Long term hook up

[Jukebox70]

Hi all. I'm going away for 2 months in the winter and leaving the van in my garage. Will it be OK to leave it hooked up to the mains electric for that length of time?

 

[lfm]

I always do, always have done for 12 years and two vans.

 

[ThomasHJ]

Not a problem. You could also use a timer on the socket so the van gets charged periodically.

Make sure you also take care of the car's starter battery.

 

[WelshGas]

Hi all. I'm going away for 2 months in the winter and leaving the van in my garage. Will it be OK to leave it hooked up to the mains electric for that length of time?

No problem. You could user a Mains timer to switch on once a week to save a little on the electric bill. This will charge the Leisure Batteries.
You have a T5 so you may be lucky and due to an anomaly the engine battery may be trickle charged as well. Check by measuring engine battery voltage then plug into the mains and check the engine battery voltage 24hrs later. If it has gone up then your engine battery should be OK. Otherwise use a CTek 10amp charger to seperately charge the engine battery. That is also OK to leave on.

 

[Nick from Bath]

Does using a timer for long term hookup apply to a 6.1 too? When I’ve connected to EHU the van, or the control panel at least, hasn’t recognised the external mains feed unless I’ve followed the handbook procedure of turning the rear RCD switch to off, connecting EHU and then turning the rear RCD switch back to on.

Using a timer to turn power on and off won’t accomplish the same effect with the RCD and so will it charge the leisure batteries without the control panel recognising the hookup?

Anyone with a 6.1 tried or have I just volunteered to try it out?

 

[WelshGas]

Does using a timer for long term hookup apply to a 6.1 too? When I’ve connected to EHU the van, or the control panel at least, hasn’t recognised the external mains feed unless I’ve followed the handbook procedure of turning the rear RCD switch to off, connecting EHU and then turning the rear RCD switch back to on.

Using a timer to turn power on and off won’t accomplish the same effect with the RCD and so will it charge the leisure batteries without the control panel recognising the hookup?

Anyone with a 6.1 tried or have I just volunteered to try it out?

I think you have just volunteered. The T5-6 don't have that requirement. But you don't need to use a timer.

 

[Corradobrit]

Does using a timer for long term hookup apply to a 6.1 too? When I’ve connected to EHU the van, or the control panel at least, hasn’t recognised the external mains feed unless I’ve followed the handbook procedure of turning the rear RCD switch to off, connecting EHU and then turning the rear RCD switch back to on.

Using a timer to turn power on and off won’t accomplish the same effect with the RCD and so will it charge the leisure batteries without the control panel recognising the hookup?

Anyone with a 6.1 tried or have I just volunteered to try it out?

When I attach my 230V output on the EF Delta 2, my T6.1 has no problems registering it as EHU on the display. No need to toggle the RCD.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

… unless I’ve followed the handbook procedure of turning the rear RCD switch to off, connecting EHU and then turning the rear RCD switch back to on.

Is this the best way to hook up? I have been just plugging in a live EHU cable, whenever I park for any length of time.

I just found this which I had not seen before:

 

[Nick from Bath]

Is this the best way to hook up? I have been just plugging in a live EHU cable, whenever I park for any length of time.

I just found this which I had not seen before:

View attachment 115440

That’s the procedure I’ve been following, which I only discovered after trying to just plug an EHU cable in on a site and nothing happening.

I’ll set up a timer over the weekend and see what happens

 

[Viktorgeorge]

That’s the procedure I’ve been following, which I only discovered after trying to just plug an EHU cable in on a site and nothing happening.

I’ll set up a timer over the weekend and see what happens

My regular EHU hookups, simpy plugging in a live connection, have always worked - I am just, now, concerned that by not following the VW Manual circuit breaker procedure as above, I could be risking electrical damage (for example from surge).

 

[chockswahay]

Crikey All I have ever done is just plug in and that’s it. Been doing this since 2013 in two Non VW vans and now the Coast since Feb last year……. have I been lucky?

 

[Stu@rt]

Crikey All I have ever done is just plug in and that’s it. Been doing this since 2013 in two Non VW vans and now the Coast since Feb last year……. have I been lucky?

me too

 

[Corradobrit]

Crikey All I have ever done is just plug in and that’s it. Been doing this since 2013 in two Non VW vans and now the Coast since Feb last year……. have I been lucky?

Nope. SOP

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Around 2006, when I bought my first CTEK charger I spoke to the technical team at CTEK in Sweden: their product was then new to the UK market and I wanted to clear a specific application. The engineer I spoke to said I should best always connect the CTEK to the battery unpowered, then power on; and similarly power off then disconnect the battery connections.

I am just wondering if it would be similarly good practice (because presumably their is CTEK or similar charger behind the EHU) to connect the EHU, then power on (either at the circuit breaker or at the other end of the EHU cable).

Expert comment invited ...

 

[WelshGas]

Around 2006, when I bought my first CTEK charger I spoke to the technical team at CTEK in Sweden: their product was then new to the UK market and I wanted to clear a specific application. The engineer I spoke to said I should best always connect the CTEK to the battery unpowered, then power on; and similarly power off then disconnect the battery connections.

I am just wondering if it would be similarly good practice (because presumably their is CTEK or similar charger behind the EHU) to connect the EHU, then power on (either at the circuit breaker or at the other end of the EHU cable).

Expert comment invited ...

