Battery Question

[Gibbon]

My Bongo has 2 vehicle batteries under the bonnet & came fitted with a Mikuni diesel heater. I think it's safe to assume that it came from a cold area of japan
Also there is no central locking or electric side door closing mechanism, I'm guessing the original owner saved all of his juice for starting the engine. Not a problem for me as this means less to go wrong.

Question: As there is an aux battery fitted does this mean that there is already a split charger fitted & that I can simply swap the aux battery for a leisure one?
If not then what do I have to do to make the change to a leisure battery?
Please keep any reply simple as when it comes to electrics I'm not the sharpest tool in the box.
Many thanks in advance.

[mister munkey]

Welcome Gibbon - any relation of mine must be a good egg!!

Mine (as many others too) came with the twin battery set up. These tend to come from north japan where the winters are somewhat more severe than ours & is purely intended to help extreme cold starts.

Its possible to convert the passenger side one to a leisure battery using a split charge relay but nearly a year into mine its still on my "to do" list.

I believe the practical thing to do is replace the fitted battery with an actual leisure one as the standard is designed to have a good cold start cranking rate. Proper leisure batts give a lower power rate over a longer running time.

Theres plenty of info on here if you have a search through some old techie threads.

[daveblueozzie]

if its the winter pack battery set up ,then no you will not have the split charge relay.
you can get the LB wiring loom with intelligent split charge relay from a bloke called willinton on ebay.
put your location in your profile then someone near to you will be able to help.

[francophile1947]

I had the twin battery set-up, but even an 85ah leisure battery was too tall to fit under the bonnet. I just bought a battery isolator switch and connected it in the positive lead from the nearside battery. I then modified the fuse box wiring to run the interior lights, cigar lighters etc from the nearside battery. Just flicked the switch, to isolate the battery, when camping and turned it back after starting the engine to charge the battery up when running.

[sparkymik]

I have the same set up as mine came from the north, mine has been converted to a leisure batt, as you have a northern version you may have engine pre-heating (switch with an engine on it) whatever you do DON'T switch it on in this cimate I'll say no more

Sparky

PS welcome and put location in profile

[bigdaddycain]

Sticking flap in the exhaust Sparky?

[Moondance_Scotland]

Hi Dave
I have a similar issue matie, ive just purchase Bongo last week, good cond, and also have two batteries, not hooked up tho for 240v - cant tell
How do i know if iys a leisure or extra power, ive been told the bongo was brought in from south japan, very clean and no rust either...haaa now in scotland!! oops WAXOYL at the ready....


Johnny
Scotland

[bigdaddycain]

For a quick cursory look, see if you have a switch near the drivers knee (next to the "REAR" switch) With a picture of an engine on it.

[sparkymik]

Sticking flap in the exhaust Sparky?

Yeah what a B-stard never seen so much smoke since I was on destroyers in the Navy, all my neibours came out for the show, I've dist' it now, my grandson only one year, hit the switch and I missed it

Sparky

[mister munkey]

Happened to me a while back, running like a pig for two days. Waycar spotted the problem, I felt a right numpty!!

Good Call Ste.