Daily driver leisure battery charging

[icn05]

Just wondering what people do with their leisure batteries when using the van daily but not necessarily the leisure electrics?

Do you leave it connected so the DC/DC keeps it permanently charged up or let the battery get to about 80% and isolate until the leisure electrics are needed?

 

[Sasquatch]

Big ass solar.

 

[icn05]

Big ass solar.

I’m getting little ass solar fitted soon

I’m thinking more along the lines is it good for the LiFePo4 to keep getting topped up from 90 odd % to 100% by the DC/DC charger if the leisure electrics aren’t being used much or is it better to follow what’s recommended about storing (ie leaving at 80% charge or less).

I’ll be driving the van regularly through the winter but won’t be camping as much so was wondering how best to look after the battery.

 

[TeeCeeJay]

It's well explained here.

Post in thread 'What do you always keep in your fridge?' What do you always keep in your fridge?

 

[Bigsidavies]

I just leave mine. The dc-dc or solar keeps it fully charged. Probably not the best for a lifepo4 battery, but if it dies I'll buy another one. I can't be doing with messing and stressing over trivial stuff. It's a battery and can be replaced in 15 minutes.

 

[icn05]

I just leave mine. The dc-dc or solar keeps it fully charged. Probably not the best for a lifepo4 battery, but if it dies I'll buy another one. I can't be doing with messing and stressing over trivial stuff. It's a battery and can be replaced in 15 minutes.

Fair enough but I’d rather not be chucking £600+ at new batteries for the sake of flicking a switch every now and then if that’s all it needs. Van’s enough of a money pit as it is!

 

[ginkster]

I have switches on the DC-DC and solar and have them turned off between camping trips. The battery then slowly (very slowly!) depletes as it keeps the starter battery topped up through the AMT12-2 and occasional use of lights etc. A day or so before a trip I pop the solar on, or if it’s short notice the solar and DC-DC, and the battery is fully charged for the camping. Maybe it’s overkill but everything I’ve seen says not to keep a lithium battery fully topped up permanently, which is exactly what would happen if I left the chargers on. Instead, mine spends the majority of its time somewhere between 80-30%. In reality I’ll have sold the van long before the advertised lifespan of the battery however I manage it!