Bongo Fury

http://tinyurl.com/3dfn89

Maplins have these on offer - still cheaper than a leisure battery (fully installed) and with 40ah should last a whole weekend. I'm tempted.

Just fitted a 65 amp hr L/B in mine.. £67 from ATS. And could be used in a emergency to jump start Bongo. Doubt 40 amp hour would do that.
How long either would last on a full charge would of course depend on what you were useing it for. Don't forget that although it says 40 amp hr you can only realistically use about half that without damageing the battery. Seems a lot of money to me.

tattoodaisy wrote:with 40ah should last a whole weekend. I'm tempted.

Save your money. 40ah is certainly not worth paying £130 for if your intention is to use it instead of a leisure battery, unless all you intend to switch on is a radio for a short time. Run lights, a TV, or anything drawing more current than that, and it will be flat in no time at all. I would regard 85ah as an absolute minimum for a weekend, unless you intend to run the engine or use a mains hook-up.

Power packs are not designed for continuous use. They are designed to give a large amount of power for a very short period, such as when starting an engine.

Looking at things long term, I would say that it would be much better to put the £130 towards having a proper 110ah leisure battery installed. It's designed for the job, and should last for years. If you shop around, you should be able to get a 110ah battery for around £85, and I wouldn't have though fitting would cost too much.

Listen to Haydn and Moonshine .....I have just fitted 110 ah Numax lesure Battery in the mazda cube kitchen, for £75 at that money there's enough left to get a cheap jump pack as well! thanks Rich

Ps gell type cells need slow charging, thrashing them on the 12v from the bongo with the alternator running, reduces there life. Gells are not happy gassing over short periods ! There is a place for gell cells but not for leisure applications that req deep discharge / charge.

Have a look for Oddesy dry cell batteries

Seem to be good value and well respected for high demanding applications in my part of the world

There is a uk distributor I'll try and find for you if you are interested

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/

£48 for a 100amp/h battery from caterrick caravans, same size as a 85 amp battery so no need to modify the l/b tray.

My friend ran his coolbox off my fully charged powerpack last summer, literally lasted a few hours Much better to get a decent leisure battery I reckon, even if you get an enclosure box thing so that you can use it like a power pack rather than installing it?

Ideally Get a decent battery in the rear running off a split charge relay from the alternator.

Then your away and loose chance of draining your front battery.


Jump packs are available form maplins from time to time for just 20 quid and i have had one last 4 years so far - got me out of lots of trouble too!!! so a good investment but no where near a substitute for the above

just a point regarding split charge relay. best to get a volt sensing one and not connect to the alternator wire as it can cause problems with the glowplug lights glowing.

Thanks for all the posts -it was after reading the post below that got me thinking

http://tinyurl.com/33f639

from Colin

I intend to use this in place of a leisure battery and all the associated expense and aggravation.
Run what you want from the main Bongo battery and IF you flatten it then jump start from the battery pack, then connect the latter to recharge it as you drive. Or run your auxilliary direct from the battery pack!

and madmile

I have to agree with Colin on most of his points. I have been selling removeable kitchen units for some time now. Many people ask about a leisure battery set up but I think the expense is not justified if you only intend to do the occasional weekend camp

...but as Willinton is finally going to start selling relays again I might have a go myself....and then ask for some help with the patching fuse box bit.
Bournemouth Batteries have a 110 for £75...just a bit scary, don't want to blow up my bongo!

raw componants also do a very good split relay set and they always have them in.i put one of these in and was very pleased with the whole kit.
you could build the system yourself but its just easier for a novice to put together.
if you go for the bigger battery just be aware that you might need to change the support tray as some of the 110amp batteries are huge.

Having witnessed a couple of fellow members try to start their bonngos with a powerpack and failing, I reckon the leisure battery is the better way to go

Big Rich wrote

I have just fitted 110 ah Numax lesure Battery in the mazda cube kitchen

Rich - did you have to modify the cube to get the Numax in? I reckoned the longest I could fit in the cube is 310mm & the Numax 110 has a length of 345mm in the figures I've seen?

Rhod

Whilst there has been a few figures batted about, i think the 110 a/h bosche l/b is still available from costco for £62.

I to would be interested in what mods you did
to the cube and the part number catalog number
or what ever of the battery is possible
Ta Ralph NW UK