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Thread: How to charge battery in camper as well as 2nd onboard battery

  1. #1
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    How to charge battery in camper as well as 2nd onboard battery

    I find myself with a new dilemma regarding auxilliary battery charging. I've bought a used Trayon camper that has a lithium battery installed. The previous owner seems to me to have connected the electrical system in all sorts of wrong ways; there's a 240v battery charger wired in so that it charges the lithium battery when 240v shore power is plugged in, however it is not a lithium charger (has no lithium mode) so I'm keen to do better.
    I have two batteries in the Defender; the standard (wet lead/acid) starting battery plus an optima yellowtop that is the auxiliary, runs the engel fridge which I plan to continue to use in the back seat area. I have an early generation dual battery controller that has done a stirling job but adding a third, lithium battery to the mix now complicates things.

    I have been using a solar panel that I plug into an anderson plug by the towbar, to charge the auxiliary whilst camping. This works a treat for the 2 vehicle batteries. The Trayon also has an anderson plug input connected direct to the battery.

    I considered getting rid of the 2nd battery in the car so I am back to 2 batteries, but I want to be able to keep using the fridge in the car.
    Considered deleting the battery in the camper, but it has a fridge too and I want to be able to run the fridge if I leave the camper free-standing.

    What is going to be the best option to be able to run 3 batteries, one of which is a lithium, and be able to charge from alternator and solar? I've looked at the Ctek D250se but unsure if it will allow me to charge 3 batteries of different types? Would adding the ctek dc-dc charger to the camper, whilst leaving my existing onboard charging system as-is, work?

  2. #2
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    As far as I am aware you will need a DC to DC charger to keep your lithium battery in the camper up to scratch (talk to Tim about this).
    Also If you want to have the camper "Free standing" consider adding solar to the mix and run it through the DC to DC charger in the camper as most of these units are solar friendly
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    I’m thinking, leave your existing VSR that done a sterling job so far between your starter and optima

    I’d than install a DC-DC in the camper…..nearly all would have two inputs for alternator and solar.

    I would assume you’d have a Anderson between car and camper

    I run a DC-DC but run the fixed solar through a separate controller, I do have the ability to plug portable solar into the DC-DC if required. Oh I only have start battery and one lithium. I didn’t bother installing an A/C charger.

  5. #5
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    I have similar setup to you in my D2 .
    AGM house battery with simple solenoid, fridge in back and caravan.
    I fitted a Renolgy 20 amp DC DC charger in the van.
    I also have a 3 way fridge in the van and both fridge and lithium in van run from the solenoid through 4 gauge to the back of the car then 8 gauge to the fridge and Renolgy.
    I control the Renolgy and fridge through a 200 amp relay triggered by a wire from accessory , in case I want to leave the charger and fridge on car battery power for some reason.
    regards PhilipA

  6. #6
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    A different view,,
    any normal charger will still do lithium, just not very well. The money you spend on a lithium charger would be better spent on more solar.
    This phobia we have about getting batts to 100% is an ancient lead acid hangup that is just not necessary with Lithium, in fact its best for Lithium to NOT reach 100
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  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift View Post
    A different view,,
    any normal charger will still do lithium, just not very well. The money you spend on a lithium charger would be better spent on more solar.
    This phobia we have about getting batts to 100% is an ancient lead acid hangup that is just not necessary with Lithium, in fact its best for Lithium to NOT reach 100
    This is why I want to know what defender POD has.

    If it's an older one ( pre 2004 ) he can actually use nothing more than a standard solenoid, wire to his ignition switch, and leave everything else as is.

    His alternator can safely charge the lithium battery with out having to spend up on a DC/DC charger.

    Would save money and his lithium would charge faster.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift View Post
    A different view,,
    any normal charger will still do lithium, just not very well. The money you spend on a lithium charger would be better spent on more solar.
    This phobia we have about getting batts to 100% is an ancient lead acid hangup that is just not necessary with Lithium, in fact its best for Lithium to NOT reach 100
    By default our lithium returns to 100% nearly everyday…….i know in house setup they restrict full charge but in a tourer I don’t see it’s anywhere near as important. Our capacity hasn’t dropped yet, going off what the app tells me.

    while it’s doesn’t bother us if we don’t see 100% on multi day stays I still prefer seeing 100% at some stage during the day, that way we have no limitation for our evening cook up on tie induction hotplate.

    It seem ls lithium users are now more focus on how little they can use each day, like bragging rites.

    Us, we use whatever is available in the tank and replace it the next day……traveller ask what did we get down, generally I have no idea.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by drivesafe View Post
    Hi POD, how old is your defender?
    I'm sure he'll be along soon, but it's a PUMA Defender.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by towe0609 View Post
    I'm sure he'll be along soon, but it's a PUMA Defender.
    Yes 2008 model.
    Thanks for the replies. I'll look into the chargers suggested. Thinking about it I can't see any reason to change the setup I have on the vehicle as I can input solar and it all works well, but seems i'll need a DC-DC charger to charge the camper battery from the vehicle. What about battery maintenance when the camper is not in use though? Do people keep their caravans etc plugged in to a mains charger all the time?

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