Newbie / silly question - I can't find a monitor for the leisure battery?

[Chrismatheson]

We just purchased our 2018 Beach, its the model without the pull out cooker part (I thought that was standard on all beaches but oh well)

Ive seen pictures of the little control panel with readouts on the leisure battery, but is that only on the Coast / Ocean ? I cant find ours?

Thanks for any help

 

[Perfectos]

Welcome

2018 Beach does not have the pull out stove,

that came later on the T6.1 Beach Camper.

Monitoring of leisure battery is only provided on Coast / Ocean, although you can monitor the LB with a plug in volt meter Plugged into any of the 12v cigarette sockets located in the rear of the van (I.e. Anywhere behind the driver / passenger seat, there are three 12v sockets in the rear )

LB should be charged once per month from EHU to keep it in optimal condition.

 

[andyinluton]

You can fit something like the attached photo, its the size of a matchbox & you just connect a wire to each pole of the battery. Sends info to an app on your phone via bluetooth cost about £20 from memory.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Something like this will do it, also doubles as a USB charger:

Hardys Dual USB Charger Car Van Vehicle Lighter Socket Adapter with Digital Voltmeter | DIY at B&Q

Dual USB Car Lighter Adapter Charger with Built in voltmeter display to show vehicles battery voltage.

www.diy.com

 

[Chrismatheson]

Awesome thanks!!!
I don't think we would be near an EHU every month ... Can I charge the van at home ? Im assuming ill need some sort of special adaptor or something ?

 

[Perfectos]

Awesome thanks!!!
I don't think we would be near an EHU every month ... Can I charge the van at home ? Im assuming ill need some sort of special adaptor or something ?

EHU = 230v camping cable plugged into the 230v socket at home

you get a three pin plug adaptor for the camping cable that attaches to the van (LB) charging socket

 

[andyinluton]

Awesome thanks!!!
I don't think we would be near an EHU every month ... Can I charge the van at home ? Im assuming ill need some sort of special adaptor or something ?

You need a Standard caravan hook up cable + a caravan cable to 3 pin plug adapter ( assuming you have an inlet on the rear passenger side wing? )

Any camping shop or Halfords sell them.

 

[Perfectos]

Like this

 

[Chrismatheson]

Awesome, thanks folks.

A follow up new Q ... I just tried to plug something into the "mains" plug in the van for the first time but nothing happened. Is there something obvious im missing? I checked the RCD (not that easy to get to) and it was in the "up" position, although I flicked it to see if that was the problem with no luck....

do the keys need to be in the ignition or something?

 

[andyinluton]

Awesome, thanks folks.

A follow up new Q ... I just tried to plug something into the "mains" plug in the van for the first time but nothing happened. Is there something obvious im missing? I checked the RCD (not that easy to get to) and it was in the "up" position, although I flicked it to see if that was the problem with no luck....

do the keys need to be in the ignition or something?

Silly question possibly but have you plugged the van into the mains?

 

[WelshGas]

Awesome, thanks folks.

A follow up new Q ... I just tried to plug something into the "mains" plug in the van for the first time but nothing happened. Is there something obvious im missing? I checked the RCD (not that easy to get to) and it was in the "up" position, although I flicked it to see if that was the problem with no luck....

do the keys need to be in the ignition or something?

You do have the Electrical Hookup lead plugged into the external socket and plugged into a Mains Supply domestic socket ?

 

[Chrismatheson]

I haven't, I thought that plug would work from the Leisure battery ?

 

[Chrismatheson]

I haven't, I thought that plug would work from the Leisure battery ?

Does the base model not ship with an inverter? does the plug only "work" when connected to an EHU ?

 

[WelshGas]

Does the base model not ship with an inverter? does the plug only "work" when connected to an EHU ?

Correct.
I don’t believe the Beach has an Inverter.

If there is an Inverter fitted it would be at the base of the B pillar behind front passenger seat and limited to 150watts output.

 

[Chrismatheson]

Correct.
I don’t believe the Beach has an Inverter.

If there is an Inverter fitted it would be at the base of the B pillar behind front passenger seat and limited to 150watts output.

thanks. Seeing as I plugged something in while *not* on an EHU and it didn't work I guess ill assume there isn't an inverter

Thanks a load for all your help everyone

 

[Perfectos]

No inverter in a Beach,

single Leisure Battery under Passenger seat (U.K.)
LB is charged via the 240v EHU socket on the side of the van
or
whilst driving the van. (Subject to certain pre determined criteria set by the smart charging system)

the three pin socket on the B pillar will only work whilst the van is actually plugged into 240v via the EHU socket.

 

[Chrismatheson]

No inverter in a Beach,

single Leisure Battery under Passenger seat (U.K.)
LB is charged via the 240v EHU socket on the side of the van
or
whilst driving the van. (Subject to certain pre determined criteria set by the smart charging system)

the three pin socket on the B pillar will only work whilst the van is actually plugged into 240v via the EHU socket.

 

[Cali Phillip]

Something like this will do it, also doubles as a USB charger:

Hardys Dual USB Charger Car Van Vehicle Lighter Socket Adapter with Digital Voltmeter | DIY at B&Q

Dual USB Car Lighter Adapter Charger with Built in voltmeter display to show vehicles battery voltage.

www.diy.com

Just don't take the numbers as gospel at that price, good for indication. The one i had similar didn’t display 12.6volts at all, never, i tested it in our test lab, 12.5 then12.7volts as i raised the voltage.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

You can buy an inverter if required, just plugs into 12v socket, handy for laptops as some brands won't charge off 12v:

Ring E Can Inverter 150 watt with USB - Ring Can Inverter with USB at Care4car.com

Ring E Can Inverter 150 watt with USB - Ring Can Inverter with USB at Care4car.com

www.care4car.com

 

[da_murphster]

LB should be charged once per month from EHU to keep it in optimal condition.

Does driving it not keep it topped up adequately?

 

[WelshGas]

Does driving it not keep it topped up adequately?

Not on modern vehicles as due to Smart Alternator technology and Regenerative Braking both engine and Leisure Batteries will only charge to 80%, or so, without some intervention.

 

[Perfectos]

Does driving it not keep it topped up adequately?

Driving will not top it up 100%,
the on board charger is a smart charger so it also conditions / maintains the battery at optimal levels. (full).

edit: additionally, having a 100% full LB ensures the SB gets priority charging from the smart charging system when driving, which gives it a better chance of receiving a near full charge when driving also ( regenerative braking etc).