Battery

[suerica]

I have read the fact sheet and stuff on the forums but to be honest a lot of it is too tech for me.
Twice recently while out with the Bongo camping I have suffered from a flat battery. The first time I thought it might be that I hadn't fully pushed in the eletric hook up plug but now I am not so sure. While away this week I woke up to a flat battery agsain.
I have no idea what runs from the main battery and what runs from the lesiure battery.
Does the leisure battery take power from the main battery at all?
Could running the radio, with the ingnition on, for say, three hours, flatten the main battery?
Any help or advice appreciated, cannot always rely on the kindess of strangers with battery chargers.
BUt please in very simple non tech terms.

[Ian]

Are you absolutely certain you have a leisure battery? Some Bongos have 2 main starter batteries and no leisure battery.

[g8dhe]

First are you sure you have a leisure battery ? Some Bongo's have TWO starter batteries, if its a conversion then below may apply;

I have no idea what runs from the main battery and what runs from the lesiure battery.
Does the leisure battery take power from the main battery at all?
Could running the radio, with the ingnition on, for say, three hours, flatten the main battery?

Without knowing what you have connected to each battery then its going to be difficult to give any advice, except in the most vague terms!
So first step is;
1. Is your conversion a DIY job by a previous owner or is it from one of the normal conversion firms ? If its a firm then we can probably look up online or members can advise what will have been put on each battery.
2. If you look down by the drivers knee there is a flap, which hides the some of the most common fuses, open it up. Are there any wires plugged in the front in place of fuses like the image below ?

If so then which fuses have been replaced with wires going off into the vehicle ? There maybe up to 4 wires.

[helen&tony]

Hi
Firstly, take it to an auto electrician and ask for an estimate, and write down there and then what's said...then ask on here.
Crafty, I know, but you are entitled to ask a couple of experts, anyway, and you might be surprised by a cheap fix which you can afford, because, by the sound of it, you say you're not techie enough to do the work....nothing wrong with that!....BUT....you might even find a member on here that will help out for beer tokens if you write down what the problem is
Happy Hunting
Cheers
Helen

[Simon Jones]

Could running the radio, with the ingnition on, for say, three hours, flatten the main battery?

That will definitely leave you with a flat battery. The cheapest option is actually to use a portable radio. I've got a Roberts DAB/FM radio that can either run off rechargeable batteries or a plug top power supply. Saves reaching over to the front to twiddle with the stereo and I can use it outside the van if needed.

[francophile1947]

If you've got a leisure battery, the radio is normally switched to that, so you shouldn't need the ignition on

[rita]

I always thought the radio was through the ACC ign key position, if so it should not put any extra drain on the battery other that of the actual radio?.

[g8dhe]

Only the "main" power supply is, however there is also a standby supply direct un-switched - Unfortunately not all designs play by the unstated rules that the stby supply should be only a few milliamps, hence 100-200 milliamps is not unknown especially if the unit is left in display mode with all he lights flashing and demonstrating its features!

[cmm303]

In addition to the advice given by Geoff (g8dhe) I reckon there are other fairly non-technical but slightly grubby things to do to see if you have a Leisure Battery or not.

With no mains plugged in, LH and RH as looking under bonnet, turn everything off between each check:
a) Look under the bonnet, is one of the batteries (probably RH one) labelled as a Leisure Battery in its graphics? No obvious marking is inconclusive.
b) Try disconnecting the earth (-) lead on the RH battery, keeping it clear of the positive lead. It's safe for it to touch bodywork but if in doubt rest it in a plastic tub (yoghourt, marg etc.) Does anything stop working, especially leisure stuff like interior lights and 12V sockets? Reconnect
c) Try disconnecting the earth (-) lead on the LH battery, precautions as above. Does anything stop working, especially vehicle stuff like ignition lights, indicators? Reconnect

If everything keeps working same through (b) and (c) you don't have a Leisure Battery but 2 x Starter Batteries.
If (b) and (c) give different results and there is some logic in it like leisure stuff is affected by RH battery and ignition lights affected by LH battery, then you most likely have a leisure battery wired in. You can also at the same time check what is actually being powered from the leisure battery.

If you dont have a leisure battery I recommend having one installed (£150-£200 for split charger + battery, fitting extra) and then your leisure items (max 4 circuits) won't drain your starter battery - most pick radio, 12V sockets, interior lights, left and right blinds. Great peace of mind.

If you already have a leisure battery, or it seems completely random, have it checked out and maybe the radio changed over.

[suerica]

Thank you all for your advice. I certainly hadn't realised that Bongos could have two main batteries, although even less excuse, to my mind, for them to go flat.
I will work my way through all your answers and advice.
What a good bunch!