Charging a Warwick Duo

Hi Everyone

I am purchasing a Warwick Duo, 2009, and although it will store on my drive, I do not have access to any hook ups.  I will only use this van occasionally for visits to antique shows etc, so it may well stand unused for a month or so between drives.

Does it matter that it will be uncharged, not connected to power, while it’s sat on the drive for so long.  Sorry for the newbie question, but I thought this was the best place to ask.

Sally
X

Does the van have a solar panel of at least 85W? In my opinion this is an essential fitment for a van that's going to be stored off EHU for any length of time.
Al.

Hi - I’m interested in the same issue to be honest.

There is no solar panel on the van, and probably nothing in it he budget at the moment.  Can I ask what issue this will cause?  It will be stood a month or so between trips, then over winter. Is not having a solar panel serious enough to be a deal breaker, and does this apply to any Motorhome. 

Thank you for you help
Sally

You'll be lucky if the engine battery will last more than a couple of weeks without charge. Other than solar panel fitted on roof you could get a portable one to lay on the dashboard connected directly to the battery which is under the floor in front of passenger seat but I don't know if could can get one much above 20 watt that would sit on the dash and that size may not be big enough.


When you have a minute perhaps you'd like to do an introduction here..

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

A month at a time shouldn't really be an issue, however batteries stood over winter with any drain will eventually go flat, and this usually damages batteries beyond recovery. Lots of members on here take their van for a regular spin during the winter months to keep the batteries topped up.
Al.

Thank you for the information so far.  I’ve posted this in the technical section as well, so if anyone sees this post they may as well try and answer there. 

Cheers
Sally
X

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

See this article, showing my Warwick Duo solar installation

For ANY motorhome, IMHO, a solar panel is not just nice to have, its essential.

ESPECIALLY for when parked in winter.

All modern vehicles have a standing load from the starter battery, this will flatten it in 2 or 3 weeks with no charge input.

My 150w panel, 100 would do, fully charges BOTH batteries at all times, even in the depths of winter. IN spring, summer and autumn, its output is enough that we never use site hook ups, unless they are included in the site price. In reality we virtually never use site anyway!

So, and its only my opinion, other may and will disagree, a solar panel is essential. Nothing harms lead acid batteries more than be allowed to discharge.

Hope this helps!   

See this article, showing my Warwick Duo solar installation

For ANY motorhome, IMHO, a solar panel is not just nice to have, its essential.

ESPECIALLY for when parked in winter.

All modern vehicles have a standing load from the starter battery, this will flatten it in 2 or 3 weeks with no charge input.

My 150w panel, 100 would do, fully charges BOTH batteries at all times, even in the depths of winter. IN spring, summer and autumn, its output is enough that we never use site hook ups, unless they are included in the site price. In reality we virtually never use site anyway!

So, and its only my opinion, other may and will disagree, a solar panel is essential. Nothing harms lead acid batteries more than be allowed to discharge.

Hope this helps!   

That’s a great read, but to be honest it’s technically way above me, so I would need an engineer to supply and fit. 

Can I just ask, is the solar panel solely to keep both the main and leisure batteries charged? Or does it do other things in the van?

Thanks again
Sally
X

P.S.it all helps, but this is slowly starting to worry me, to the extent I’m considering putting the sale on hold 

First of all, you shouldn't be worried, this is, perhaps for the right person, and easy fix. Parts cost circa £500, weight added just 6Kg.

Yes the solar panel keeps both batteries fully charged. The batteries then do all electrical in the van, same happens if hooked up, to some extent. When hooked up, then the mains electricity will charge the leisure battery, and can run the fridge, heating (if the heating in your van accepts 240v mains) and, if your cooker has one, the single electric hob.

I certainly wouldn't put the sale on hold over this, and for your planned use of the van, then solar is essential anyway (on ANY van) as your visits to antique shows etc will almost certainly not have mains hook up available.

Without being too nosey, roughly how much is the van you are planning to buy?

Hi Sally

I would agree that a solar panel is almost essential for you, but there are ancillary bits to consider as well (the controller for example) and it all gets a bit complex and techie for we Luddites! 

I would suggest that you either take the van to a show where you will almost certainly find a company willing to fit the panel there and then, and probably with a show discount . . . but only if the company is based not too far from home, just in case anything goes wrong and you have to take it back for a warranty claim.

