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Newbie / silly question - I can't find a monitor for the leisure battery?

Chrismatheson

Chrismatheson

Messages
35
Location
North West
Vehicle
T6 Beach 150
We just purchased our 2018 Beach, its the model without the pull out cooker part (I thought that was standard on all beaches but oh well)

Ive seen pictures of the little control panel with readouts on the leisure battery, but is that only on the Coast / Ocean ? I cant find ours?

Thanks for any help :)
 
Welcome

2018 Beach does not have the pull out stove,

that came later on the T6.1 Beach Camper.

Monitoring of leisure battery is only provided on Coast / Ocean, although you can monitor the LB with a plug in volt meter Plugged into any of the 12v cigarette sockets located in the rear of the van (I.e. Anywhere behind the driver / passenger seat, there are three 12v sockets in the rear )

LB should be charged once per month from EHU to keep it in optimal condition.
 
You can fit something like the attached photo, its the size of a matchbox & you just connect a wire to each pole of the battery. Sends info to an app on your phone via bluetooth cost about £20 from memory.
IMG_5566.jpeg
 
Awesome thanks!!!
I don't think we would be near an EHU every month ... Can I charge the van at home ? Im assuming ill need some sort of special adaptor or something ?
 
Chrismatheson said:
Awesome thanks!!!
I don't think we would be near an EHU every month ... Can I charge the van at home ? Im assuming ill need some sort of special adaptor or something ?
Click to expand...
EHU = 230v camping cable plugged into the 230v socket at home

you get a three pin plug adaptor for the camping cable that attaches to the van (LB) charging socket
 
Chrismatheson said:
Awesome thanks!!!
I don't think we would be near an EHU every month ... Can I charge the van at home ? Im assuming ill need some sort of special adaptor or something ?
Click to expand...

You need a Standard caravan hook up cable + a caravan cable to 3 pin plug adapter ( assuming you have an inlet on the rear passenger side wing? )

Any camping shop or Halfords sell them.
 
Awesome, thanks folks.

A follow up new Q ... I just tried to plug something into the "mains" plug in the van for the first time but nothing happened. Is there something obvious im missing? I checked the RCD (not that easy to get to) and it was in the "up" position, although I flicked it to see if that was the problem with no luck....

do the keys need to be in the ignition or something?
 
Chrismatheson said:
Awesome, thanks folks.

A follow up new Q ... I just tried to plug something into the "mains" plug in the van for the first time but nothing happened. Is there something obvious im missing? I checked the RCD (not that easy to get to) and it was in the "up" position, although I flicked it to see if that was the problem with no luck....

do the keys need to be in the ignition or something?
Click to expand...
Silly question possibly but have you plugged the van into the mains?
 
Chrismatheson said:
Awesome, thanks folks.

A follow up new Q ... I just tried to plug something into the "mains" plug in the van for the first time but nothing happened. Is there something obvious im missing? I checked the RCD (not that easy to get to) and it was in the "up" position, although I flicked it to see if that was the problem with no luck....

do the keys need to be in the ignition or something?
Click to expand...
You do have the Electrical Hookup lead plugged into the external socket and plugged into a Mains Supply domestic socket ?
 
I haven't, I thought that plug would work from the Leisure battery ?
 
Chrismatheson said:
Does the base model not ship with an inverter? does the plug only "work" when connected to an EHU ?
Click to expand...
Correct.
I don’t believe the Beach has an Inverter.

If there is an Inverter fitted it would be at the base of the B pillar behind front passenger seat and limited to 150watts output.
 
WelshGas said:
Correct.
I don’t believe the Beach has an Inverter.

If there is an Inverter fitted it would be at the base of the B pillar behind front passenger seat and limited to 150watts output.
Click to expand...
thanks. Seeing as I plugged something in while *not* on an EHU and it didn't work I guess ill assume there isn't an inverter ;)

Thanks a load for all your help everyone :D
 
No inverter in a Beach,

single Leisure Battery under Passenger seat (U.K.)
LB is charged via the 240v EHU socket on the side of the van
or
whilst driving the van. (Subject to certain pre determined criteria set by the smart charging system)

the three pin socket on the B pillar will only work whilst the van is actually plugged into 240v via the EHU socket.
 
Perfectos said:
No inverter in a Beach,

single Leisure Battery under Passenger seat (U.K.)
LB is charged via the 240v EHU socket on the side of the van
or
whilst driving the van. (Subject to certain pre determined criteria set by the smart charging system)

the three pin socket on the B pillar will only work whilst the van is actually plugged into 240v via the EHU socket.
Click to expand...
:thanks
 
Ch1pbutty said:
Something like this will do it, also doubles as a USB charger:

www.diy.com

Hardys Dual USB Charger Car Van Vehicle Lighter Socket Adapter with Digital Voltmeter | DIY at B&Q

Dual USB Car Lighter Adapter Charger with Built in voltmeter display to show vehicles battery voltage.
www.diy.com
Click to expand...
Just don't take the numbers as gospel at that price, good for indication. The one i had similar didn’t display 12.6volts at all, never, i tested it in our test lab, 12.5 then12.7volts as i raised the voltage.
 
da_murphster said:
Does driving it not keep it topped up adequately?
Click to expand...
Not on modern vehicles as due to Smart Alternator technology and Regenerative Braking both engine and Leisure Batteries will only charge to 80%, or so, without some intervention.
 
da_murphster said:
Does driving it not keep it topped up adequately?
Click to expand...
Driving will not top it up 100%,
the on board charger is a smart charger so it also conditions / maintains the battery at optimal levels. (full).

edit: additionally, having a 100% full LB ensures the SB gets priority charging from the smart charging system when driving, which gives it a better chance of receiving a near full charge when driving also ( regenerative braking etc).
 
Last edited:
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