Why is my Leisure Battery Disconnected

Post by **Orange Ratty** » 24 Oct 2005, 22:52

Bought my van 2 months ago and the leisure battery is disconnected. I want to just connect it up again but:

a) I don't know what a leisure battery is for
b) worry that it was disconnected for a reason I might not know about

Can anyone shed any light?

Post by **tonytech** » 25 Oct 2005, 08:05

Leisure batteries are for running your camping lights, radio/CD, water pump, and other electric items you use when parked up. (NOT your fridge)
The general idea is that you wont flatten your van battery running your lights and radio.

The Leisure battery should have a relay between it and the van charging system. The relay engages when the van is running ( sense taken from dashboard alternator charging light )

Your Leisure battery may have been disconected because:
1 It is buggered.
2 The relay is knackered. (Some people never installed relays)
3 The previous owner is not entirely sane.
No relay or knackered relay means your van battery may go flat.

Charge the Leisure battery.
Connect it up and see what happens (Engine off) Try lights etc.
Get a voltmeter on the terminals.
Then try the engine.

T

Post by **Orange Ratty** » 25 Oct 2005, 16:41

Thanks T. Will try it out but what does the relay look like?

Post by **DiscoDave** » 25 Oct 2005, 20:43

it looks like a black box with 4 or 5 push-on spade termninals on the bottom! hope you get it going!

Post by **Orange Ratty** » 25 Oct 2005, 21:52

Won't get a chance to look at it for about three weeks but will let you know. Thanks for your help.

Website · Post by **dbroada** » 26 Oct 2005, 15:59

If you have a multi meter you can check for a working relay as follows....

take the voltage reading for each battery with the engine switched off
start the engine and take the readings again.

they should be about 12.8v without the engine and about 14.something with the engine. (This is the alternator output)

if the voltage on the LB doesn't change then it's not being charged by the alternator. If it equals the main battery then they are both being charged and your relay is working.

One of the major reasons for the LB not charging is a blown fuse. This WILL happen if you let your LB discharge too far before using the split charge system to recharge it. For now just recharge it on a bench battery charger.

Post by **Orange Ratty** » 26 Oct 2005, 22:29

Thanks Dave

I'll try and get this togethr over the next few weeks. This is really helpful.

All the best

Ken