2 batteries?

jetskier · Post by **jetskier** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:54 pm

as some peeps now i had trouble with my battery at haworth,it wouldnt start,a jump was needed,but started first go.

when buying my bongo i noticed it had 2 batteries,one was a bach-up i was told.

i have purchased a new battery for the main one but left the second one in.i have been toying with fitting a leisure battery and taking out the back-up one.

but my question is
if i find i dont want to fit a leisuer battery and leave the back-up one on,will it draw off my main one,or does it charge itself as standard,or if i disconnect it will it affect my bongo in any way

any advice will be heeded thanks

dave

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 8:02 pm

It's not a back-up at all. Both battery positives are connected to the starter motor and, if your nearside battery is duff, it will drain the other one - they are wired in parallel and are, effectively, the same as one very large battery.

jetskier · Post by **jetskier** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 8:07 pm

so does that mean the drivers side battery,the one i have replaced,will get drained by the other one,but can it be took out and still start the bongo? on my new one

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 8:09 pm

Yes, if it's duff.
Yes, you can happily remove the second battery, if the main one is powerful enough to start the car

I actually put a switch between the two and used the nearside battery as a leisure battery - just turned the switch off when camping and on again, when engine running, so that it got charged up.

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 9:09 pm

Don't whatever you do just dissconnect the 2nd battery and remove it without isolating the positive cable you have removed....It will be VERY LIVE and if it touches any metal under the bonnet you can expect fireworks.. if you have any doubt get a Auto electrician to do the job...Personally I would get the 2nd battery tested and if o.k. leave it where it is...If it's duff...replace it with a new one...Yours is a "winter pack Bongo" which has a more powerful starter motor which needs loads of power and also "I think" a more powerful alternater

jetskier · Post by **jetskier** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 10:07 pm

thanks for that,dont want my bongo on fire yet,might get another battery,cost £55.00,which was a lot less than i thought,was expecting to pay over a ton so might just get one after christmas

jetskier · Post by **jetskier** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 10:11 pm

thanks john,think you sent me a pic last year of your setup,can you tell me what the switch is called and were purchased,fancy getting another battery now after what haydn has said and doing what you have done

thanks both of you

dave

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:17 pm

We had a BF chat on another thread about whether to use a starter battery type as a leisure battery. It seems leisure batteries may not like the fast charge the Bongo alternator gives them. Starter batteries wil handle higher current drain without voltage drop (something I want) but don't like being put into a deeply discharged state. Madmile mentioned a battery type that he fits for leisure use that is happy either way. Haydn and Franco (I thinkit was) talked about a cheap battery isolator switch you fit on the 2nd battery terminal (I have one in fact but not fittd now). So you could get a Madmile type battery (PM him for advice) and fit an isolator switch so the 2nd battery is connected in parallel when driving, so it gets charged, then isolated when camping and being used for leisure work so it won't take power from the main starter battery. Of course if you fit the isolator switch first I guess you could fit a new 2nd battery whenever.

One small alarm bell ringing (maybe experts can comment). Batteries connected in parallel ought ideally to be of identical capacity and type. I don't know how critical this is but I believe it to be the case. Might be best to do some research.

How's the head mending anyway you old dog

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:24 pm

it's best if they are the same but not cast in stone..More important is that both batteries are about the same age/condition. If not the poor battery will drag down the good one.

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:30 pm

Of course if you fit the isolator switch first I guess you could fit a new 2nd battery whenever.
Wouldn't risk that...If anyone switched it to "on" by mistake there could be more fireworks. I.E. the apprentice in the garage...I wonder what this does!!

moonshine · Post by **moonshine** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:55 pm

mikeonb4c wrote:One small alarm bell ringing (maybe experts can comment). Batteries connected in parallel ought ideally to be of identical capacity and type. I don't know how critical this is but I believe it to be the case. Might be best to do some research.

If they are to be used together as one big battery, then you are right Mike, but it really doesn't matter if they are just connected in parallel for charging purposes. On my boat I have an 85 ah battery (I think) which is for engine starting, and 2 x 110 ah batteries connected in parallel (effectively one 220 ah battery) for leisure purposes. When the engines are running, these are all connected together for charging. Had no problems for several years, despite the engines being fitted with old dynamos rather than alternators. (I can't change them as the rev-counters are cable driven off the dynamos.)

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:03 am

haydn callow wrote:Of course if you fit the isolator switch first I guess you could fit a new 2nd battery whenever.
Wouldn't risk that...If anyone switched it to "on" by mistake there could be more fireworks. I.E. the apprentice in the garage...I wonder what this does!!

Sorry - badly explained. I meant you could take your time replacing the old / duff battery and just use whatever it offered, as it would be isolated from the starter battery except when on charge

foofighter · Post by **foofighter** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:19 am

I had a freda which had two batteries fitted as yours does, the simplest solution if you want a leisure battery is willinton as you already have second battery tray its a bit cheaper and he provides all instructions for fitting, disconnecting leads ect. first class kit.

Bongoozler · Post by **Bongoozler** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 1:23 am

Hi,
Just to say, I have the twin battery setup. Since changing both batteries some two years ago I have had no problems with starting even when camped for a week or so.

I have two 95Ah batteries give 190Ah total, that seems to be enough for most of my needs. I have a gas fridge so its mainly lighting , TV and so on.

I carry a jump starter pack which is on charge when I'm driving just in case.

Cheers
Tim

spout · Post by **spout** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 8:49 am

I have the twin battery set up. The main battery is brand new and the second is old (original?). The previous owner had been having troubles (which I inherited

) and had disconnected the second battery.
Once I'd sorted the troubles I tried reconnecting the second battery - everything was fine, but there was some current drain from the new to old battery so I've left it disconnected. No starting problems so far.

And yes I've taped up the positive lead.
The second battery is left topped up and fully charged, to be used in emergencies.

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