Why smart alternators and factory Chargers in campers kill AGM batteries – and how to prevent it.
Many campers are surprised when their starting AGM battery lasts barely two years, instead of the expected five or more. Most people think that the problem is a bad batch of batteries or excessive consumption, but the real culprits are often smart alternatori factory built-in Chargers in the campers.
1. Smart alternators – “smart " for Ecology, bad for batteries
In older vehicles the alternator constantly charged the battery with a stable voltage of about. 14.4 V, which allowed full battery charging on each run.
In the newer campers with Euro 6 engines, the so-called. smart alternators. They work according to the logic of saving fuel and reducing co emisije:
immediately after firing, they raise the voltage to about. 14.7 V,
then they put it down. 12.4-12.8 Vthis is enough for maintenance and not for filling up to the end.,
they only increase voltage under certain conditions (e.g. with the engine down).
Problem Problem: AGM batteries at that 12.6 V never reach 100% charge. They are constantly operating at 70-80% capacity, causing sulfation (formation of crystalline deposits within cells) and rapid battery failure.
2. Factory Chargers in campers-not intended for AGM
When you are in camp and connected to 220 V, then the charger built into the camper takes charge. But most of the new campers in 2025. years still comes with Chargers type CBE CB516 and the like.
They are designed for Classic lead or gel batteries, not AGM. Their mode of operation:
they hold the voltage at 13.2-13.5 V (CA. day by day).
For AGM batteries this is too low. They need a charging phase on the 14.7 V (absorption) to fully fill up. If this is not the case, the battery again remains chronically recharged and sulfates.
Dakle so, even if you are for weeks connected to the camp by electricity, your starting AGM never becomes fully full. He is constantly "on a diet" - and therefore his life expectancy is significantly shortened.
3. Consequences for campers
Start AGM battery lasts 1-2 years instead of the expected 5+.
There's a good chance it'll leave you in the lurch just when you're on the road.
You are wasting time and money on frequent battery replacements and unnecessary malfunctions.
4. Solution-occasionally right charging
The solution is simple and accessible to every camper. All you need is small smart AC charger (ex. Victron Blue Smart IP65, power 5-10 A) connected directly to the start AGM battery.
How to use it?
When you're in camp at 220 V, turn it on once or twice a week.
Bulk (14.7 V) fast charging up to 80%.
Absorption (14.7 V) it keeps the battery at full power until it's full.
Float (13.5 V) - keeps the battery full without recharging.
It will perform a full charging cycle:
Time AGM battery reach 100% capacity., "shatters" sulfate deposits and remains healthy for much longer.
5. Lifepo servis service batteries-they already have a solution
Service batteries in modern campers are often LiFePO₄. They are filled with special DC-DC chargers (Redarc, Victron Orion etc.), because smart alternators cannot charge Lifepo Ao correctly.
Unlike service batteries, a starter AGM battery is often neglected – and it is the first to die.
6. Smart surveillance-additional protection in our campers
With us in Kamperi.hr let's go one step further. We equip our vehicles GPS tracking system not only for the location, but also for control of motor and battery operation parameters.
What does that mean in practice?
The system can warn if the driver is driving with too many spins or too fast, thus preventing unnecessary wear and tear of the vehicle.
Most important for this topic: the system follows and start battery voltage in real time. If the voltage drops too low, we get an immediate warning.
This way the driver and our service can react in time, before the battery fails.
In this way, our campers have double protection.:
Smart charging (for the battery to have the correct cycle).
Smart surveillance (that the driver always knows the condition of the battery).
Conclusion
Smart alternators and factory Chargers may be simple and inexpensive for manufacturers, but in the long run they are silent killers AGM battery in the campers.
The answer is: a combination smart charging i smart surveillance it ensures that the battery lasts for years, and the camper always fires reliably.
Our campers are equipped with these systems, because we believe that a carefree journey begins with a reliable battery.
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