Secondary Battery

[AlandAnn]

Can anyone tell me how easy and how to fit a secondary battery to my beloved t25 ?

As far as my knowledge I reckon all I need is a battery (12 v ) and a relay direct from the main battery.

Tia

[JonB]

I used the info in the Wiki, discusses the various options and how to do it.

[JonB]

Blimey that took some looking for.

All under Campers/Electrical. There's a page on battery dimensions and types of split charger.

I used option 4 from this page and had no problems.
http://wiki.club8090.co.uk/index.php/Ca ... it_charger" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Sir Brixalot]

I got the Brickwerks split charger. Doddle

[Ruralman]

A split charge kit is the way to go :-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/261599613436" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Regards
Keith

[Mr Bean]

I do have a separate leisure battery and all that goes with it but I run two starter batteries with the positives linked with heavy grade cable and an isolation switch in each earth cable. This sounds nuts but by having only one isolator key to hand I am guaranteed never to suffer stranding with a flat battery due to a fault or inadvertently leaving something on. I can retrieve the second isolator key if both batteries should somehow get low. I also have a 12 Volt siren wired between the positive link and earth so that unless I want to leave the lights on for instance I can remove the isolator key thus rendering the van more thief proof. Even putting turning on the ignition with the isolator key out sets the siren howling away. The whole system is jump lead proof. It catches me out sometimes by sounding off when I forget in the most awkward situations but is well worth the peace of mind. I also have the ability to switch across to the leisure battery if that somehow gets flat. After reading on the forum about the number of T25's getting nicked I also fitted covert dead locks to every door.
Cheers
CS

[AlandAnn]

Mate, No offence but I wish I understood everything you said! You don't fancy a wee trip up north do ye ? Thanks for the idea's.

[Mr Bean]

Sorry I should have said the siren is connected across the battery isolation switch i.e. battery negative to van earth - what a plonker! I guess I should get round to working out how to attach images. Maybe that is a good cue for a new years resolution. A picture can replace a thousand words.
Cheers
CS

[Emma&Al]

Interesting post as this is what Im going to do next and have very little knowledge apart from what the kind people on here imparted with me

So in order to do this you just physically need a leisure battery and a split charge kit? Is that right?

[AlandAnn]

You have to make sure your battery is strapped securely so it won't fall over, and correctly earthed. I'm waiting till closer to Easter and decent weather before I crack this one.

[nordberg]

You have to make sure your battery is strapped securely so it won't fall over, and correctly earthed. I'm waiting till closer to Easter and decent weather before I crack this one.

Oh, and if the battery is lead acid it has to be vented to the outside of the van so that none of the nasty gasses produced by the charging get into the living compartment (so I am told )

[CovKid]

If you mostly use hookup, a regular starter-type battery used as a leisure is perfectly adequate ( idid that for years). If you run off-grid a great deal and maybe have a propex heater, then you ideally want a whopping leisure battery. I now have a truck-style 220ah one. A simple 40amp relay will be fine as a split charger if you don't want to spend a lot.

[kevtherev]

So in order to do this you just physically need a leisure battery and a split charge kit? Is that right?

More or less yes.
As described in the wiki with diagrams, 50* amp standard 12V relay and some nice thick copper cable** that will go from the relay to the battery.

*no less
**6 - 8mm diameter

[AlandAnn]

I'd guess any jump start cable would be fine? I'm also going to go for as big a battery as possible.

[kevtherev]

110 is enough.
You can get 240 amp hour.. Trojan batteries, now we're talkin leisure batteries!