Charging a Warwick Duo

That's what the forum is all about Sally.

Unlike some others we are a friendly bunch on ASOF, and a good many of us are always willing to help and advise where we can . . . specially when the recipient is as courteous as you!

It might surprise you how many forget to say "Thanks". It costs nothing and makes it far more likely that help will be forthcoming next time. 

Maybe it will surprise you just how much you will love your van and how much you will use it! Even during the winter. That solves all yer battery issues lol

Hi Just of the subject a bit. With all this talk about disconnecting the batteries is it still possible to lock/unlock via the fob, or do you use the key only. If so is it possible still to dead lock the vehicle.
I could go out and try but it's dark and cold out 

Thanks     Windy

Hi Windy, unlikely fob operation will work going by our experience with flat battery problem. To us it was the first sign that something was amiss as the fob operation didn't open any doors or deploy step.

Gromit wrote:That's what the forum is all about Sally.

Unlike some others we are a friendly bunch on ASOF, and a good many of us are always willing to help and advise where we can . . . specially when the recipient is as courteous as you!

It might surprise you how many forget to say "Thanks". It costs nothing and makes it far more likely that help will be forthcoming next time. 

I find that in this day of fast easy access media, people often forget the simple thank you.  I’m sure they are often not doing it deliberately, but the keyboard is so anonymous.

For those of us brought up correctly, it costs nothing.  So thank you.

Sally
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Windychippy wrote:Hi Just of the subject a bit. With all this talk about disconnecting the batteries is it still possible to lock/unlock via the fob, or do you use the key only. If so is it possible still to dead lock the vehicle.
I could go out and try but it's dark and cold out 

Thanks     Windy

If you have deadlocked the van you can unlock the driver's door with the key but you CANNOT unlock the passenger door to get at the bonnet release BECAUSE IT IS DEADLOCKED and does not have a keyhole on the outside.  The inside handles are disabled by the deadlock!
So the only way to recharge th ebattery is with the onboard Sargent charger or by taking up the floor to get at the vehicle battery underneath - and that is not easy with the passenegr door tight closed!

inspiredron wrote:
If you have deadlocked the van you can unlock the driver's door with the key but you CANNOT unlock the passenger door to get at the bonnet release BECAUSE IT IS DEADLOCKED and does not have a keyhole on the outside.  The inside handles are disabled by the deadlock!
So the only way to recharge th ebattery is with the onboard Sargent charger or by taking up the floor to get at the vehicle battery underneath - and that is not easy with the passenegr door tight closed!

Thanks Paramedic and Inspiredron.
    Heaven forbid that my battery goes down while deadlocked, fortunately the vehicle battery is accessed via a floor panel in front of the passenger seat so not to difficult.
Windy

wouldn't it be difficult if you couldn't get the passenger door open?  (which seems to be the case) bearing in mind the battery is in the passenger footwell.
Maybe it is easy, I haven't tried getting at the battery from the drivers side. 

Hi Sally, I am on my third motorhome and I have never had a solar panel of any kind, I go to shows, where there is no EHU for five days, never had a problem.
I am parked on the drive and I do plug in to electric by a short lead into a socket and the EHU plugs into that, nothing complicated or expensive. If you have access to a 13amp socket, mine is in the garage, but friends use one in the house, cable through the wall. so nothing on the outside.  

Hope you get it sorted and you are happy with it,? please don't give up on the MH it is great and ideal for what you want it for. I don`t see it as a big problem,
Very best wishes,
Marg.

AutoSleepyDon wrote:wouldn't it be difficult if you couldn't get the passenger door open?  (which seems to be the case) bearing in mind the battery is in the passenger footwell.
Maybe it is easy, I haven't tried getting at the battery from the drivers side. 

