Re: Re: New Member ‘Doris’ 110 Dormobile
Hi Welcome to the forum, if you have any photos you can post we would love to see them. I can’t help with the seats, but can offer advice on the second battery.
I have two Dormobiles, one Landrover and one Sherpa, both have duel battery one with 240v as well (Sherpa) and one without (Landrover) Both were installed by myself and are quite easy, but I’ve learn’t a few things along the way.
Landrover – Second battery is under the passenger seat and links to the charging circuit via a switch relay.
Advantages – fit and forget it does all the work for you, once the vehicle has started the relay detects the increased voltage and switches on allowing power into the second battery.
Disadvantages – If your second battery is already fully charged when you start the vehicle and the relay allows power in to the battery the charge in the circut is at it’s maximum as the car starting battery requires a top up following starting the car, this can cause overcharging of the second battery and it’s life can be shortened.
Sherpa– Second battery in the engine bay manual switch under the dash board. 240v hook up
Having learnt from the landrover experiance I put in a manual switch, at any time I can link both batteries to charge in either direction main to spare and the other way round. The battery lasts a lot longer and if the second gets low I can boost it with the engine starter (risky if this gets flat you can’t start the engine)
The 240v system is separate, the mains hook up is via a panel in the side, it goes to a domestic RCB, then to an extension lead with multi plugs which in turn go to the different areas. I’ve installed a trickle charger which works from 240v but charges the 2nd battery. This is great when the vehicle is not in use. Because I can link both batteries I can keep the engine starter charged at the same time.
The trickle charger is only 1.5amps and will turn off when not needed. I’ve not needed a bigger charger yet as the altenator copes will most scenarios for putting power back in when on the move, and if you are using 240v then you’ll not be using the 12v. Having said that I’ve not used the vehicle in winter when more stress would be on the 12v system (lights on for longer etc) battery efficiency decreases in colder weather as well.
Regards
John
