Charge Leisure battery to 100% while driving?

[simon parker]

So I'm off for a break early Sept, and will be off grid for 4 days (3 nights) and worried will run out of power for the fridge. It will be warm. Don't suppose will use lighting much, if at all, and charging phones etc will be done via a portable power bank, so hopefully ok. But, still little concerned especially if its super hot and fridge stops working when run out of power. So researching I gather as my Cali is blue motion just running the engine only charges the leisure battery to 80%, so how can I get it to 100% for the trip? I know I can charge it at home to 100% but that will drop to 80% soon as I drive it. I also know you can buy a DC DC adapter thingy that allows 100% charge but is there any other way around this issue? Someone I see posted running the lights or heated seats overrides the 80% limit

any advice?

 

[Steve1]

So I'm off for a break early Sept, and will be off grid for 4 days (3 nights) and worried will run out of power for the fridge. It will be warm. Don't suppose will use lighting much, if at all, and charging phones etc will be done via a portable power bank, so hopefully ok. But, still little concerned especially if its super hot and fridge stops working when run out of power. So researching I gather as my Cali is blue motion just running the engine only charges the leisure battery to 80%, so how can I get it to 100% for the trip? I know I can charge it at home to 100% but that will drop to 80% soon as I drive it. I also know you can buy a DC DC adapter thingy that allows 100% charge but is there any other way around this issue? Someone I see posted running the lights or heated seats overrides the 80% limit

any advice?

View attachment 96227

Hi,
I tested this with our 2015 SE, and one seat heater set to the lowest setting (one light out of 3 lit) my wife couldn't feel the heat so wasn't uncomfortable. That was enough to set it to full charge, you can tell in the display if you have voltage showing if it goes up above 14V all the time then it's on full power once you have done that. If it's on low 13Vs 13.3 13.4 ish then it's not doing full charge.

 

[Kingfisher]

Hi,
I tested this with our 2015 SE, and one seat heater set to the lowest setting (one light out of 3 lit) my wife couldn't feel the heat so wasn't uncomfortable. That was enough to set it to full charge, you can tell in the display if you have voltage showing if it goes up above 14V all the time then it's on full power once you have done that. If it's on low 13Vs 13.3 13.4 ish then it's not doing full charge.

Likewise for my 2019 T6 150.

 

[Steve1]

Hi,
I tested this with our 2015 SE, and one seat heater set to the lowest setting (one light out of 3 lit) my wife couldn't feel the heat so wasn't uncomfortable. That was enough to set it to full charge, you can tell in the display if you have voltage showing if it goes up above 14V all the time then it's on full power once you have done that. If it's on low 13Vs 13.3 13.4 ish then it's not doing full charge.

Note if your battery is very very flat it might not make it up to 14V still but should be close.

I don't know what model you have so you might need to check it does the same thing.

 

[66tim99]

Does yours have a 'max charge' function on the overhead screen?

 

[Kingfisher]

Does yours have a 'max charge' function on the overhead screen?

That function was introduced with the new camping unit display in the 6.1. The seat heater is our poor man’s ‘max charge’

Having a tow bar bike rack plugged in also seems to force maximum charging, most of the time at least.

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

Maybe freeze a plastic bottle of milk and put that in the fridge to reduce it’s power consumption for a day or two. Take it out to defrost a while before you need it.

 

[simon parker]

Thanks for the advice. I’ll try the heated seat trick and note the battery charge while it’s on. My cali is a 2018 t6 with blue motion so no doesn’t have the max charge option I think that’s only on the t6.1.

 

[WelshGas]

That function was introduced with the new camping unit display in the 6.1. The seat heater is our poor man’s ‘max charge’

Having a tow bar bike rack plugged in also seems to force maximum charging, most of the time at least.

Ref: towbar electrics. Also seems to switch off Stop/Start. At least it does on mine.

 

[TheKolonel]

That function was introduced with the new camping unit display in the 6.1. The seat heater is our poor man’s ‘max charge’

Having a tow bar bike rack plugged in also seems to force maximum charging, most of the time at least.

Thank you for the chuckle. I’m also on the poor man’s max charge.

 

[pluc99]

Note if your battery is very very flat it might not make it up to 14V still but should be close.

I don't know what model you have so you might need to check it does the same thing.

You tested but it was your wife on the hot seat

 

[WelshGas]

Apparantly putting headlights on does the same - max output from alternator.

 

[Steve1]

You tested but it was your wife on the hot seat

It's not as bad as it sounds, honest, my heated seat is broken.

 

[Kayleigh]

Apparantly putting headlights on does the same - max output from alternator.

Do you think that would work for a T6 Beach?

 

[WelshGas]

Do you think that would work for a T6 Beach?

Should do. There are a number of things that will override the smart alternator function. Heated seats, headlights, AirCon fan speed .
All you can do is plug a 12v voltmeter into a leisure socket. The voltage should rise to 14.4v on full charge.
On a SE/Ocean just check the Control Panel voltage.

 

[Blue Yonder]

A point worth mentioning. I would advise against letting your engine idle to top up batteries . Reason is that idling an engine if done too often will significantly shorten the life of your dual mass flywheel (DMF) and your ERG / DPF. Better to go for a long 45 min ride as close to motorway speeds as possible to charge batteries.

 

[Kayleigh]

Should do. There are a number of things that will override the smart alternator function. Heated seats, headlights, AirCon fan speed .
All you can do is plug a 12v voltmeter into a leisure socket. The voltage should rise to 14.4v on full charge.
On a SE/Ocean just check the Control Panel voltage.

Thanks. I have a Bluetooth battery monitor, so I’ll check it out.

 

[ThomasHJ]

So I'm off for a break early Sept, and will be off grid for 4 days (3 nights) and worried will run out of power for the fridge. It will be warm. Don't suppose will use lighting much, if at all, and charging phones etc will be done via a portable power bank, so hopefully ok. But, still little concerned especially if its super hot and fridge stops working when run out of power. So researching I gather as my Cali is blue motion just running the engine only charges the leisure battery to 80%, so how can I get it to 100% for the trip? I know I can charge it at home to 100% but that will drop to 80% soon as I drive it. I also know you can buy a DC DC adapter thingy that allows 100% charge but is there any other way around this issue? Someone I see posted running the lights or heated seats overrides the 80% limit

any advice?

View attachment 96227

Assuming you don't have time or the desire to get solar panels at short notice I would try frozen water and the reflective cover shown below. Frozen water bottles (as suggested above) do wonders and you get ice cold water to drink when it's hot outside. You could also consider a reflective cover for the outside of the van where the fridge is. This makes a difference as well, especially in a situation where there's direct sunlight on the van. I have tested it. It made the difference between the fridge shutting down because of overheating and the fridge staying on when we were in 40C in Spain. It's an easy DIY. And then of course there's portable solar panels.