehicle but not used every day and for most journeys we probably don’t use anything on the leisure batteries and when in trips away is us just the fridge and lights.

Are we really going to have problems with our batteries? They charge up when we drive and are not used much.

The fridge is the biggest single 12V drain on the batteries (assuming no big inverter), here is my Cali fridge drawing around 3A when the compressor is running. The compressor duty ratio is between 35% and 50% dependent on the temperature of fridge contents and the ambient air - this means it uses somewhere between 24 and 36 Ah per day. No problem if you drive regularly, but after 2-3 days with the fridge on 24/7, the batteries will be needing a charge.

 

[ClaudeVanJan]

I was wondering this the other day.

Had my van a month now and about a week ago I noticed the leisure battery was empty. So plugged it in.

My thought is it’s better to be plugged in than risk being empty.

Although I’m not sure how approx 1 week without use caused the leisure battery to become empty

yet another 'leisure battery issue' post....surely VW must know they have some issues here .
my saga is still ongoing with them from my previous posts referring to disability hoist connected to leisure battery.....ive updated my post with latest

 

[andyinluton]

Thank you. We have only had our cali for 6 months but have never plugged it in as it would be extremely difficult where we live and chosen not to when at sites. It is our only vehicle but not used every day and for most journeys we probably don’t use anything on the leisure batteries and when in trips away is us just the fridge and lights.

Are we really going to have problems with our batteries? They charge up when we drive and are not used much.

Our 2014 van was only ever plugged in if we were away from home camping. Its only the fridge and overnight heater that use much electric. All 3 batteries were still fine when we sold it at 6.5 years old. We did however drive it regularly & at least once a week it was doing a 60+ mile trip. In winter I was using the night heater most mornings to warm the van up before using it.
It needs to do regular longer journeys otherwise the DPF gets clogged up anyway.

 

[Meoncoast]

If it's a daily drive then why plug in each night? This battery charging thing is all a bit OCD. Mines been a near daily drive for 5 years and, amazingly, no battery issues. And if I get any, I'll pay 200 quid for a new one and not have the faff of endlessly plugging in every day for 5 years, or using bleeding expensive electricity to charge it.

No faff. We will all be doing it when we are forced to use electric cars. 100% charged rather than 80% replying to the question of OP.

 

[Gina-B]

I’m wondering why the screen icon for the battery is not all blue - 2 segments are grey on your photos before and after, and on ours it all goes blue when fully charged ?? Weird.

Just an aside - why does the waste water screen icon always look as though it still has some waste water in it when it has been emptied? Mine never looks empty on the screen.

 

[WelshGas]

Just an aside - why does the waste water screen icon always look as though it still has some waste water in it when it has been emptied? Mine never looks empty on the screen.

Unless changed on the T6.1 the Waste Water tank sensor has only ever shown Full.

 

[Hawthorn37]

Just an aside - why does the waste water screen icon always look as though it still has some waste water in it when it has been emptied? Mine never looks empty on the screen.

Agree - it looks like part full when empty, but there are only two states on this icon, part full (empty) and full.

 

[Gina-B]

Agree - it looks like part full when empty, but there are only two states on this icon, part full (empty) and full.

Curious, but that's good. Don't want it all to go mouldy!

 

[Gina-B]

Unless changed on the T6.1 the Waste Water tank sensor has only ever shown Full.

Thanks WG. It shows as having just a bit left in it on my 6.1, but I'm assured that it's empty.
Curious.

 

[dspuk]

Thanks WG. It shows as having just a bit left in it on my 6.1, but I'm assured that it's empty.
Curious.

The grey waste is a switch with two states. Full or empty. To go with the two states there are two pictures. One of it full and one of it that looks like it has a small amount of blue liquid in it. That’s empty.

Unlike the clean water which is a switch with (I think) about four states and pictures that match. Empty. 1/3 full. 2/3 full. Full.

 

[Hawthorn37]

Curious, but that's good. Don't want it all to go mouldy!

If you want to be sure about the hygiene then the waste tank can be cleaned when sanitising the clean water tank. Run water + sterilant via the sink into the waste tank. Hold fit there for about 30 minutes (full) then empty.

 

[Gina-B]

The grey waste is a switch with two states. Full or empty. To go with the two states there are two pictures. One of it full and one of it that looks like it has a small amount of blue liquid in it. That’s empty.

Unlike the clean water which is a switch with (I think) about four states and pictures that match. Empty. 1/3 full. 2/3 full. Full.

Thanks dspuk

 

[Gina-B]

If you want to be sure about the hygiene then the waste tank can be cleaned when sanitising the clean water tank. Run water + sterilant via the sink into the waste tank. Hold fit there for about 30 minutes (full) then empty.

Great advice Hawthorn37 - thanks

 

[Little owl1963]

Does the control panel yellow light go off , mine has been charging for 21 hours on mains household to hook up .
The leisure battery's are fully charged all blue.
So I presume it's charging engine battery , does it charge this to full capacity then yellow light go off??

Or will I be waiting forever for yellow control panel light to go off ????

