Club 80-90 Forums

Hi guys was just wondering is it possible to jump start my van from my leisure battery on the van.was just thinking would be a good idea.or is this a big no no?thanks for feedback

If your leisure battery is a really leisure battery then it's best not to as they're not designed for the high cranking loads a starter needs. If it's just a normal battery then no problem.

Ah really?that's good to know ;)just thought it might HD e messed up the electrics if you done that.brilliant will need to try it some time.hopefully will not need to now as just bought new battery for van ;)thanks mate.

I confess. I have used the leisure on one occasion to jump start the van.

Leisure batteries will start an engine ok just that they can't turn them over for as long as a starter battery.

Seconded. In fact most 'leisure' batteries these days are actually halfway between a starter and leisure and will start the engine if needed.

But if it's a "proper" leisure battery, using it as a starter can buckle the plates and wreck it.

However, if you connect the jump leads from it to the main battery, and then just leave it like that for 10 to 20 minutes, the (full) charge on the leisure battery will often transfer enough current into the main one to enable a start. Just remember to remove the jump leads before cranking.

Mind you, if you have a new starter battery fitted you shouldn't need to worry.

Those briefcase sized emergency jump start gizmo's just contain a 20 Ampere Hour sealed Lead Acid battery and are mainly intended as far as I can gather to be used alongside (parallel connection) to "Boost" vehicles flattish starter battery. Although I have it in my mind that vehicular Leisure batteries are a bit fragile in dealing with up to very high current drain of a cold engine. Anything goes though if needs must...

To be honest though I have a (starter) battery under each seat and switch over every now and again so as to keep them both topped up. So if I were to have a flat battery for some reason I can insert both isolator keys and start up whatever.
I organised this after a battle with a typical caricature German Fraulein campsite operator who insisted that I move my camper off the roadway while ADAC (German AA) came to fix my "Lichtmaschine". She now became dangerously agitated when I left two deep skid marks down the grassy slope bump starting the van.
CS

I think that there is a little 'urban myth' going on here (a little truth in that true leisure batteries aren't designed for cranking but they are the exception nowadays)..... if the label on the battery states Amp Hours (ah) AND Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) then it it suitable to be used for CRANKING! as why else would CCA be quoted?

Martin

if the label on the battery states Amp Hours (ah) AND Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) then it it suitable to be used for CRANKING

I agree, but as the original question didn't give part numbers and technical specs.

is it possible to jump start my van from my leisure battery on the van

Saying "no" was the safest option.

If the original post had said " My van is about to be swamped on Polzeath beach because, like typical a emmet, I've left my lights on and not understood the basic concept of tides, and now unless I can get my engine started I'll look a bigger t-w-a-t than Cameron when he was down here, can I used my leisure battery to jump start my van?"

I would have given a different answer.

Only on the beach when stranded .check!!;)thanks guys n gals just bought a new battery and works a treat