Leisure battery question (What is this??)

[Blibster]

Hey Guys,

First time on the 80-90 forums.. Used the Brickyard for a while now but have been struggling to get logged on and so I find myself here requiring your help. Thanks in advance guys. Don't know how I would get by without the friendly vw scene.

After a great year in the bus over the summer I have decided to rip out the interior and give it a bit of a face lift (she's gettin old bless her). I had not used the leisure battery at all preferring the old cool box and a couple of tea lights inside the van and taking it out left me a bit more storage (but I digress). The leisure battery is stored under the Rock n Roll bed and has a split relay and a wee fuse box behind the plate on the photograph. (could provide a photo if it helps but it looks standard fair to be honest)

My question is this: The picture below shows the metal plate which is connected via a fuse box to the battery and to the bed frame. A little red light illuminates when I am moving to show the charge going in. The black plastic covers pull back to reveal some sort of power output points (i am guessing) and there is a third one of these rigged up near the front but I have never seen anything like it before. I have never seen any kind of plug that would fit and draw power.

I'd appreciate it if you guys could take a look at it and maybe give me a clue as to what kind of system this is and what if any things can actually be plugged in to draw power.

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff3 ... IMG216.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (in case the picture attachment fails)

Thanks in advance folks

Rob

[1664]

Hi Rob, welcome to the club.

I've never seen something like that - what conversion do you have?

[lloydy]

They look like the german DIN sockets, sort of a mix between a ciggie socket and a plug
Looks like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/50cm-Hella-Type ... 43a026605f" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[1664]

Would it have been fitted to Westy's?

Looks kinda homemade though.............

[lloydy]

Yep, I've got 3 of them dotted around the van, without the massive metal back plate though
Just like a cigarette socket but smaller

[1664]

Do you use yours and do you have a plug that fits?

[lloydy]

I have used them, the 12v absorbsion fridge that I had used the hella socket. They are a better design to use as a plug, as they are a standard size, not like some cigarette socket plugs which can differ by a few mm. UK conversions don't seem to use them though, more of a euro thing

[Blibster]

Cheers for looking,

Done a bit of reading following your advice and they would appear to be DIN plugs. Pretty useless for my intentions although adaptors seem to be available as a work around.

Not sure of the conversion type but given its rhd and uk born & registered i'm suprised it would have this set up. Reckon its a DIY job but they did it really well. I'll get a couple of pics on later and maybe some one might recognise the style of set up.

Thanks all.

[elsid]

my 1985 Autosleeper hi top has one of these sockets fitted as standard on the panel above the sink unit. It has a switch along side it. I have a short lead, like the ones shown, to convert it to a cigarette lighter socket.
Sid