Leisure battery question just for a change.

[shanco73]

Yet another post about leisure batteries. Sorry



Here goes.

As i keep harping on about our new van picked up 10 days or so ago, Leasuredrive crusader, as i have been told came as standard with no leisure battery.

Well the previous owner must have added one because it has 2 batteries wired up via a relay, both in the engine compartment on the right hand side.

I put my volt meter accross the batteries yesterday and found that my main battery has about 13.7 v and the leisure battery had very little in it, About 6V, I am presuming the battery is fugged. I am not sure how good the relay and wiring is that the ex owner did. I think i will replace the relay wiring and the battery. It all looks old and more than a bit dog eared.

Do i need a seperate relay for my fridge 12v ? or can i use the same relay, gonna use a 70a one from vehicle wiring products, only about £5-6 each.
I am gonna use 35a rated cable, will 30a fuses be okay or should they be smaller ?

Also as my batteries are both in the engine compartment can i pick up the alternator (blue) signaling wire from the alternator as the wiki post suggest taking from the multiplug behind the clocks/dash.

What would you expect to pay for a leisure batery, i have seen a range from £39 up to well over £100,

Is it strange that my batteries are in the boot, on my old T25 both batteries were under the drivers and passengers seat, i dont mind them being in the engine space.

Thanks for ideas opinions facts in advance.

Steve H,

Going to Waymouth for 4 days on Tuesday 1st outing in new van wohoo........

[Wolfsburg Willy]

Steve, I would be careful about putting a 30A fuse in the circuit, don't forget that you want the fuse to go before your van becomes a raging inferno. The current draw on mine is about 2A after the initial start "spike", so I would try 5A and if that goes I would try 10A but no more. If your fridge takes out a 10A fuse I would check for a short. My cranking (Ooh Err!) battery is in the engine compartment, but the leisure battery is under the drivers seat, so I guess your arrangement is OK. On the subject of cable and fuses, big cable good, small fuse good. It's too late wishing that you had put in a lower rated fuse/higher rated cable when you are stranded on the hard shoulder watching your pride and joy go up in smoke - a battery isolator switch is a cheap way to disconnect your battery quickly. I would check the wiring/output for your ZIG/WHY split-charge system to ascertain whether you are getting any amps into the battery to start off with. You can also put your battery on charge for 24 hours and then take it to your friendly local garage/auto-electrician and ask for a "drop test" (more correctly a High Rate Discharge Test) this will tell you if the battery is funked or not. Finally, I bought a couple of 110Ah 12v batteries for £55 apiece two years ago and they are going strong! Hope this helps.

Willy

[shanco73]

Cheers Willy, I will definetely take your advice on the fuse rating. I will measure up the slot where the leisure battery sits and see if i can find a 110 ah that fits, i was hoping to use a 110 anyway.

Thanks again.