Batteries

Post by **ol bluey** » 02 Jul 2007, 10:13

looks like my second leisure battery i had is a bit crapper than i though

been thinking, it it worth using leisure batteries? or would just using a normal one be any good? especially if you fit 2 and wire them together?

any experiences of this? or is it worth sticking with leisure batteries?
i dont tend to drain them that much unless i use the stereo when camped which has an amp too

Post by **redstar** » 02 Jul 2007, 10:27

hi mate...
i have 2 'normals' wired seperate but with a split charger
on them... seem to work ok. think i put 065s on.....
large capacity and cheap to buy..

Post by **ol bluey** » 02 Jul 2007, 10:39

redstar wrote:hi mate...
i have 2 'normals' wired seperate but with a split charger
on them... seem to work ok. think i put 065s on.....
large capacity and cheap to buy..

ey up!

where did you get yours from? not found anywhere that cheap round by us
coming up the darlie again soon?

Post by **redstar** » 02 Jul 2007, 10:45

had college on for 3 nights a week hence no vw!
got mine from pds (ask for parts) in fenton.
01782744556 oh and they are 075 (bigger)
24.50 plus vat (28.79) easily up to the job...

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 02 Jul 2007, 15:07

Them`s cheap batts mate

Note that if you wire two batts together in parallel as leisure batts, then they ideally need to be a similar age and size, otherwise the weaker one (there will always be one) will pull the better one down to it`s level, so if one is a bit dodgy you will have probs all the time.

For that price I`d buy two new ones, same make, size and type etc (even same batch if they`ve got `em in) and you won`t go wrong

Mine are wired in parallel, standard split-charge system works fine as well, still charges the main batt and the two leisure batts, although just driving about won`t fully charge your leisure batts unless you`ve got a big alternator and do loadsa miles everyday. It`s scientific !

All explained on the Wiki. My Westy has an onboard charger that works form the 240V hook-up, so they get fully charged from that on a regular basis.

Post by **Ivor Brownun** » 02 Jul 2007, 16:41

Had my van over 5 years now and it's still got the same 85ah ordinary type battery in it, al I use on 12volts are lights and now and again the propex.

Post by **ol bluey** » 02 Jul 2007, 20:25

think its worth me getting 2 at that price then!!

so long as one will fit under the drivers seat anyway (its for a westy) and ive already re-routed the wiring to the cupboard behind the drivers seat.

im not totally sure my batteries charge of the hookup when its put on on the drive before we go away in it for some reason.

the leisure battery that was in it was buggered, and another one i had knocking about seems to be the same...possibly cos i left it in the shed discharged for a year or so

to wire them together whats the best wires to get? is it just wire +ve to +ve and -ve to -ve? and i seem to remember you need a 50amp fuse between?

Post by **Nickblue** » 05 Jul 2007, 12:18

My wife is likes to use the swivel passenger seat when it's facing into the camper, but as she is quite small her feet are left dangling a few inches from the floor. So to get round this problem I built a leisure battery box to house a 110 amp battery. I covered it in the same carpeting to match the floor and bolted the box to the back of the original battery storage compartment. She now has a footrest. When she wants to stretch out a bit she can slide out the extension. Anything for a quiet life!
[/img[IMG:320:240]http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p187 ... box001.jpg[/img]
[img][IMG:640:480]http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p187 ... box002.jpg[/img]
[/img][IMG:640:480]http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p187 ... box003.jpg[/img]

Peter

Post by **oldiguana** » 09 Jul 2007, 14:27

tidy box owduck,and yes pds in fenton are crackin when it comes to a good battery or two,had mine for my 1.9 n/a diesel from there and also bought my leisure batt from them(well their sister company across the road/atlas leisure!),my battery was £18 cheaper than the best motor factors stoke has to offer(autotec in longton!)...........also do a crackin price for your glowplugs aswell!!!!!!!!!!!!!