battery help please an odd senario

[djhammy]

HI guys having had 2 Portable battery jump starters fail me when i needed them most i decided they are not worth the money or space. Although i have a good quality van battery and a leisure battery with a split charge replay in place i came up with this scenario.

Why not buy another normal van battery (a leisure battery will not fit in the space) and put that in the space behind the passengers seat.

I can then use this as a back up leisure battery (i'm away quite often without a electric hook up) and it can (with my jump leads) be linked start the van if my main one fails or goes flat.

Just one thing I'm not sure of does this need an earth lead on attached to the body work as the normal van battery and leisure battery have.

Thank you for your help

Dave/Hammy

[grumpyoldgit]

What on earth are you running to have failed starter, leisure and jump-start batteries/chargers?

[djhammy]

HI My leisure battery is fine and my current normal battery is fine, but over the past few years my old battery went flat whilst away on rallys and every time my jump starter/power pack was useless.

As i'm going away for a long camping trip without electric i thought this would ensure i have back up if my leasure battery runs out of juice which is likely to happen over a couple of weeks. and if the worst happened it would start the van.

[djhammy]

Just in case when i say failed Battery jump starters i mean one of these things.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?mod ... 4wodMlkqnA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I would also have to recharge with a battery charger to keep it charged

[CovKid]

Took one apart last week. Not much in there except a tiny 12v battery - enough (in my view) to power interior lights for a few days (which is what I'll be using it for). If you really want a belt n braces approach, just carry a spare battery as you say. If not, always park at the top of a slope!

Large (and I mean bigger than those handbag mirror jobs) solar panels are good to trickle charge.

[djhammy]

HI Cov kids cheers think you've made up my mind. I can get a Bosch one for 47 quid with my discount at GSF. it fits behind the seat. Not as powerful as my normal battery but they said it's enough to start the van. I won't be running it down like a normal leisure battery only the odd light/mobile phone charger if the leisure one dies after a week or so's use.

From what i've read on the web it sounds like i don't need to put an earth strap on as I'm not using the body/chassis as a return feed.

What you say about the power pack you took apart sounds about right though it was bulky and damn heavy. useful in the awning for lights but i have a gas lantern and a battery one. Most camps i go to are either flat or i'm at the bottom of the hill

Cheers

Dave/Hammy