Leisure Battery

[xs1100515]

The previous owner of my multivan had an ordinary car battery fitted beneath the LH seat (drivers) (It's LHD). Unsurprisingly the battery became wrecked in no time. The difficulty is that the compartment under the seat is small. I am looking for a battery that will fit in a space 300mm W x 180mm D and 175mm H. The width could be more if I doctor the wiring but the height is as it is.

[Oldiebut goodie]

Search - this has been asked so many times!

[CovKid]

and some

[xs1100515]

It has but doesn't seem to be fully answered.

Just Kampers do one for a extraordinary high price.

I've looked on the website and spoken to the wizard at the technical department at Alpha Batteries.

There are 175mm high batteries will fit with the lid closed but are not really leisure batteries. i.e. they are not for deep cycle discharge. Repeated discharge below 50% will wreck them. Much the same as the one that the previous owner of my bus bought. For very little more money they do a 190mm high GEL which will tolerate deep discharge (a friend of mine had that once but he had some cream for it). The lid will need to be modified.

I'll let you know how I get on.

http://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/leisur ... e-battery/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Oldiebut goodie]

This really begs the question 'why put it under the seat at the front?' - put it under the rear one then you will have no trouble fitting one. I have seen posts on exactly which leisure batteries will fit under the front seats. Search again.

[California Dreamin]

The previous owner of my multivan had an ordinary car battery fitted beneath the LH seat (drivers) (It's LHD). Unsurprisingly the battery became wrecked in no time

Why are you so suprised? Westfalia fitted a standard car 'starter' battery from the factory...

Owners seem to get a little 'hung up' on the fact that a Camper Van leisure electrics can work perfectly well with a standard battery fitted.

With a split charge circuit fitted these batteries are getting regular charge everytime the engine is run so does not kill the battery.
The problems really arise when a discharged battery is then left to stand for a long perod.

Admitedly, a deep cycle alternative is prefered but your choices are pretty limited given the dimensions of the VW battery box. There are a couple of low profile 80amp leisures that will fit....info on the WIKI.

Martin

[123-jn]

Mine has a nice Exide 71AH Battery from Ebay £50.00 new. 2/3 nights camping with lights TV and 12v hairdryer!! and still over half full. Charges on the return trip or on the way to the next site. Winter is a bit more of a problem with the hot air heating but 2/3 nights still possible. I don't like it to fall under 50 % charge if I can help it. I have a nice 80 watt PV panel which sits on the roof when camped now and the battery hardly loses any charge. (Im reluctant to fix it permenantly as I don't like drilling the roof.) It clips nicely to the luggage rack .

[xs1100515]

Mine has a nice Exide 71AH Battery from Ebay £50.00 new. 2/3 nights camping with lights TV and 12v hairdryer!! and still over half full. Charges on the return trip or on the way to the next site. Winter is a bit more of a problem with the hot air heating but 2/3 nights still possible. I don't like it to fall under 50 % charge if I can help it. I have a nice 80 watt PV panel which sits on the roof when camped now and the battery hardly loses any charge. (Im reluctant to fix it permenantly as I don't like drilling the roof.) It clips nicely to the luggage rack .

It's because someone fitted an auto starter battery that I need a new one. What I am saying is that it is false economy to buy a battery that has a limited life even when it is advertised as a leisure battery. It is ok for a bit of lighting and limited power consumption but once you demand more then it will give up the ghost prematurely.
I've got a 40w solar panel to keep it topped when stopped. The coolbox takes 90w but will run the battery right down if left. The TV is only 24w and cuts out at 10 1/2v. The audio amp will turn it inside out if left.

I know there are batteries that fit. But that will have limitations. Just check that they can deep cycle repeatedly.

I had a Bongo that was fitted with a 'leisure' battery but it died because it wasn't a real deep cycle battery.

The other way would be to fit a limiter that prevents the battery from discharging below 50%

[California Dreamin]

Horses for courses mate.....if you want more from your leisure setup you will need to move it all to a different location, fit two 6 volt Trojans with Sterling battery to battery charger or similar but be prepared to shell out £400 - £500 for the privelage.

However, for the 'mainstream' user a standard setup of starter plus one additional leisure battery, being charged through a traditional split charge relay works as well as it needs to, not ideal by any means.

