Power packs

It’s not affected ours, HG. 

I'd have thought it to be perfectly OK as long as the hab electronics are turned off. 

I think the risk is that the habitation battery may also be flat so the load on the jump start vehicle alternator could be massive. Motorhome alternators presumably are oversized to cope with the load of charging both batteries and the alternator on, say, a family car is of a much smaller output.

Worth looking at aandncaravans website where they say that under certain circumstances the habitation battery will attempt to supplement the jump start battery resulting in some quite severe damage to electronic systems in the motorhome.

See aandncaravanservices.co.uk, “Jump Starting a Motorhome” which describes the risks, albeit in unusual circumstances. In fact they say you should never do it!

Just be careful jump starting, nobody has mentioned the smart charge alternators that are fitted to all 'modern' vehicles, the electronics can be severely damaged if jump starting is carried out incorrectly.

as previous posts check the manual/and or dealer for advice (smart alternators are extremely expensive)

HG, as far as I know the vehicle electrics are standard van electrics. When the vehicle battery charge drops to about 10v, the battery usually disconnects to protect itself.

Similarly, the habitation control unit normally disconnects the hab batteries, and the vehicle battery from the hab electrics, when the level drops to about 10v. On Sargent units, this is one of the advanced settings and can be altered. Therefore, what you suggest is unlikely to happen.

Full details can be found in your Peugeot and Sargent handbooks. The Sargent instructions (Dealers' Handbook) can also be downloaded from their website.

If jump starting the vehicle was likely to be detrimental, the under bonnet connections would not be fitted. Note, too, that dealers habitually start the MHs on their forecourts with battery packs.

I was just passing on what I read but agree that a battery pack would be safer than a jump start from another car. Also, there are older motorhomes that may not have the same level of protection as newer models. When we owned a caravan I had a spare battery on my bench and would swap them over periodically when the van was in storage. I also find a spare battery useful if you have a high power air compressor which uses battery connection rather than a cigarette lighter socket, although of course you can connect to a vehicle battery terminals direct.

So, it might be worth buying a spare car battery of a decent size rather than a battery pack and use this rather than a jump start kit. £80 or so?

......except the battery pack is portable and travels with us.

Like all things, it’s ultimately down to personal choice.

Looks like I should get one, as our car wouldn't start yesterday after only standing idle for a couple of days. The battery appeared to be completely flat. Have had it on charge all day and will do similar tomorrow morning and the see what's what. Following advice I disconnected the battery before try to charge it up. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Sounds like your battery is on its last legs if it won't start your car after just a couple of days ... or something was left on

Hope for the best, Nellie.🤞🤞🤞