battery charger in a caravan?

[deano72]

have just bought a caravan,it runs on 240v & 12v
do you know if the caravan has a built in charger to keep the battery charged when its pluged into the mains

[scotsman4th]

Not 100% on this but my car hadn't 2 sockets, the internal 12v lights tended not to light. when it was hooked up on site, the charger indicator showed it was charging and the lights worked again.

[deano72]

the 13a sockets work of the the 240v supply,the lights/pump for water only work of the caravan battery.its a 1990 it that helps

[scbk]

I would've thought if it was an older, lower spec model then the battery would only charge off the car?

Can't be too hard to access the battery, either have a look at the wiring or use a multimeter to see if the voltage increases when plugged in the mains

[deano72]

looks like there some kind of charging unit next to the battery but this is alos where the mains plugs into,the wireing is such a mess iv not had time to suss it out,but i spose the easiest way would to put volt meter on the battery,i take it it would be 13v reading like a car battry is when being charged

[iolanthe07]

If it has a 'Zig' unit (or similar) then the battery will be charged from the mains when hooked up, and possibly by by the car engine when being towed. Otherwise most camp sites have battery charging facilities.

[The Meerkat]

Hi

I picked a great charger of off E-bay, used the Best Offer function and saved £15 at the same time, the ccompany are called Amperor


MK:T

[deano72]

iv been living in it for 2 wks now & been using the batery items & still all good,so i guess it must charge when pluged into the mains