 

[66tim99]

Does the control panel yellow light go off , mine has been charging for 21 hours on mains household to hook up .
The leisure battery's are fully charged all blue.
So I presume it's charging engine battery , does it charge this to full capacity then yellow light go off??

Or will I be waiting forever for yellow control panel light to go off ????

I think it stays lit yellow to show you're on mains hookup - eg to show you can use the 240v socket by the sink. The leisure battery indicator shows the state of its charge in blue, as you say, and will I think only charge to 80% when driving (unless you press /'max charge' in which case 100%). You should only do that if you're en route to camp without hook up, I understand, as the battery longevity doesn't benefit from being fully charged for long periods.
I wonder if the leisure battery charges to 100% on hook up. Never checked. Presumably should only charge to 80% to maintain battery life?

 

[yossarian]

I understand, as the battery longevity doesn't benefit from being fully charged for long periods.

Incorrect, all lead acid variants last longer if fully charged for as much as their life as possible.

Your statement is accurate for most common lithium variants.

I wonder if the leisure battery charges to 100% on hook up. Never checked.

It does.

 

[66tim99]

Incorrect, all lead acid variants last longer if fully charged for as much as their life as possible.

Thanks. Why then is there a 'max charge' function at all?
Shouldn't the leisure battery be charged to 100% every time you drive?
I realise of course that 'max charge' eg prevents the auto engine stop from kicking in when stopped in traffic, to allow the engine to continuously charge the battery, but I was led to believe it also permitted the leisure battery to be charged to 100%.
Essentially I am unable to hook up at home (basement car park in my block of flats). I take it then that every time I drive, I should engage 'max charge', to maintain my leisure battery longer?
Grateful for your knowledge.

 

[WelshGas]

Thanks. Why then is there a 'max charge' function at all?
Shouldn't the leisure battery be charged to 100% every time you drive?
I realise of course that 'max charge' eg prevents the auto engine stop from kicking in when stopped in traffic, to allow the engine to continuously charge the battery, but I was led to believe it also permitted the leisure battery to be charged to 100%.
Essentially I am unable to hook up at home (basement car park in my block of flats). I take it then that every time I drive, I should engage 'max charge', to maintain my leisure battery longer?
Grateful for your knowledge.

The Smart Alternator only charges the engine battery to 80% because of the regenerative braking etc. Because the Leisure Batteries are charged by a Split Charge Relay they are also only charged to 80% by the engine.
However, putting headlights on, heated seats or the Max Charge button then the Alternator switches to Maximum output, thus charging to 100% both engine and Leisure Batteries. I believe the Regenerative Braking power delivered during this scenario is adjusted.

 

[yossarian]

Thanks. Why then is there a 'max charge' function at all?

Because VW fitted both a split charge relay and smart alternator to the vehicle. The smart alternator tries to limit engine driven charge to the primary battery at 80 percent to allow energy harvesting during braking.

A limitation of the split charge relay is that the batteries will tend to equalise, leisure to starter.

So the 80 percent charge is a consequence of design choices VW made

Shouldn't the leisure battery be charged to 100% every time you drive?
I realise of course that 'max charge' eg prevents the auto engine stop from kicking in when stopped in traffic, to allow the engine to continuously charge the battery, but I was led to believe it also permitted the leisure battery to be charged to 100%.
Essentially I am unable to hook up at home (basement car park in my block of flats). I take it then that every time I drive, I should engage 'max charge', to maintain my leisure battery longer?
Grateful for your knowledge.

The longevity improvement between 80% and 100% is very small particularly if you occasionally charge to 100%. I suggest you use the max charge function to charge up occasionally and for an hour or two before you arrive at a camp site, unless the site has ehu.

 

[yossarian]

Characteristics of Lead Acid Batteries | PVEducation

www.pveducation.org

 

[Californication69]

Searched for and cannot find the answer to my question.
6.1 Ocean, what happens if you run the Lesuire batteries to empty ?
Are they both AGM, so they are gel right? Or wrong?
If you run them to empty, can you recharge them with no issues?

 

[66tim99]

Searched for and cannot find the answer to my question.
6.1 Ocean, what happens if you run the Lesuire batteries to empty ?
Are they both AGM, so they are gel right? Or wrong?
If you run them to empty, can you recharge them with no issues?

I have accidentally run mine to zero. Still not sure how, but the wardrobe was left open, so its light was on. It was probably only a week though, and somehow I can’t imagine one LED draining the leisure batteries in a week. Anyway, as soon as I realised I drove to a hookup on max charge, and plugged in all weekend. I’ve seen no impact on battery capacity yet.

 

[WelshGas]

I have accidentally run mine to zero. Still not sure how, but the wardrobe was left open, so its light was on. It was probably only a week though, and somehow I can’t imagine one LED draining the leisure batteries in a week. Anyway, as soon as I realised I drove to a hookup on max charge, and plugged in all weekend. I’ve seen no impact on battery capacity yet.

When you say “ run to zero “ , was that the Control Panel % or the Control Panel Voltage?