struggling to find a leisure battery that fits behind passenger seat

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timski
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struggling to find a leisure battery that fits behind passenger seat

Post by timski »

Hi Guys,

Does anyone know where I can get a leisure battery that fits in the leisure battery compartment. The dimensions are 280L X 180H X175W. There's never been a great amount of choice due to the dimensions when I've bought in the past, but I can't find any this time. If anyone knows a site where I can get one that'd be great. The closest I can get is 190 high which means the cover won't fit.

Thanks,
Tim. 
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R0B
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Re: struggling to find a leisure battery that fits behind passenger seat

Post by R0B »

This company should be able to help you.
https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/volks ... e-battery/
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timski
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Re: struggling to find a leisure battery that fits behind passenger seat

Post by timski »

Cheers Rob, found one on there:
https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/80-ah ... e-battery/

Not sure how good it is. Only 70AH, but it's the only one I've been able to find that will fit.  
 
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Re: struggling to find a leisure battery that fits behind passenger seat

Post by Mocki »

Alpha don’t do leisure batteries that fit under the seat , they do rebadged starter batteries ......

and not cheap either 

to be a leisure battery there must be no CCA ( cold cranking amps) rating .

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171795071390

although this is only 75ah it’s a true leisure battery and will perform better than a bigger ah starter battery and last longer 
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timski
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Re: struggling to find a leisure battery that fits behind passenger seat

Post by timski »

Mocki wrote: 16 Aug 2020, 14:14 Alpha don’t do leisure batteries that fit under the seat , they do rebadged starter batteries ......

and not cheap either 

to be a leisure battery there must be no CCA ( cold cranking amps) rating .

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171795071390

although this is only 75ah it’s a true leisure battery and will perform better than a bigger ah starter battery and last longer 
And it's cheaper. What's not to like?!
Thanks Mocki.
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Re: struggling to find a leisure battery that fits behind passenger seat

Post by silverbullet »

Alpha used to sell the Xplorer 100L which is a leisure battery and the biggest that will go under the cover (if fitted)

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Re: struggling to find a leisure battery that fits behind passenger seat

Post by Paule39 »

Mocki wrote: 16 Aug 2020, 14:14 Alpha don’t do leisure batteries that fit under the seat , they do rebadged starter batteries ......

and not cheap either 

to be a leisure battery there must be no CCA ( cold cranking amps) rating .

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171795071390

although this is only 75ah it’s a true leisure battery and will perform better than a bigger ah starter battery and last longer 
sorry for the dumb question. what is the advantage of these over normal starter batteries? (I'm also in the market for a new one....)
 

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R0B
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Re: struggling to find a leisure battery that fits behind passenger seat

Post by R0B »

A quick google search comes up with.

"A car battery is designed to provide a burst of energy to start the engine when required, whereas a leisure battery will release a lower level of energy over a prolonged period of time in order to power appliances."

You should never use a true leisure battery to start a vehicle.
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Re: struggling to find a leisure battery that fits behind passenger seat

Post by Paule39 »

R0B wrote: 20 Aug 2020, 14:41 A quick google search comes up with.

"A car battery is designed to provide a burst of energy to start the engine when required, whereas a leisure battery will release a lower level of energy over a prolonged period of time in order to power appliances."

You should never use a true leisure battery to start a vehicle.

Thanks -  was just curious as I had a starter battery as LB before. Guess one advantage of that approach is you have a potential back up for the starter....

I saw this article too;

https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/motorin ... re-battery
 

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Re: struggling to find a leisure battery that fits behind passenger seat

Post by kentishvanman »

Hi,
I have used a starter battery as my leisure battery for the last 20 years with no problems. The last time I looked at leisure batteries they seemed expensive.
1. I have a small solar panel on the roof for the 'leisure battery'.
2. I have raised the height of my cab seats by approx 1" so I could raise the battery lid. Not sure why I did this it was so long ago, but probably to incorporate a taller battery. All I did was insert a piece of timber under the seat runners and then bolt thro runner and timber. All works fine. Seats still swivel, over the battery cover, and I sit an inch or so higher up. 
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Re: struggling to find a leisure battery that fits behind passenger seat

Post by TONYT25T25 »

I used this company quite a few years ago. https://advancedbatterysupplies.co.uk/l ... teries-uk/.  Had a good deal and still using the battery, they had the size of battery that fits in the void below my passenger seat so quite secure.  I only use it for internal lighting and to listen to the radio and trickle charge it with a basic solar panel when needed.  Maybe worth a look.
 
Last edited by TONYT25T25 on 01 Sep 2020, 20:32, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: struggling to find a leisure battery that fits behind passenger seat

Post by Mocki »

Not sure that is very safe in the event of a accident ....

how many starter batteries have you had in those twenty years by the way ? 
Steve
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kentishvanman
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Re: struggling to find a leisure battery that fits behind passenger seat

Post by kentishvanman »

Mocki wrote: 01 Sep 2020, 20:22 Not sure that is very safe in the event of a accident ....

how many starter batteries have you had in those twenty years by the way ? 

Hiya,
Why do you feel it is unsafe? The runners are bolted to the body of the van as they were originally.
Number of batteries.....just had a quick look thro my records and counted 3 plus the one that is on board now.
1987/8 Autosleeper, 1.9dg (Automatic) hightop. Petrol/ LPG

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Re: struggling to find a leisure battery that fits behind passenger seat

Post by Mocki »

the runners were nevr bolted from the factory , they were welded to the body , but apart from that , lumps of wood rang alarm bells 
Steve
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kentishvanman
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Re: struggling to find a leisure battery that fits behind passenger seat

Post by kentishvanman »

HI,
Misinformation. It was so long ago that I raised the seats I had forgotten what I had done.
It was not the runners that had the timber placed under them but the swivel base. The van came with the swivel already fitted, probably by Autosleeper, and the runners were bolted to that.
It was the reply about runners being welded to the floor that set me thinking. I could not remember grinding off any welds.
So the swivel plate was bolted down and I lifted that, inserted some 1"inch hardwood timber and bolted thro' the swivel base plate and the timber to the floor with four bolts.
My apologies for the confusion.
1987/8 Autosleeper, 1.9dg (Automatic) hightop. Petrol/ LPG

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