Club 80-90 Forums

I need to buy a leisure battery after the kind soul who stole our beloved van nicked it from us! not sure which is the best make and what volts/amps are needed? mainly want to charge the cool box (fridge).............

can't run a fridge off a battery. Look in the club 'Wiki' for suitable leisure batteries

Here is the link to the one I bought, supplier very helpful & battery just fits under the seat. link - http://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/buy-on ... d_102.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If the battery is going under the passenger seat it will need to be a low height variety. I bought mine from Alpha Batteries, it was the 12v25 80amp model (275x175x175 high) it was listed at £59.99. and comes with a 2 year warranty. I asked if there was discount for 80/90 members and he charged me £58 (every little helps) When I was on the phone ordering it the bloke said if I rang at 9am in the morning they could tell me when it would be delivered. I rang and he said my post code deliveries would be between 1pm and 5pm that afternoon, it arrived by courier at 1.05pm!
Sid

1664 wrote:can't run a fridge off a battery. Look in the club 'Wiki' for suitable leisure batteries

Are you sure? I thought if you have a compressor fridge they were meant to be run off electrics? (Unless I am confused and it is the expansion fridge that is elec and compressor fridge off gas, either way, one type is ok, I think)

yes a modern compressor fridge is fine Not the standard absorption type though

I have just put a VARTA LFD75 as a replacement under the passenger seat. It fits nicely but I need to modify the clamping arrangement slightly from my previous battey which had thicker base clamping lips.

Glad you asked this, my leisure battery's hit the dust recently and was "on the list" - I can't run anything off it now and am struggling without my iPhone charger

Silky

Furthur news about my Varta Professional LFD75. Varta have kindly sent me an adapter kit to modify the battery to fit VW. Battery is now excellent fit and sits nicely under passenger seat. Very pleased with this. Cheapest I found for it was at http://www.caraccessoriesandparts.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; but my local camping shop nearly matched their price so I was happy to buy from them.

How does the adaptor kit change the battery setup, surely the height cannot be changed can it? This is the unit I am looking to get for ours but Im intrigued about thsi adaptor kit you mention.

What are you planning to run from your battery? We are in the market for a new leisure battery aswell but are obviously constrained to the usual frustrating low height problems of the passenger seat location. I wont be running the fridge from it, mainly just our stereo and TV/dvd setup when on site.

thanks

Hi. I am new to this forum having just purchased a 1990 Westy - Dotty - as she is called. I agree with Elsid. Bought the same battery from Alpha and it arrived within 24 hours.
I had to buy the adaptors that convert the post fixings to nut and bolt type - halfords £3 each.
You do have to take off the drivers seat though. Just 4 bolts so not a problem.

Can't help wondering if its worth deepening the space for the leisure slightly as you'd have a greater choice of batteries then. My leisure was more or less a gift but sits slightly proud meaning I can't push passenger seat back enough. Isn't a problem for my little boy but if my Dad goes with me anywhere, his knees are on the glove box. I could mount it in the buddy seat box I made, but I use that to keep my toolkit in. The other possible spot is immediately above gearbox which if you look from the side is actually quite roomy (enough for three leisure batteries at least) - would just need a hole cut and a box type affair welded into rear bulkhead (under back seat). Ah such plans I have when I get a replacement MIG welder......

Actually, I'm in the market for a new leisure battery, but though I'm a grey beard I'm now a full time postgrad student so I'm a bit skint. Leisure batteries seem exceedingly expensive, so can I get by with an ordinary starter battery? I think this has been commented on in another thread, but the jury seemed to be out, re the pros and cons. In fact, it's turned out that what I thought was a leisure battery in my camper was actually an ordinary car battery (the previous owners put in a 'Rolls Royce and Bently spec' battery (that's how it was labelled)) so I'm presuming that I might be able to get by with an ordinary battery again?

Sal

Reply to question about adapter strips for the varta battery. They are just small strips that change the profile and height of the lower lips at the front and rear of the battery. They enable the standard VW clamp to hold the battery securely in place. I don't usually run more than lights from the battery but this weekend I ran my electric coolbox for about 8 hours without the battery running out. I could probably have run it for several more hours. Very pleased with the varta battery as it fills the space under the space about as well as I could expect and the seat can still slide backwards and forwards. I have taken the precaution of making sure the terminals have plastic covers over them to prevent shorting.

D

salgarfi wrote:Actually, I'm in the market for a new leisure battery, but though I'm a grey beard I'm now a full time postgrad student so I'm a bit skint. Leisure batteries seem exceedingly expensive, so can I get by with an ordinary starter battery?

Sal

Sure you can get by, I have.
But I soon learned of false economy.
Starters hate being deep cycled.. They soon stop becoming efficient.
And while a starter used as a starter will last for at least 5 years... Life expectancy as a leisure is much much less

Save up and buy a proper battery for the job
alpha batteries are very well priced