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Why do we have 2 leisure batteries?
Posted: 30 Jun 2010, 17:24
by Big Boris
Hi all,
Sorry if this is a daft or 'should be obvious' question. OH and i are getting Boris ready for our next sojourn to France. We haven't bothered with the leisure battery since we have had him...12 months!
We have 2 leisure batteries, one behind each front seat.
Do they each power different things or is one the main leisure battery and the other a back up???
Another question.....do the lights and stereo run off the leisure battery when the engine if off or do they run off the van's main battery. IE what automatically runs off the leisure batteries?
Thank you.
Re: Why do we have 2 leisure batteries?
Posted: 30 Jun 2010, 17:30
by scoobydrew
hi,
If your van is petrol then the one under the drivers seat will be the van battery and the other the leisure.

Re: Why do we have 2 leisure batteries?
Posted: 30 Jun 2010, 17:44
by kevtherev
do the lights and stereo run off the leisure battery when the engine if off
depends on your conversion
Re: Why do we have 2 leisure batteries?
Posted: 30 Jun 2010, 18:00
by Oldiebut goodie
scoobydrew wrote:hi,
If your van is petrol then the one under the drivers seat will be the van battery and the other the leisure.

Why do people read into posts that which is not there? ........."
We have 2 leisure batteries, one behind each front seat"
Basically for added life. My Merc van runs two 110Ah leisure batteries. They should be linked in parallel if fitted correctly.
To find out exactly what runs from your leisure batteries just disconnect the vehicle battery and then test everything.
Re: Why do we have 2 leisure batteries?
Posted: 30 Jun 2010, 18:09
by Ian Hulley
Oldiebut goodie wrote: Why do people read into posts that which is not there? ........."We have 2 leisure batteries, one behind each front seat"
Andy was trying to help the nice person, Andy and Wendy were contributing members here when you were "pooh" green T25-wise.
Re: Why do we have 2 leisure batteries?
Posted: 30 Jun 2010, 18:10
by kevtherev
If it was stated it was a diesel engine I would agree, but the OP did not.
So with a petrol van, no place for a main battery but under the drivers seat, one would assume, rightly or wrongly, it has been mistaken.
Re: Why do we have 2 leisure batteries?
Posted: 30 Jun 2010, 18:42
by Big Boris
Hi all,
Should have said it is a 1989 Westfalia 1.6td. OH just gave me the 'are you dense woman' look for not posting it......sorry!!!
We have managed to get them both out of the van and had a good look. Definitely looks like one is main lesiure battery with the other as back up, would this be right?
Thanks for bearing with the newbies!
Re: Why do we have 2 leisure batteries?
Posted: 30 Jun 2010, 19:04
by kevtherev
yes
as said disconnect them and find out what stops working
Re: Why do we have 2 leisure batteries?
Posted: 30 Jun 2010, 19:12
by Oldiebut goodie
kevtherev wrote:If it was stated it was a diesel engine I would agree, but the OP did not.
So with a petrol van, no place for a main battery but under the drivers seat, one would assume, rightly or wrongly, it has been mistaken.
The point is that the poster has posted where the batteries are situated
behind the seats not
under
Kev,
The OP did not mention main battery at all - you are also reading postings that are not there!!!!!
Ian,
What has contributing members got to do with the ability to read and understand a post?
Andy and Wendy were contributing members here when you were "pooh" green T25-wise. - How on earth anyone else knows my experience with T25s, Bsa M20s, knowledge of what my great aunt had for tea, from this forum I don't know.

Re: Why do we have 2 leisure batteries?
Posted: 30 Jun 2010, 19:51
by scoobydrew
Thanks Ian & Kev.
Oldiebut Goodie,
I posted info that I thought the other person might find of use.
People do get the van and leisure batteries mixed up from time to time.
I would also be interested to see pics of the batteries behind the seats, I could be wrong be I would be surprised if they were not in the spaces behind and under the seats.
I have also seen posts from newish owners asking about their dash lights not working, so I can now presume that all those people have tried the dimmer switch because they stated that the lights are not working.
Many thanks again for basically shooting me down for what I thought was a sensible reply.
There really was no need.

Re: Why do we have 2 leisure batteries?
Posted: 30 Jun 2010, 20:09
by jamesc76
know we know that you have derv van then yes could have two leisure battery's! My first thought was if its a petrol then one battery will be the veh. battery! scoobydrew was right!
Re: Why do we have 2 leisure batteries?
Posted: 30 Jun 2010, 20:18
by Big Boris
Hi,
Without a photo the best I can explain is literally behin both seats, but sunk under are the batteries. They don't go under the seats and you can access them fully behinf the seat, however as very tightly sunk in we had to swivel passenger seat round and also remove drivers seat to enable the battery to be taken out.
Re: Why do we have 2 leisure batteries?
Posted: 30 Jun 2010, 20:20
by jamesc76
thats what we mean!
Re: Why do we have 2 leisure batteries?
Posted: 30 Jun 2010, 20:25
by Big Boris
AAAhhhhhhh!!! Must do photos in future for ease.......help is really appreciated though so thanks all for your replies.
Re: Why do we have 2 leisure batteries?
Posted: 30 Jun 2010, 21:58
by Plasticman
Handbags at dawn
mike