A better suggestion might be to contact a mobile motorhome and caravan engineer. Someone on the forum will know of a good and reliable one who covers your area. They are invariably cheaper than a dealer, and they rely very much on reputation, so your are likely to get a good job done at a very reasonable price. Also they will not be tied to any particular type of panel, so they will be able to offer options.

Hope this helps.

Sally wrote:I am purchasing a Warwick Duo, 2009, and although it will store on my drive, I do not have access to any hook ups.

Why not connect to the mains? 
I suggest you connect to mains for 24 hours once a month during the winter possibly via an extension lead.

Do not let your batteries drop below 50%.

I am amazed so many are suggesting a solar panel for winter, I doubt you will get any joy from a solar panel, Britain just does not receive enough solar energy. Mine certainly wouldn't keep the batteries charged in winter,
I have the standard panel fitted by AS and frankly it is not much use in winter.

Happy motorhoming 

AutoSleepyDon wrote:
Why not connect to the mains? 
I suggest you connect to mains for 24 hours once a month during the winter possibly via an extension lead.

Do not let your batteries drop below 50%.

I am amazed so many are suggesting a solar panel for winter, I doubt you will get any joy from a solar panel, Britain just does not receive enough solar energy. Mine certainly wouldn't keep the batteries charged in winter,
I have the standard panel fitted by AS and frankly it is not much use in winter.

Happy motorhoming 

It sounds as if you have the 30 watt panel Don, and if so it comes as no surprise that it's not much use.

Anything less than 80 watts is going to struggle. I can't think why A/S offer the 30 watt model as standard, unless it's simply so they are able to list "a solar panel" in the specifications, even though it's not much use!!

Sally - Perhaps you could clarify what you mean by having no access to any hook ups? As Don says, plugging into the mains at home is dead simple, and I guess everyone does it if they keep their van on the drive.

You only need one of these at a cost of about 7 or 8 pounds. Available from [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Hi everyone. 

I hadn’t thought of plugging it into the mains with an adapter.  However, I’ve realised that the van will almost certainly go into secure storage over winter and I may in fact do this full time from a security point of view. So ideally I would like something that will charge the main battery if left for long periods.

Which forum is the best place to ask for recommended mobile fitters?

Sally
X

AutoSleepyDon wrote:

I am amazed so many are suggesting a solar panel for winter, I doubt you will get any joy from a solar panel, Britain just does not receive enough solar energy. Mine certainly wouldn't keep the batteries charged in winter,
I have the standard panel fitted by AS and frankly it is not much use in winter.

On the drive with no shade, my 80W panel(s) have looked after the batteries on my van(s) for the last 12 winters with no problem even allowing a few days of fog and snow cover.

Don

Is yours kept in undercover storage??!!!

My 150W panel keeps both batts full all yr round, with ease. I used the MH for a weekend recently, depths of winter, both batts full by lunchtime each day

Several reasons for your "problem"

1 Panel too small as Gromit says
2 Panel dirty?
3 Parked under trees?
4 Faulty panel?

Certainly I wouldn't even consider a Mh without a solar panel, even if only to keep the batts full in winter.

We may all be aware that a solar panel is essential. But the original post by Sally was asking if she could exist without an EHU - the answer is no definitely not Sally, and that is all you need to know. She also says she cannot afford a solar panel with her budget.

Mindhyg wrote:We may all be aware that a solar panel is essential. But the original post by Sally was asking if she could exist without an EHU - the answer is no definitely not Sally, and that is all you need to know. She also says she cannot afford a solar panel with her budget.

I don't agree at all! It's all very well to tell her she definitely cannot exist without an EHU - but how does that help her if no alternatives are suggested?

Later on she asked what issues it would cause if she didn't have one, plus several other questions with which various members have tried to help her.

I'd say as a complete novice she needs to know an awful lot more than the fact that she can't exist without EHU. In fact she could quite easily with the right advice - and how better to learn than by reading posts from many experienced members! If the thread drifts a bit, so much the better. She will be learning about related issues - which can't be bad.

My van doesn't have no fixed solar, and is stored on a secure site without EHU at the pitch. I have a small solar panel 8w or 12w, plugged into the cig socket. Every 5 weeks or so in winter I move it (engine starts OK) to the wash/cleaning bay and plug in for 48 hours to top up the vehicle battery. So far 4 years not been let down.

Having re-read and digested all the posts so far, for the occasional use and long storage periods anticipated, the expense of installing a solar panel is not necessary.  The leisure and starter batteries will discharge if left connected and uncharged so the addition of a disconnect switch to the negative terminal of each battery is a simple and cheap solution.  See link.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

A couple of other things, a solar panel is not essential and neither is an EHU, many camp extensively without either - its just a case of adapting your use to the power available.

