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View Full Version : Need advice from caravanners please.

Fraccie
11-11-2012, 15:29
I have always had motorhomes and need some advice please?

My Patrol has twin electrics on the back of it. It has been used in the past to tow a caravan.

When towing your caravans, am I right in thinking that the leisure battery in the van is charged from the car whilst your driving?

If so, could I hook up a leisure battery in the rear of my Patrol to the electrics and charge it whilst i`m running?

This secondary battery would only be used for my fridge and stuff when I camp out overnight,so no heavy load on it. But would it be independent of the car battery?

Sorry for the questions, but it would help if anyone could advise please.
(RIP) PLANK
11-11-2012, 15:34
you should be able too yes, for better advice try here:

http://www.westerntowing.co.uk/acatalog/Caravan_12S_wiring_diagram.html
Fraccie
11-11-2012, 15:46
Thanks bud. So if I connected the blue, terminal 2 and the earth to a secondary battery, it would charge when running?

The fridge I have is a cigarette lighter type plug in 12 volt one, so that would just run from the secondary battery via a simple cig socket.
Fraccie
11-11-2012, 16:03
After reading some more, it seems doable, but I would need a split charge relay.
jims-terrano
11-11-2012, 18:10
Use a multimeter to test out between the terminals of the grey socket and see what happens with ignition on and off. It may well be that you already have the split charge relay fitted. If you don't mind travelling over towards me a bit I'd be happy to help you.
Fraccie
11-11-2012, 20:35
Thanks bud, may well take you up on that.

Thanks for the pointers, i`ll look into that when I have a minute.
wildbri
11-11-2012, 20:41
Hi, if you have twin sockets on your towbar the you will have a slit charge relay' the power from this is used to charge caravan battery and the fridge but only when the engine is running. Regards. Bri.
Fraccie
24-11-2012, 12:40
Cheers for the advice, car is going into the caravan place next week to be checked.
Fraccie
09-02-2013, 10:01
Hi, if you have twin sockets on your towbar the you will have a slit charge relay' the power from this is used to charge caravan battery and the fridge but only when the engine is running. Regards. Bri.I went with this option in the end, the relay was buggered and needed replacing, but by far the cheapest solution.

Cheers for the advice.