Don, the cab battery in all post 2006 Ducatos (I've had four) is ahead of the cab seats and fairly central, not in the passenger footwell, I assumed all SEVEL vehicles would be the same? Is this not so for the Boxer/Jumper?
No problem to get at, just need a coin to open the flooring sections...
Re: the charging issues, is disconnecting a vehicle battery a viable option when insurers want immobilisers and trackers active?
If parked at home on the drive, the odd boost with a house connected EHU cable seems an easy solution, or if looking to do a bit of off grid camping too, then a decent solar panel (say 100w+) and the circuitry to charge both leisure and cab batteries is another easy alternative.
Good luck.

bolero boy wrote:Re: the charging issues, is disconnecting a vehicle battery a viable option when insurers want immobilisers and trackers active?

A good point Chris, and one to be taken into consideration. 

Much would depend upon the exact situation for storing the van, but in many cases your caveat would be important.

daisy mae wrote:Hi Sally, I am on my third motorhome and I have never had a solar panel of any kind, I go to shows, where there is no EHU for five days, never had a problem.
I am parked on the drive and I do plug in to electric by a short lead into a socket and the EHU plugs into that, nothing complicated or expensive. If you have access to a 13amp socket, mine is in the garage, but friends use one in the house, cable through the wall. so nothing on the outside.  

Hope you get it sorted and you are happy with it,? please don't give up on the MH it is great and ideal for what you want it for. I don`t see it as a big problem,
Very best wishes,
Marg.

Hi Marg

I've had a lot of help now, both on this thread and in private messages offering support and advice.

Initially I was going to keep it on the drive.  But having thought about it, it makes more sense logistically (for our specific circumstances) to keep it in secure storage.  So that's what I'll be doing.  That's where I could see any issues happening, but I've spoken to various people 'in the know' and I can definitely get a solar panel fitted.  So that's what I'll be doing, as it solves any real or imagined flat battery issues, plus gives me some good off grid options in future.  I'm not sure I definitely need it, but I like the sound of it; that's my reasoning behind Jimmy Choos, so I'm applying it here.

All the best, and I'm definitely not giving up on motor homing.

Sally
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Who is Jimmy Choos? 

Wise decision Sally. In the short term (4 or 5 days) the flat battery issue is largely imaginary. As said before, with care you would not have a problem. (A higher capacity, or second habitation battery would be a cheaper option, but a panel is best for longer time scales.)

For longer term storage a panel is very desirable, if (as Boleroboy noted) you want to keep an alarm or tracker running, and if you don't want to take the van out for a run every two or three weeks to charge the batteries.

Think of a Battery Master if the controller on your intended panel does not charge both batteries at once.

AutoSleepyDon wrote:wouldn't it be difficult if you couldn't get the passenger door open?  (which seems to be the case) bearing in mind the battery is in the passenger footwell.
Maybe it is easy, I haven't tried getting at the battery from the drivers side. 

Hi,
Recently had the steering wheel changed and the technician disconnected the battery from inside the van as was cold outside. He seemed to cope quite well though.

Cheers  Windy

Gromit wrote:Who is Jimmy Choos? 

Wise decision Sally. In the short term (4 or 5 days) the flat battery issue is largely imaginary. As said before, with care you would not have a problem. (A higher capacity, or second habitation battery would be a cheaper option, but a panel is best for longer time scales.)

For longer term storage a panel is very desirable, if (as Boleroboy noted) you want to keep an alarm or tracker running, and if you don't want to take the van out for a run every two or three weeks to charge the batteries.

Think of a Battery Master if the controller on your intended panel does not charge both batteries at once.

Hi Dave - the panels and systems I’m looking at all have the capability of charging both batteries, so that’s good.  I certainly don’t want to take it out for a drive every few weeks when in storage. It took me 28 years to learn to walk in 4” heels; apparently these are not suitable for a motorhome. 

I’m prepared to give up some luxuries. I’m prepared to cut down on make up. I’m even prepared to rough it a little. 

But I’m not giving up my heels!

All the best
Sally
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