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Leisure Battery - What type?

Posted: 05 May 2011, 09:57
by foggygolf
Hi There

I need a leisure batter,y my T25 doesn't currently have one. I'm fitting the rock n roll bed and plan to fit cupboards and fridge shortly.

Firstly any advice on battery to go for?

Where should i put it?

What do i need for it to charge from van battery whilst driving (assuming this is how it works)?

Sorry for what may seem daft questions but it's my first van and not too sure!

Cheers

Rich

Re: Leisure Battery - What type?

Posted: 05 May 2011, 10:07
by Titus A Duxass

Re: Leisure Battery - What type?

Posted: 05 May 2011, 12:35
by elsid
The leisure battery in my Autosleeper is fitted under the passenger seat which gives restricted height. The passenger seat is on a swivel base fitted to wooden runners which raised the seat slightly so I could have fitted a 220 high battery and made a raised cover. However on the recommendation of a couple of 80-90 members on the forum I contacted Alpha Batteries. They had an Ultra Plus 12V25 low height 80ah leisure battery for £59.99 inc Vat and delivery. The dimensions are 275 x 175 x 175 high so is ideal. I asked if there was a discount for club members and he charged me £58. I ordered it at 9.15am and it arrived at 1.02pm the next day. Brilliant!
Sid

Re: Leisure Battery - What type?

Posted: 05 May 2011, 14:33
by kevtherev
that's an excelent price

Re: Leisure Battery - What type?

Posted: 05 May 2011, 19:39
by foggygolf
Thanks for the help everyone! I'll check out the wiki!

Re: Leisure Battery - What type?

Posted: 06 May 2011, 08:11
by Hasis
He he he...I love this forum [and I've only just joined]!

All I have to do is look out of the window at 'Floss' and think of something I need to do :idea , turn around to my computer to check the forum...and somebody's just asked a question about that very thing. Magic!!

My new UltraPlus battery is in the post as we speak.

Thanks foggy and elsid :ok

Re: Leisure Battery - What type?

Posted: 09 May 2011, 13:46
by syncro up
Thats great news, I've been looking for a new leisure battery for long enought and didnt think you could get one that fitted under the seat, i was about to get a smaller starter battery instead.
Battery ordered. :D

Re: Leisure Battery - What type?

Posted: 09 May 2011, 15:16
by Hasis
Ah ha!!

Mine arrived this morning, so I went straight out and dropped it into place. Length and width it fits snug as a bug. However, even though the stated height dimension was 175mm (exactly the same as the dead starter unit it is replacing) for some reason, once the clip-on terminals are attached I can no longer clip the hatch closed. I'm assuming that this has something to do with the additional length of the new unit meaning that it takes up more space than the starter did and the hatch cannot, therefore, be 'persuaded' to bend slightly and clip closed as easily as before.

As I now have Saab seats fitted this is not a problem as there is bags of space under the seat to accommodate the *slightly* raised hatch...but I just thought I ought to pass this on as I'm not sure about what leeway you would have with standard seats.

H

Re: Leisure Battery - What type?

Posted: 18 May 2011, 20:38
by Dazmundo
I am looking at replacing the leisure battery in our van as the dodgy wiring we bought it with has killed it.
What I want to know is what size do I need? Not is dimensions but ampage? I will be running a fridge and the stereo and charging phones etc but not much else. I have no idea about batteries so I don't know what ampage I need for that or even what different the ampage makes.

Cheers
D

Re: Leisure Battery - What type?

Posted: 18 May 2011, 22:32
by Plasticman
If youve got the metal covers then make sure you stick a layer of rubber sheet to their underside and a piece over the battery as well
mike

Re: Leisure Battery - What type?

Posted: 19 May 2011, 21:36
by foggygolf
Right this is still doing my head in!

At present I have an empty bus and plan to fit the rock n roll bed and make some cupboards soon! Where would you position the battery? (sorry i forgot to say that under passenger seat is no good as i have a Cd Changer there) I was thinking under rock n roll bed (any thoughts on that) also would a 110ah battery be best? Also I saw some pictures on here of consumer units etc hooked up to the battery, is this necessary and would you recommend, ideally I would like to be able to use standard 3 pin plugs in the van! Any pointers greatly appreciated, I am new to all of this, very keen but need a hand!

Thanks in advance everybody!

Rich

Re: Leisure Battery - What type?

Posted: 20 May 2011, 05:20
by Mocki
Hasis wrote:Ah ha!!

However, even though the stated height dimension was 175mm (exactly the same as the dead starter unit it is replacing) for some reason, once the clip-on terminals are attached I can no longer clip the hatch closed.

H

one bit of advice - fit real connectors, and dump the toy clippy things!

Re: Leisure Battery - What type?

Posted: 20 May 2011, 05:22
by Mocki
Dazmundo wrote:I am looking at replacing the leisure battery in our van as the dodgy wiring we bought it with has killed it.
What I want to know is what size do I need? Not is dimensions but ampage? I will be running a fridge and the stereo and charging phones etc but not much else. I have no idea about batteries so I don't know what ampage I need for that or even what different the ampage makes.

Cheers
D

the fridge should run from the main vehicle battery - not the leisure battery.
get the biggest amperage you can for the physical size you can fit where you need to locate it.

Re: Leisure Battery - What type?

Posted: 20 May 2011, 05:39
by Dazmundo
Really. Why do you run the fridge from your normal battery? Surely that risks flattening it so your van.won't start!

D

Re: Leisure Battery - What type?

Posted: 20 May 2011, 05:45
by Mocki
the fridge should be wired via a relay, which ensures it can only run on 12v when the engine is running from main battery .
if you wire it from the leisure battery without this relay it will flattern the battery in a hour or so whith the engine not running.