I need advice on recharging leisure batteries. I have just bought a 1994 Puck with an ExpeditionPlus leisure battery which is wired into a switch by the side. Switch is currently (no pun intended) in off position. What is the correct and safe procedure to recharge the battery whilst caravan is detached?

If you are charging your battery with an external charger simply connect the charger across the correct battery terminals with the attached crocodile clips.
It doesn't actually matter if the 12V switch is on or off, the external charger will still do its job.

A picture of your set up would assist as systems vary tremendously depending on age, original spec, replacement parts, upgrades etc. Also winter may have killed your battery. I would sugget using the forum search facility for more help.

I do not have a charger. I intend to use the EHU cable (or an extension lead) with UK plus extension lead. Previous owner said to do it that way. I'm just making doubly sure. Don't like taking chances with electrics! I will post pics of set-up tomorrow.

Hopefully these 2 pics will help with advice. Thanks. Anji

That looks like a non factory installed system to me and needs someone that knows what they're talking about to advise. The circuit breakers looks as if it's in the on position, but what the red switch on top of the charger and the domestic light switch beside the battery do I couldn't say.

If you don't want to take chances I'd have the whole van checked and serviced by an AWS tech https://www.approvedworkshops.co.uk/. They'll go over everything and make sure it's safe for the road and for living in.

OK I think I'll leave well alone. It's booked in for a service end of April so the battery will probably be flat and therefore defunct by then. Hey ho.

The switch marked 12V on top of the PMS4 unit switches the charger on and would be better labelled 'Charger On'.

But they're all like that, not just yours.

To charge the battery from mains hook up make sure that switch is on - it should illuminate if mains 230V is connected and the circuit breakers are on.

What did you make of the battery itself with its wiring and the light switch? Have you seen that before?

Impossible to determine the state of the battery without carrying out a voltage and current test.

The wiring looks a bit flimsy and from what I can see main battery/charger wires could do with replacing with a heavier gauge.

If the domestic white plastic switch is for 230V lights it's in a rather inconvenient location.

The place where I'm having it serviced is one of the 'approved workshops' so it should be in good hands!