Camper electrics

[winchman]

I have converted a van for winch girl.
It has a leisure battery with spilt charge but I want to be able to charge the battery from the hook up.
Can I just connect a normal battery charger to the leisure battery circuit? The Charger is rated at 8A so it will charge the battery when she is on hook up?
The only stuff on the 12v circuit would be led lights, USB charge points and the fridge?
In my fitters mind I feel if the 12v system is placing more than the chargers max output of 8A then it wont matter as the battery would take up the slack?
The Cable from the battery to the back of the fridge is rated at 140A as I hear so many tales of fridges under performing due to volt drop. It then has 18" tales are 6mm so plenty big enough.
This is the charger I have

https://cpc.farnell.com/yuasa/ypc8a12/charger-12v-8a-lead-acid-battery/dp/BT05338?mckv=sE6CM0rzs_dc%7Cpcrid%7C224680288544%7Ckword%7C%7Cmatch%7C%7Cplid%7C%7Cslid%7C%7Cproduct%7CBT05338%7Cpgrid%7C48556615353%7Cptaid%7Cpla-430190314292%7C&CMP=KNC-GUK-CPC-SHOPPING&s_kwcid=AL!5616!3!224680288544!!!network%7D!430190314292!&gclid=CjwKCAjwnZaVBhA6EiwAVVyv9DFAjnFEy9_oggjEwtjIG6QnTIkrTb9naSYRV73AS37dfzL0P60bchoCNvcQAvD_BwE

This is the fridge

Dometic Waeco CRX50 Fridge 12v Campervan, Caravan, Motorhome, Boat fridge by Dometic

The Dometic Waeco CRX50 fridge is the most popular 12v fridge available For Campervans, Caravans, Motorhomes or Boats. waeco, waeco cr-50, cr50, coolmatic, caravan fridge, waeco cr50, 12v fridge, yacht fridge, boat fridge, narrow, camper, motorhome fridge, compressor fridge, 2way fridge, 2-way...

www.rainbow-conversions.co.uk

 

[snoozer]

I would personally want to isolate the 12V appliances whilst charging with an 8AH charger which possibly negates the point in the first place.

 

[Barking Mat]

Can't see anything wrong with your plans.

The starter battery is always fine.

It's the domestic which will take more use.

Even better than attaching the charger directly to the leisure battery, attach it to where the alternator supplies the split battery charger, and it'll do both.

 

[Ruffian]

do you know how many amps the fridge is pulling?
the led lights etc are going to be doing next to nowt

 

[Barking Mat]

I would personally want to isolate the 12V appliances whilst charging with an 8AH charger which possibly negates the point in the first place.

No need, all my boats love it like this.

 

[winchman]

Can't see anything wrong with your plans.

The starter battery is always fine.

It's the domestic which will take more use.

Even better than attaching the charger directly to the leisure battery, attach it to where the alternator supplies the split battery charger, and it'll do both.

The spit charge will allow it to feed backwards so if the leisure battery is fed from Solar or this charger it will allow any surplus to charge the starter battery, which i thought was a good idea when I bought it.

 

[winchman]

do you know how many amps the fridge is pulling?
the led lights etc are going to be doing next to nowt

Average consumption is quoted at 45w so at 12v its about 4A but I assume more on start up

 

[winchman]

I would personally want to isolate the 12V appliances whilst charging with an 8AH charger which possibly negates the point in the first place.

Why?

 

[winchman]

Waeco / Dometic quote this
Connect the freezer
– as directly as possible to the poles of the battery or
– to a plug socket which is fuse protected with at least 15 A

But If you buy the mains adaptor its rated at 3A?

Cooler Accessories | Maximize, Enhance, Protect

Ensure you get the most from your electric cooler or ice chest with universal and model specific cooler accessories from Dometic. Explore your options.

www.dometic.com

 

[Onoff]

I read the title and was expecting something about pink switches and sockets...

 

[knighty]

or get an inverter charger? gives you 240v and works as a charger when you have mains hook up too?

victron inverter charger 12v 1500w 50amp ~ 240v | eBay

<p>victron inverter charger 12v 1500w 50amp ~ 240v. </p><br /><p>Atlas combo </p><br /><p>Used - removed from our works van</p><br /><p>Inverter and charger - so you can plug into an external supply to power your vehicle and charge leisure batteries</p><br /><p>Unit is heavy heavy the postage...

www.ebay.co.uk

victron is a good make

 

[Ruffian]

Average consumption is quoted at 45w so at 12v its about 4A but I assume more on start up

Yep but if you got a big enough battery to cope with the start up time,
Then the charger will top up the battery once it's got past the initial inrush.

I would not be worried about trying it

 

[Barking Mat]

or get an inverter charger? gives you 240v and works as a charger when you have mains hook up too?

victron inverter charger 12v 1500w 50amp ~ 240v | eBay

<p>victron inverter charger 12v 1500w 50amp ~ 240v. </p><br /><p>Atlas combo </p><br /><p>Used - removed from our works van</p><br /><p>Inverter and charger - so you can plug into an external supply to power your vehicle and charge leisure batteries</p><br /><p>Unit is heavy heavy the postage...

www.ebay.co.uk

victrobutn is a good make

Better to have an inverter and charger, a) he doesn't need an inverter, b) if a charger / inverter fails you replace either, if it's hybrid double your money replacement.

 

[knighty]

cooner or later someone will want 240v power

 

[snoozer]

Why?

For safety more than anything else but it would appear from further comments this assumes overkill so pretend I didn't comment...........Oh you already have

 

[winchman]

or get an inverter charger? gives you 240v and works as a charger when you have mains hook up too?

victron inverter charger 12v 1500w 50amp ~ 240v | eBay

<p>victron inverter charger 12v 1500w 50amp ~ 240v. </p><br /><p>Atlas combo </p><br /><p>Used - removed from our works van</p><br /><p>Inverter and charger - so you can plug into an external supply to power your vehicle and charge leisure batteries</p><br /><p>Unit is heavy heavy the postage...

www.ebay.co.uk

victron is a good make

Only time she needs 240v is for a hair dryer so just not worth the space and the outlay, She has just done 10 days in Cornwall and only used the hook up for hair dryer and faster device charging so not worth it, the bulk of the time she is not on a site with hook up.
Once i find some T4 Roof bars she will have Solar but in the winter she will need hook up and a way of charging the leisure battery.
She managed by turning the fridge off each night and back on in the morning as it was the first proper trip with an almost finished van