A caravan battery charger is a must-have for anyone travelling for an extended period of time, so that you can have access to power for all of your electronics and appliances. Choose the right caravan battery charger and you’ll be able to enjoy your trip in comfort.
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What Is A Caravan Battery Charger?
A battery charger and will let you power your caravan’s electronics and appliances when you travel. They work together by charging your auxiliary battery using power from either a generator, main power, or your starter battery and alternator.
You need a dual battery system in your caravan for this to work. This means you have one or more auxiliary caravan batteries, in addition to your car battery. Power is stored in the auxiliary battery so you can run electronic and appliances, such lights, fridge, air-con and more, when the engine or generator is not running.
If you’re looking to carvan chargers your electronics, you’ll need to know the difference between an AC to DC charger and a DC to DC charger so that you can choose the right one for your needs. An AC to DC charger is powered by a generator or mains power and can be used to charge your battery. They come in 12V, 24V, 36V, and 48V options. A DC to DC charger is powered by your vehicle’s alternator and starter battery and is used to charge your auxiliary battery. They come in 12V, 24V, and 36V options.
There are pros and cons to both types.
An in-vehicle DC to DC charger is generally more flexible to use while on the road. A quality DC to DC battery charger is designed to sense a wide voltage range and work with any type of alternator or voltage, so you can be sure that your specific battery, alternator type, and amp size are all compatible. Some chargers also accept other power sources, like solar panels, as an added bonus.
Having an AC to DC battery charger on board is a great way to utilize modern technology to monitor the charging process for maximum efficiency. For example, if you’re trying to charge a flat battery with a generator, most generators produce a 12-volt output and low amperage. But by plugging in a good AC to DC smart battery charger to the generator, you can get higher output voltages, which reduces charging times and saves on fuel.
Do You Need A Lithium Charger To Charge A Lithium Battery?
Although you can technically use a battery charger without a lithium profile to charge a lithium battery, we don’t recommend it. The battery will never be charged to 100% this way, so it’s not worth the risk.
Instead, we recommend choosing a charger with a lithium profile to charge your lithium battery. This way, you can be sure that your battery will be properly charged and won’t run into any problems.
As a general rule, a 40A charger is a good choice for caravans. This is because battery bank sizes are typically around 75 to 200 Amp Hours. However, it’s important to check the battery specifications for the allowable total input charge current before making your final decision – this specification is called total charge current. Your total charging from everything including solar should not be greater than this specification.Generally speaking, you should size your AC battery charger at 10-20% of the size of the battery for AGM batteries and 20-30% for lithium batteries.
How Much Do You Want To Spend?
Depending on the features you want, you can spend as much or as little money as you want on caravan gear.
If you want a top-of-the-line caravan battery charger, go for a “smart” charger. Once you select the battery type (e.g., AGM), the charger will automatically adjust its charge profile to match that battery chemistry.
We sell the EnerdriveePOWER 40A Smart Charger, one of the most popular AC-to-DC chargers on the market, for just under $600. And it comes with some great features.
What Are Some Pros & Cons Of Different Brands In The Range?
Enerdrive offers all-in-one options to make life even easier, like the Enerdrive 40A DC to DC Charger with installation kit. With the right cable, circuit breaker and cable lugs, it takes all the guesswork out of buying and installing the charger. All-in-one solutions like this one from Enerdrive make caravanning a breeze – so you can focus on enjoying the journey!
Different caravan battery charger brands offer different features. Here are some things to look out for:
All-in-one solutions – Enerdrive offers all-in-one options to make life even easier, like the Enerdrive 40A DC to DC Charger with installation kit. With the right cable, circuit breaker and cable lugs, it takes all the guesswork out of buying and installing the charger.
Some brands offer more powerful chargers – If you’re looking for a more powerful charger, look for brands that offer models with higher amp output.
Some brands offer different features – Some chargers come with features like LCD displays or temperature sensors. decide what features are important to you and choose a charger that has them.