Martin

[kevtherev]

All I can see here is a location problem and a battery type.
Just move it and pay for a traction battery.

Or change the coolbox for a gas type?
I'm guessing here you have no fridge..

[xs1100515]

All I can see here is a location problem and a battery type.
Just move it and pay for a traction battery.

Or change the coolbox for a gas type?
I'm guessing here you have no fridge..

There is no need to move it. There is a genuine leisure battery option for very little extra money and is 15mm taller. It just requires the lid modifying. That is the point. The option is simple. I don't need to introduce additional battery leads to run to the rear seat. The solar cell will compensate if I am static for longer periods.

The coolbox is a gas type. It's also 12v DC and 240v ac. Pity I can't get a gas type tv or audio amp.

[ed_crouch]

*****CAREFUL!

you can indeed fit a 190mm tall form factor leisure battery, but when you slide the passenger seat back after fitting it into the battery well, the passenger seat chassis will clobber the battery terminal posts, create a very robust short circuit and start a fire.

BE CAREUL!********

By far and away the best advice I can offer is to do what I did and go on http://www.tayna.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and purchase the right sized leisure battery. I got a 100Ah leisure battery of exactly the correct size for about 70 quid.

http://www.tayna.co.uk/XV100MF-Powerlin ... P8960.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Note the link points to a 190mm tall battery, but in the small print it says they sell a 175mm tall version too, but its not on the website. I know, I bought one, and it's a spot-on-perfect fit.

Do NOT fit a 190mm battery and just remove the lid, the seat chassis will hit it and probably start a fire.

Ed.

[xs1100515]

*****CAREFUL!

you can indeed fit a 190mm tall form factor leisure battery, but when you slide the passenger seat back after fitting it into the battery well, the passenger seat chassis will clobber the battery terminal posts, create a very robust short circuit and start a fire.

BE CAREUL!********

By far and away the best advice I can offer is to do what I did and go on http://www.tayna.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and purchase the right sized leisure battery. I got a 100Ah leisure battery of exactly the correct size for about 70 quid.

http://www.tayna.co.uk/XV100MF-Powerlin ... P8960.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Note the link points to a 190mm tall battery, but in the small print it says they sell a 175mm tall version too, but its not on the website. I know, I bought one, and it's a spot-on-perfect fit.

Do NOT fit a 190mm battery and just remove the lid, the seat chassis will hit it and probably start a fire.

Ed.

I've had the 190mm delivered today and I'll fit it on Sunday. I took advice from the Battery Man and from the wicki site and the 190 should be ok. I take your point about the seat and short circuit. Thanks for the advice. I will be making a rubber cover for the battery once the lid is removed. I'll need to re route my audio amp supply and isolation switch and also the solar panel leads.
Are you sure that the 175mm is a genuine leisure (deep cycle) battery. The battery man said they don't make a true leisure battery of that height. Either way it matters not.

[MattBW]

This is why my leisure battery is near the RH rear wheel arch underneath my cupboards.

[xs1100515]

Well I've fitted the 90A/hr 190mm high battery. It's not only higher but longer too (or wider if you prefer). It fits like a glove. It is, I must admit, very close to the seat frame. I've insulated the positive terminal and taped the frame. I will cover the whole lot with a rubber backed carpet tile. It should be safer than the previous set up. The compartment lid cannot be closed but it isn't an issue with it open. The isolation switch for the Audio amp is fitted in it anyway.

I feel it was worth the extra money and trouble for a gel deep cycle battery. However if your power requirements are modest and if you are careful to keep the battery from ever discharging too low then a car battery would be fine. I somehow remember that 50% battery power is not 6v as I think someone mentioned somewhere. When the battery is at 1/2 voltage it is way below 1/2 power. Perhaps someone on the site could advise what 50% power really means. I have not studied electrickery (or anything else come to that) for many years. My TV cuts out at 10.5 v but it killed the 175mm 60AH 0570 battery that was in the bus in no time. The wicki advice on the site is sound and worth reading.

All in all it has saved me wrestling with moving the battery further back and losing space there for other things. I accept that for some this is a sensible option and if and when I get round to moving the furniture I might do that but for now I have for me the best option.

If it catches fire I'll let you know and prepare myself for the ridicule.