Operation Manual

Electrical system
9
87Caravan - 12-11 - EN
When the vehicle is not connected to the 230 V power supply or the 230 V power
supply is switched off, the living area battery supplies the living area with 12 VDC.
The living area battery has a limited power supply only. For this reason, electrical
appliances such as the radio and the lights should not be operated for a long time
without using the 230 V power supply.
If the vehicle is connected to the 230 V power supply, the living area battery is auto-
matically recharged by the charger installed in the transformer/rectifier (Power
Pack SE).
Discharging The living area battery is discharged by the closed circuit current which some elec-
trical appliances continuously require. Appliances such as the charger, solar charge
regulator, panel etc. consume approx. 20 mA to 65 mA of electricity from the bat-
tery capacity, even when the 12 V main switch is turned off.
At lower outdoor temperatures the battery loses its capacity.
The self-discharge rate of the battery is also dependant on temperature. At 20 to 25
°C the self-discharge rate amounts to approx. 3% of the capacity per month. The
self-discharge rate will increase with rising temperatures: At 35 °C the self-dis-
charge rate amounts to approx. 20% of the capacity per month.
An older battery no longer has the complete capacity available.
The higher the number of active electrical appliances, the faster the energy of the
living area battery is consumed.
In order to prevent fast discharge of the living area battery, the refrigerator is oper-
ated on 12 V power supply only when the engine is running and when there is an
electrical connection between the towing vehicle and caravan.
9.3.2 Check the living area battery (Power Pack SE)
The capacity of a battery is limited as to time. The higher the number of electrical
appliances, the faster the energy of the living area battery is consumed. A battery
which has been installed for years has no longer the complete capacity available.
Charging condition To protect the living area battery, no more than 80% of the battery's capacity
should be drawn. Therefore check the charging condition of the living area battery
regularly. The charging condition of the living area battery can be read off on the
panel.
Z The battery is maintenance-free. Maintenance-free means:
It is not necessary to check the acid level.
It is not necessary to lubricate the battery poles.
It is not necessary to refill the distilled water.
Even a maintenance-free battery must be charged regularly.
Z Total discharge damages the battery.
Z Recharge the battery in good time.
Z Further information can be obtained in the separate documents of the living
area battery.
Z A meaningful measurement of the charging condition can only be made after 4
hours of battery charging. Immediately after charging, the battery voltage is
higher, after approx. 4 hours, it sinks to the so-called off-load voltage. The off-
load voltage displays the charging condition.