Peter Brown wrote:Having re-read and digested all the posts so far, for the occasional use and long storage periods anticipated, the expense of installing a solar panel is not necessary.  The leisure and starter batteries will discharge if left connected and uncharged so the addition of a disconnect switch to the negative terminal of each battery is a simple and cheap solution.  See link.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

A couple of other things, a solar panel is not essential and neither is an EHU,  many camp extensively without either - its just a case of adapting your use to the power available.

Peter Brown. It all depends on what you mean by many camp extensively without either. Park up for a week with no hook up or solar and your batteries will die. Move on every couple of days with a good drive involved and you'll probably get away with it. Sorry, but the way Sally will use her van wont work and it would not be correct to tell her it will. Even disconnecting the batteries when stored in winter will not help, and I am sure you know very well how vehicle and leisure batteries work.

Hi Sally , I am somewhat bemused by all the kerfuffle that goes on re batteries on this forum  , solar etc etc. Previous coachbuilt van on a Peugeot base 2009 sat 2 months at a time at least before charging via mains at home. Never had starting issues or battery issues. Sold at over 6 years old and original batteries still performing perfectly well. I Midtron tested both batteries before sale and both were still perfectly acceptable. (Battery testing and  replacement is part of my daily work in large Ups power supply systems)
       Current Kemerton had a current drain/discharge issue from new on cab battery but Marquis investigated and repaired ( not known what was done) . Now 4 years old  and left at least 8 weeks between charges at home and no problem with discharge / flat batteries. I have not invested in solar , or wind farm , or hydro or have a nuclear reactor option in my garage! As Peter says cheapest option if cab vehicle  discharge is a problem is a battery master/ disconnect switch as fitted to latest vans. Dont worry , if you can use an adaptor to connect the van from time to time at home , charge van battery one day and hab. Battery the next. You will soon get to know how often it is required depending on what is fitted accessory wise to your van  and power consumption.

Mindhyg wrote:
Peter Brown. It all depends on what you mean by many camp extensively without either. Park up for a week with no hook up or solar and your batteries will die. Move on every couple of days with a good drive involved and you'll probably get away with it. Sorry, but the way Sally will use her van wont work and it would not be correct to tell her it will. Even disconnecting the batteries when stored in winter will not help, and I am sure you know very well how vehicle and leisure batteries work.

Sally, I must apologise on behalf of the many long standing members of this forum who are pleased to give the benefit of their experience to help new owners get the best from their motorhome. We don't always agree with each other, but its very rare to find complete mis-information on the forum. Unfortunately these posts from Mindhyg on this subject are one of these rare cases and I'm sorry for the doubt they are probably creating in your mind.

Many members of the forum are regular attendees at 5 day rallies on sports fields and the like without electric hookup and started doing so long before solar power was cheaply available. With thoughtful use of electric devices, the batteries will easily last for that time.

It must be obvious to you when you go to a battery supplier that he doesn't keep his stock of batteries on charge. They sit in a storage rack for months on end and on installation will start a vehicle instantly - a disconnected battery will retain its charge.

I do hope you continue with your plan to procure a motorhome and enjoy the flexible living style that inspire.

Hi Sally, I agree with Peter. My MH is in storage. I disconnected the negative side of engine battery a few months ago as I have done in previous winter years. I do visit the storage site occasionally to check if the battery is fully charged. I can if necessary also fit a small solar panel [13W] to the battery which fits on the windscreen to keep it fully topped up, but have not need to this year. When reconnecting the engine battery I have had no problems with the MH electrics with the exception of having to re-set the dash clock. I do however follow the advice of other forum members and occasionally take the MH for a good run, especially in the winter months, to keep the MH in good running order etc. As for the leisure battery its at home and topped up with a battery charger every 2-3 weeks. The procedure I follow could of course be carried outside the winter months but in my case the MH is used frequently from spring to autumn. Finally, although like Peter I accept a solar panel is not essential, it is useful and hopefully, cross fingers, will have one fitted this year.

Hi everyone

Thank you to all the contributors. I’ve learned a lot, and I will be running the van for 6 months to get used to it. During that time I will definitely source a panel of some kind, and it will all be ready for the winter months. 

I couldn’t have got to this stage without the help of people on here. 

Many thanks
Sally
X