elddis 2016 Buccaneer, Owner'S Handbook Manual

Page: 48 / 146

7-1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
12v POWER SUPPLY
Battery Installation
Your caravan will be fitted with a BCA Leisure
charging and power distribution unit.
If you wish to install a leisure battery please
ensure that it is placed on the battery tray
supplied with your caravan. Then place the
tray in the battery locker fitted to the side of
your caravan. Connect the battery to the
clamp fittings connected to the connection
leads within the battery box.
The type of leisure battery you should utilise
will depend on how you wish to use your new
caravan. If you are going to only use your
caravan when it is connected to a mains
supply and do not have a motor mover fitted,
then any good standard leisure battery rated
at least 85 ampere-hours at 20 hour
discharge rate is sufficient. However, if you
are going to use your caravan without a
mains connection or have a motor mover
fitted, then an AGM type battery rated at least
85 ampere-hours at 20 hour discharge rate is
recommended.
Battery Maintenance
Winter Storage
During winter storage, please ensure that the
leisure battery is fully charged. Dependent on
the battery’s capacity and age, it will require
recharging at regular intervals.
You must check the charge of your battery
and recharge if necessary on a regular basis.
This will depend on your leisure battery’s
capacity, age and state of charge. Charge at
regular intervals.
Points to remember
• Prolonged discharge causes harmful
sulfation and may damage a battery.
• Discharged (dead) batteries are prone to
freezing in cold temperatures.
• For peak performance never let a battery
sit discharged for long periods of time.
• Over discharged batteries are
permanently damaged and need to be
replaced.
Note: Do not over discharge the battery. One
of the most common causes of battery failure
is when the battery is discharged below the
recommended level of approximately 12.2v -
ref table. Discharging a battery below this
figure will cause permanent damage.
Overheating and gassing will occur when re-
connected to the mains supply.
12 Volt Battery State of Charge
12.7V 100%
12.5V 90%
12.42V 80%
12.32V 70%
12.20V 60%
12.06V 50%
11.9V 40%
11.75V 30%
11.58V 20%
11.31V 10%
10.5V 0%
Good : the battery is in good condition and not in
need of charging
OK : nothing to worry about but put the battery on
charge as soon as you can
Warning : get the battery on charge as soon as you
can. Leave it and the battery will be damaged,
possibly beyond repair
Damaged : Replace battery
Generators / Charger
All electrical equipment fitted in your new
caravan can be run from either a controlled
generator or charger whose output is
maintained between 11volts and 14volts.
At least once every 3 years, the caravan
electrical installation should be inspected and
tested, and a report on its condition obtained,
as prescribed in British Standard BS7671.
230v POWER SUPPLY
Mains Unit
The Mains Unit replaces the conventional
fuse box. Similar, but larger ones are often
fitted in new houses. The unit, normally
located in the wardrobe, gives overloads and
earth leakage protection for the 230V
electrical supply in your caravan.
Good
OK
Warning
Damaged