Twin battery model convert to single battery ?

kelv · Post by **kelv** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 3:52 pm

Would be interested in doing this to free up space for leisure battery under the bonett.
Anyone done it ?
What's involved ?
Ta.

cheffy34 · Post by **cheffy34** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 3:58 pm

Can i buy your second battery tray

i've been hanging out for one for ages

Dar

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 3:59 pm

Yes, it's dead easy

In fact, if we knew where you were, we might even be able to show you

kelv · Post by **kelv** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:02 pm

francophile1947 wrote:Yes, it's dead easy In fact, if we knew where you were, we might even be able to show you

Midlands Staffordshire.

kelv · Post by **kelv** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:03 pm

cheffy34 wrote:Can i buy your second battery tray i've been hanging out for one for ages

Dar

Thought I would still need it to put the leisure battery in

cheffy34 · Post by **cheffy34** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:08 pm

Check with the guys not sure the leisure battery will fit the tray, but don't quote me

i do have my own gains at heart

some one will be along shortly with more info, i only need a second small battery for my van not a big mumma like all you campers

Let me know

Dar

kelv · Post by **kelv** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:12 pm

cheffy34 wrote:Check with the guys not sure the leisure battery will fit the tray, but don't quote me i do have my own gains at heart some one will be along shortly with more info, i only need a second small battery for my van not a big mumma like all you campers

Let me know

Dar

Could swap me for a leisure battery perhaps.

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:18 pm

kelvfarrell wrote:
francophile1947 wrote:Yes, it's dead easy In fact, if we knew where you were, we might even be able to show you
Midlands Staffordshire.

If you use the User Control Panel (top right of the green part of the screen) you can put Staffordshire in your profile, so that it shows whenever you post.

You have 2 easy options:-
Cut the positive battery cable on the nearside battery and install one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Battery-Isolator- ... 240%3A1318 (I used foam pipe lagging, around the cable and back of the switch, as insulation)- that is what I did and used the nearside battery as a leisure battery. I just isolated the batteries when camping and reconnected (after starting the engine) when driving. It was very easy to do and worked well.
Alternatively, you can remove the positive clamp (insulate it well

),fit a split charge relay (best are from willinton on ebay) and replace the nearside battery with a leisure battery. However, I found that my battery tray wasn't very deep and a leisure battery was too high to close the bonnet

, so you may need to modify/replace the battery tray.

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:24 pm

Ooops, forgot to say that, if you use the first option, you need to rewire the interior lights, cigar lighters, radio etc to work off the leisure battery - it's an easy job

If you choose the second option, the willinton kit includes wires to let you do that easily.

stilldesperate · Post by **stilldesperate** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:34 pm

Good advice from John, I'd add that you may as well keep the same battery installed for now, it will work as a leisure battery for some time, when it finally dies (or you feel you need more power), think about changing it then.

SD

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:43 pm

I actually found using the spare starter battery, as a leisure battery, worked really well and you got the full whack from the alternator to recharge it. It was still going strong when I stopped using the Bongo, despite being flattened several times (only 60Ah). I reckon a starter battery withstands being discharged more than a leisure battery withstands fast charging - despite what the experts say

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 5:35 pm

francophile1947 wrote:I actually found using the spare starter battery, as a leisure battery, worked really well and you got the full whack from the alternator to recharge it. It was still going strong when I stopped using the Bongo, despite being flattened several times (only 60Ah). I reckon a starter battery withstands being discharged more than a leisure battery withstands fast charging - despite what the experts say

Good advice from John further up, and I agree with this bit too. You might as well get max use for min effort from what you have

stilldesperate · Post by **stilldesperate** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 6:21 pm

francophile1947 wrote: I reckon a starter battery withstands being discharged more than a leisure battery withstands fast charging - despite what the experts say

My boat has a mix of starter batteries/leisure batteries/bus batteries (don't ask

) ... and whatever else was going at the time.

Despite all the technical stuff to the contrary, I keep them topped up, and haven't had any serious problems.

Use what you've got, battery wise, it fit's in the tray, and is already half-wired in! (you can always swap batteries later)

SD

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:08 pm

Would it not be possible to fit the battery isolator to the starter battery only? This way all you need to do is isolate the starter battery when you are parked up and the isolator should prevent it from being drained by your auxiliaries. Reconnect the starter battery for start up and away you go.
Or am I talking mince?

kelv · Post by **kelv** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:36 pm

Grizz wrote:Would it not be possible to fit the battery isolator to the starter battery only? This way all you need to do is isolate the starter battery when you are parked up and the isolator should prevent it from being drained by your auxiliaries. Reconnect the starter battery for start up and away you go.
Or am I talking mince?

Sounds like a good idea too.
Unfortunately I don't know whether or not it would work either .
Any leccy experts out there

Twin battery model convert to single battery ?

Twin battery model convert to single battery ?

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