I presume crocodile clips on the charger leads?
So, if the charger was On, both clips would be live, so could short circuit or spark easily.

The RCD and charger on the California are hard wired and only work when the EHU is plugged into the vehicle.

I have never switched the RCD off before connecting the mains on this 9 yr old vehicle and the caravans we had before. I just test the RCD when plugged in.

 

[Steve1]

My regular EHU hookups, simpy plugging in a live connection, have always worked - I am just, now, concerned that by not following the VW Manual circuit breaker procedure as above, I could be risking electrical damage (for example from surge).

I think it's just to stop arcing on the plug as you push it in. If you have a heavy electrical load on and engage the plug as you do it you can sometimes hear a crackle. Which I suppose eventually could degrade the plug contacts by pitting them. But they are big and strong so very unlikely. It's the same as your sockets at home you should have a power point switched off when you plug something in really, but you wouldn't be that bothered if you didn't even if it crackles a bit

 

[Corradobrit]

I think it's just to stop arcing on the plug as you push it in. If you have a heavy electrical load on and engage the plug as you do it you can sometimes hear a crackle. Which I suppose eventually could degrade the plug contacts by pitting them. But they are big and strong so very unlikely. It's the same as your sockets at home you should have a power point switched off when you plug something in really, but you wouldn't be that bothered if you didn't even if it crackles a bit

No on/off switch in EU or USA. No problems connecting to live socket.

 

[Steve1]

No on/off switch in EU or USA. No problems connecting to live socket.

Perhaps they are taking the precaution a little further too, because it could also be damp conditions outdoors making the slight crackle more likely. I have heard it a few times, but personally I wouldn't turn off the breaker myself. It might make a little noise but as you say it doesn't cause any problems.

 

[Corradobrit]

Perhaps they are taking the precaution a little further too, because it could also be damp conditions outdoors making the slight crackle more likely. I have heard it a few times, but personally I wouldn't turn off the breaker myself. It might make a little noise but as you say it doesn't cause any problems.

You should see the sparks I get when I plug my US 2-pin laptop power adapter into the socket. It's like someone lit a sparkler.

 

[Nick from Bath]

That’s the procedure I’ve been following, which I only discovered after trying to just plug an EHU cable in on a site and nothing happening.

I’ll set up a timer over the weekend and see what happens

Did a bit of testing over the weekend and discovered / clarified a few things with the EHU:

1) Just plugging in a live cable doesn't do anything, the RCD needs to be cycled. So RCD off, live plug connected, RCD on. The EHU connected light on the CP then comes on.
2) Connecting a safe (switched off) EHU cable and then switching the cable to live doesn't need the RCD to be cycled.

So back to the original question, T6.1 van will happily charge the leisure batteries using a timer on a long-term hookup.

 

[WelshGas]

Did a bit of testing over the weekend and discovered / clarified a few things with the EHU:

1) Just plugging in a live cable doesn't do anything, the RCD needs to be cycled. So RCD off, live plug connected, RCD on. The EHU connected light on the CP then comes on.
2) Connecting a safe (switched off) EHU cable and then switching the cable to live doesn't need the RCD to be cycled.

So back to the original question, T6.1 van will happily charge the leisure batteries using a timer on a long-term hookup.

Interesting. As I said, have never switched the RCD off in 9 yrs, BUT I have never plugged in a live cable, always van first and then campsite supply.

 

[Steve1]

Did a bit of testing over the weekend and discovered / clarified a few things with the EHU:

1) Just plugging in a live cable doesn't do anything, the RCD needs to be cycled. So RCD off, live plug connected, RCD on. The EHU connected light on the CP then comes on.
2) Connecting a safe (switched off) EHU cable and then switching the cable to live doesn't need the RCD to be cycled.

So back to the original question, T6.1 van will happily charge the leisure batteries using a timer on a long-term hookup.

I have an older van, but have always plugged in live cable with no problem. I thought the breaker box and charger on the 6.1 were the same as the older ones though.
Is it possible this is a fault with your system. I would have thought others would have noticed it and chipped in about this by now if it was common ?

 

[yossarian]

I have an older van, but have always plugged in live cable with no problem. I thought the breaker box and charger on the 6.1 were the same as the older ones though.
Is it possible this is a fault with your system. I would have thought others would have noticed it and chipped in about this by now if it was common ?

I have a 6.1 and my experience is the same.

 

[scottk]

Same with our 6.1. No issues just plugging it in. You can also see the indicator on the control panel lighting up from the hook up point.

 

[Hueyhew]

Hi all. I'm going away for 2 months in the winter and leaving the van in my garage. Will it be OK to leave it hooked up to the mains electric for that length of time?

Do consider that the onboard systems were never designed to run constantly, I suspect the cali system is better quality than typical caravans or motorhomes but as far as I can make out are not smart, but I’m no expert in that area. I work within the leisure sector and we have seen many batteries being overcharged by poor systems and too much care so my advice would be to use solar and charge controller or similar if possible to just keep everything topped up, it’s advantage is every 12hrs the system is rested during the night. The panel could be placed outside your garage. Or use a smart charger rather than than onboard systems which are designed for on pitch use which they do well.

Its the starter battery I would be be more concerned about as alarm, immobiliser will depleting it constantly and once the battery level drops even a relatively small amount it may struggle to start.

I use a separate smart charger mainly, or I have a simple 40w solar panel and that’s enough To keep everything topped up.