Batteries - Your Opinions Please

[mikey9]

(I have looked throught he wiki - and searched previous posts - but still have questions...)

Want to fit a secondary (for the "leisure" bits) battery as this was one of the options not ticked by our original purchaser.
Want to run Propex/Lights/Stereo whilst wilding in Scotland - we may not do that many miles between pitches.

Battery to go under Pass Seat (my avail dimensions say 320W-180H-175) Front to back but I may have to take seat out to get it in.

I want as much power as we can get - but I want to ensure we can recharge the leisure batt from the existing alternator. Want to keep it to only one Leisure if possible.

Choices time.

Halfords have a HB010 650A Starting 130A constant output batt (274x175x172) (it is £95 tho!)
HCB075 620A 110A constant (narrowx172x170) (£83)
HCB065 565A 100A const (narrowx180x170) (£63)
HCB097 540A ?? (Halfords supplier now doesn't display the constant rating!! - How useful isn't that) (narrow x178Hx172) (£72)
All with 4yr warranty

Or do I just go with a 75A £47 cheapy from Autosave?

Any views either way?
Cheap and moderate output
or Biggest Output and costs fair bit more??

Sorry for my length

[Andyvandy]

Hi Mikey,

The leisure battery in my Westy is a Bosch 64 AH. 640 A

If that is any use?

Andy

[Other-Power]

Hi

Have a small 70ah battery in my westy, does the job but can get flat on long trips. I am still in the middle of putting a solar panel in to sort this out.

would say that a smaller battery is a better idea as it gives you a bit of space to put the split relay in. If you have a zig unit this is not a problem and go for a big battery.

If thats any help

Jon

[kevtherev]

Or do I just go with a 75A £47 cheapy from Autosave?

that's the one...I've just bought one too, shoehorned in at 75 AH £50.

great for a four day trip in the winter ...then you'll need to put some power back.
The propex is not a hungry beast but it is tempting to turn up the thermostat!


so called leisure or marine batteries are just starter batts with a bit of strengthening as you have probably read... true traction batteries (leisure) are aranged in 6v banks, expensive and require a special charger.


I would try and change the lights to LED as the power consumption is a lot less with them.

[mikey9]

Cheers for the replies -

Kev - I guess you have the most similar requirements with a propex and sounds along with lights (I think I may be able to rig something up with LEDs although I don't think the Flouro tubes take much???)

Now searching through some posts - I found one from Last year asking exactly my next questions about Wiring up the leisure
http://archive.club8090.co.uk/viewtopic ... eries+amps

It appears your replies (Kev) had some diagrams (simplified wiring) - these don't appear to be there anymore. Do you still have them?

I guess I need to do as Jonni says in the thread i.e. " What I'm going to do is take all the wires off my main battery, except the chunky ones that connect it to the starter motor(?) and alternator, and put them on the leisure battery, then run a 35 amp amp wire with a 30 amp fuse on it from the leisure battery to the relay. I won't forget to connect an earth strap. "

Does this sound right??

[Cruz]

I had this quandry myslef and came to the decision to go for the cheaper 096 starter battery.

I have no heater but like to use my cd radio on the leisure battery thus I've killed the old 54 a/hr battery that was in the van when I bought it

[kevtherev]

096 starter battery.

that's the one...... snug fit

[mikey9]

OK - 75A from Autosave for £47 purchased - now will try to wire it up - see next post...!