Building in a battery charger

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by Zed, Oct 13, 2015.

  1. It's 1.5 which until you asked I thought was correct as its rated at 16 amp. Most of the ones on eBay look to be 1.5, but it looks like I should have used 2.5 to stop voltage drop over 25 mtrs. Is 1.5 not safe over any distance??
     
  2. Thought so. Mines 1.5 but its a Lot shorter, about 10m. The volt drop thing is a bit more complicated to be honest as most appliances will operate quite happily at much lower than 220volts, volt drop is also proportionsl to the load you feed as well. That said if you are using a resistive element such as a heater or toaster or kettle then the current they take will increase as the voltage decreases.

    Tbh if your not having issues then why worry.
     
  3. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Interesting, your link was to a bag!
     
  4. Sorry, i should have been clearer It was a bag and the cable reel to go in it.
    It fits quite well, although I don't think the zips on the bag are quite as strong as they could be. But other than that and me only using 1.5 mm cable it all seems OK.
     
    zed likes this.
  5. Cheers, I havent used it yet. The van is nowhere near ready. I'm just doing little jobs whilst waiting. I guess I could shorten the lead to 12.5 mtrs although it only seems to be the UK that has an issue with 2.5 the rest of Europe seem happy with 1.5
     
  6. I shouldnt bother. However... Many european sites dont have 16amp supplies. Many are 10 or even smaller.
     
  7. I have done this to one of these, i cut the long cable off and wired it to a hookup socket mounted to the van and took a feed off the earth wire and atached it to the chassie o_O

    Will i die from it at some point :)
     
    zed likes this.
  8. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Assume you had it then found out about the earth issue in vans? I'd have done the same.
     
    Buddy Hawks likes this.
  9. I assume so. Think everyone does.
     
  10. Yeah pretty much, its been in it a while and the earthing bit made some sense at the time and was, or seemed safer than hanging things through windows in the hope that with the earth strap on the chassie that i would now be earthed back through the campsite mains earth?

    Seen a basic little setup i think will go in when i do my insides up a bit

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321369251372?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

    I also have a smart charger to plug in and wire to the main battery, not going to bother with a leisure one i doubt

    :thumbsup:
     
  11. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    You still have to rely on the site earth being up to scratch of course.
     
  12. True, Wouldn't the new set up rely on that though?
     
  13. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Yes you're right, they all do.
     
  14. Might keep my set up and dig an earth spike in the ground, what could go wrong :D
     
  15. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    @Dicky Cn't find it in the thread with my limited attention span, I did in the end get a double box, a miniture RCBO and now also have an earth terminal thing to put on the rail.
    I've decided I would be best to hard wire the charger in and free up a 13A socket, it's a bit silly to have something permanently plugged in and the plug isn't permanently fixed to the flex (warrenty).
    Could you advise what I need to get?
     
  16. Ahh! Either another socket or a fused spur im afraid. Wired in series with the existing one or wired directly from the rcbo if theres enough room. Im guessing socket would be easiest.
     
  17. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    I could wire it directly to the RCBO, as that in effect is how it is now, but there's room in my box for another gizmo, I thought maybe I should have an MCB? 2-pole?
     
  18. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Hmm, not sure why after cutting out as many parts as possible I'd want to add a big box just to join wires together with a fuse. See above post, I think we at cross purposes. :)
     

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