Caravan battery charging - Smart Alternator
 

A question re the charging system in my car.

Vehicle is an XC70 2015 fitted with oe electrics and relevant software.

My question is 're charging of the caravan battery.

Despite the smart alternator system on my car, does the caravan battery receive a charge because the towing module recognises the caravan is connected?

I'm not with the van so cannot physically check but wondered if someone knew this.

As I understand it the system charges the car battery first after the initial start, once it is charged and then the caravan battery.

Brilliant thought as much just needed confirmation.

Someone was telling me that majority of Euro 5 & 6 needed either lights on to invoke alternator or caravan to be retrofitted with.... https://sterling-power.com/collectio...harger-caravan

...but as I thought Volvo wiring caters for this unlike some other vehicle manufacturers.

Good piece of kit though.

Should be easy to check just connect the car to the caravan and check the caravan battery voltage before you start the car. It should be about 12.7 v.

The start the car and run it for a while, once the car starts to charge the van battery the voltage should be about 14v.

Hi Ruby, I have just had a Volvo electric hitch fitted with Volvo electrics at my local Volvo dealer...I checked the things you mentioned and yes it definitely runs the fridge I am not so sure about the leisure battery. I have a solar panel fitted to my Swift Conqueror so its difficult to tell without putting a volt meter on the leisure battery but I suspect the car does charge the leisure battery. Cheers Roy