Horsebox peeps - battery charging

Stinkbomb

Stinkbomb

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I have a leisure battery in my horsebox that works the interior lights, the cooker and fridge. However it only charges when im on hook up and not as im travelling off my box battery.

Can anyone tell me how i can set my box up so that the leisure battery is charging as i drive on the van battery?? Is it easy to do and/or expensive to sort?
 
Stinkbomb said:
I have a leisure battery in my horsebox that works the interior lights, the cooker and fridge. However it only charges when im on hook up and not as im travelling off my box battery.

Can anyone tell me how i can set my box up so that the leisure battery is charging as i drive on the van battery?? Is it easy to do and/or expensive to sort?
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Yes it can be done but you would need to drive the lorry for hours and hours to put a full charge back in so the hook up is much better unless you are running the lorry daily, my advice is to buy a small petrol generator will charge it and you could run a microwave, TV etc as well and would cost about the same..or less..
 
I have one just cant be bothered to fill it up !!


I always charge the battery fully before driving to shows off the hook up, but some of my shows are over 3 hours away and by the time i get there and get the horse settled, my beer has gone warm in the fridge!! LOL!!! It would be nice if the fridge could be kept cold whilst im travelling. ( by the way its not just for the beer.... also the chocolate :) )
 
Stinkbomb said:
I have one just cant be bothered to fill it up !!


I always charge the battery fully before driving to shows off the hook up, but some of my shows are over 3 hours away and by the time i get there and get the horse settled, my beer has gone warm in the fridge!! LOL!!! It would be nice if the fridge could be kept cold whilst im travelling. ( by the way its not just for the beer.... also the chocolate :) )
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is it a gas /electric fridge? some have a mains, 12v, and gas option you would be best asking a auto electrician to wire up the 12v bit to the lorry so it works off the lorry battery, then when you get to the show put it on the gas which gives the most cooling..
 
Its a 3 way fridge but somehow isnt connected to the leisure battery. So i usually cool it overnight with hook up before i leave. Unfortunatly gets warmer as we travel and then i put it on gas whilst im at the show.

Maybe speak to an auto electrician like you say. i just wondered whether it would be expensive. :(
 
Dear Lord - the insulation on the fridge must be a tad iffy - could you/do you cool the beer and chocolate before putting them in the fridge and could you also stick in an ice pack thing? I'm sure my lorry is rigged to charge the leisure battery whilst I'm driving - I'll check with my autoelectrician (aka the OH) and let you know.
 
Stinkbomb said:
Its a 3 way fridge but somehow isnt connected to the leisure battery. So i usually cool it overnight with hook up before i leave. Unfortunatly gets warmer as we travel and then i put it on gas whilst im at the show.

Maybe speak to an auto electrician like you say. i just wondered whether it would be expensive. :(
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I would think you will need a 24v to 12 v dropper and some wiring and a relay so it only comes on with the engine running, there is a fair bit of work my guess about £150 . Like the op said is the insulation or door seal ok? mine seems to stay cool for ages maybe worth getting some of the icepack blocks you use in a cool box, freeze them at home and put them in to travel?
 
Stinkbomb said:
I have one just cant be bothered to fill it up !!


I always charge the battery fully before driving to shows off the hook up, but some of my shows are over 3 hours away and by the time i get there and get the horse settled, my beer has gone warm in the fridge!! LOL!!! It would be nice if the fridge could be kept cold whilst im travelling. ( by the way its not just for the beer.... also the chocolate :) )
Click to expand...

Insulation must be really poor - a few weeks ago I went to the Horse of The Year Show a 5hour drive away. I hadput my large cooler in the freezer overnight and packed it with my milk, water bottles, bread and other things needed to be kept cool. Three days later the water still had big blocks of ice in it. Yet temperatures outside were well in the 20's.

Planning to get a gas fridge for next year if money allows and to be wired up to be able to use mains power. Though I do enjoy the glow from a gas lamp when I stay away overnight.
 
Would a heavy duty solar battery charger help?
I use a small one on my van when its not being used just to maintain the batteries charge.
Maybe you could use a heavy duty solar charger after you have charged from the hook up to prolong the battery life.
 
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