Testing your battery

Andy, For your first Rally you might wish to check your battery condition at the begining, middle and end of the Rally to see how your style of caravanning affects it, but I am sure you will soon stop worrying. If you flatten it you might want to think about supplimenting it, or carrying a spare. See how you go.

Hi all

Battery reading was 12.82 then connected the car and it went up to 13.5

Take care 

Andy

Which proves that your car is wired up to charge your caravan 

Hi all

I'd just like to thank everyone who has helped on this its much appreciated.

Take care

Andy

Buy a ACT battery tester, this unit will tell you the battery voltage and the Amp Hour capacity of the battery by putting a load on the battery. These testers are pretty accurate and will give you a near accurate reading on the battery Ah. Just disconnect the outgoing cables and clamp on the crocodile clips at least you will know when you get home if you have enough energy to use your mover.

I understand what everyone is saying but can't help the feeling "that if it ain't broke ....."  I rely on my caravan servicing to cover proper checking of the battery so I guess I could be saving money. 

100 percent agree. Unless you suspect you have problems leave it to an approved workshop to check. It used to be easy to check lead acid batteries with a hydrometer costing  £3 to 4 from Halfords until they introduced maintenance free ones.

peedee

Battery capacity testing procedure here:

http://sargentshop.co.uk/epages/eshop328964.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/eshop328964/Categories/Self_Help/Leisure_Battery_Discharge_Testing

This allows you to compare the current (pun!) Ah capacity with the original. if the capacity gets too low then you will need a replacement.

e.g. for a 110Ah battery you should get about 88Ah out of it when new, the capacity will drop over time. If it gets to, maybe 50 Ah then I'd be considering a change  - it may do for lights etc but if you have a mover it may let you down?

Thanks for a very good link Doug