Only with a suitable on-board battery that is in the camper really brings joy. Promobil explains the workings, lists the advantages and disadvantages of different battery types and gives a market overview.

The onboard battery is the powerhouse of the motorhome without it you sit on the road in the dark. In everyday life we ​​all handle regular household batteries – the rechargeable batteries in the motorhome are good but in a completely different league: price, performance, maintenance, and not least the charge, they differ significantly from their little cousins ​​from the supermarket.

How large is the “battery consciousness” of the motorhome driver is revealed in an online survey by Promobil. 91 percent of the participants were able to identify exactly what type of battery you have installed in the vehicle. There are four technologies.

Starter batteries are not suitable as onboard battery
Reine starter batteries are not suitable for use as on-board batteries, because of their construction, they are not designed for a cyclic loading. The result is an early loss of memory. As board battery is deep cycle lead-acid batteries are used. Outwardly we can distinguish them only by the imprint of starter batteries. A deep cycle battery has printed a discharge duration (C) in addition to the capacity specified in ampere hours (Ah). Example: 90 Ah C20 means that 90 Ah could be removed via a discharge time of 20 hours.

The classic board batteries is the battery wet, their basic structure is similar to a starter battery. The difference is in the inner panel assembly: The plates are thicker, and therefore this type of battery for cyclic loading is suitable. Older or simple wet batteries must be maintained, which is connected with the gassing. The gases do not condense in the housing – as is the case with modern, maintenance-free wet batteries – they must be led through a hose to the outside. If so, then has to be refilled occasionally distilled water. A wet battery is the cheapest type of power supply on board and well suited for short-term provision of high currents. However, they should not be over-discharged, because it is then subject to very high wear. Good wet batteries are for moderate battery loads, for example for motorhome owners, who can usually rely on shore power.

Yellow batteries are maintenance free
In gel batteries, the electrolyte is bound in a gel, therefore they do not require external venting. Another advantage is that in a case fraction no acid can emerge. Gel batteries are maintenance-free, which means that you do not have to check the fluid level.

Disposal machines compared to bypass the troublesome disposal of Toilettenkassete, create automatic disposal machines. Promobil has tested two systems of Thetford and Camper Clean.

The disposal of the toilet cassette is one of the less titillating tasks during the camping holiday. But not anymore, because now there is an automatic variant. The disposal machines of the company Camper Clean are currently at 19 locations in Germany, by the end of the network are to be expanded to Europe. Toilet manufacturer Thetford has also recognized the signs of time and in 2014 presented at the Caravan Salon own fully automatic disposal station. This is currently being tested in the Netherlands and will be also on German actuators and campgrounds at the end of the year. Promobil has tried both available on the market models. How do they work, it is shown in the pictures and the cost obligations PDF “Sani Special”, where you learn more about sanitation in the camper.

How much gas is safe?
If you go on vacation, the gas cylinders in the camper may not be missing. But how many bottles may actually be transported? This question has the promobil reader Birgit Jaser.

How many gas cylinders may be transported in a motor home? Only the two in the gas box or possibly a third as a reserve?

Since it is a private, not a commercial transport, only the general requirements for the transport of gas are in this case. A transport document is not necessary up to 300kg net mass. Private individuals only need to comply with the relevant safety regulations for gas transport.

That is, the bottles must be secured so that they can no slip during braking and cornering. In addition, the valves must be covered by the protective caps. The completed from the living area storage place the bottle in the vehicle shall be adequately vented to the outside. The bottles can be transported vertically or horizontally and also transversely to the direction of travel. In recharges smoking and open fires are prohibited in the vicinity.
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