Bongo Fury

We have just purchased our 2nd Bongo and this one has a leisure battery which I intend to make good use of. However I need help with the following:

How does the leisure battery work?, ie: when does the power swap from the main battery to the leisure?

Should certain functions work of the leisure battery without a key in th eignition etc.

Any help appreciated.

Goodfella211 wrote:We have just purchased our 2nd Bongo and this one has a leisure battery which I intend to make good use of. However I need help with the following:

How does the leisure battery work?, ie: when does the power swap from the main battery to the leisure?

Should certain functions work of the leisure battery without a key in th eignition etc.

Any help appreciated.

First of all are you sure that the second battery is a leisure battery? Bongos intended for Northern Japan have two starter batteries.

If you have a leisure battery installed it should be connected via a split charge relay which will make sure the starter battery is always charged and charge the Leisure battery as needed.

Which circuits remain energised is the choice of whoever installed the LB. I would expect the radio and the cig lighter sockets to stay on at least and I think the mirrors are on one of those circuits, pretty sure they are on mine. I also have the nearside blinds because the one over the sliding door is a PITA otherwise. If you have what is known as a Willington kit there will be a fusebox mounted to the bulkhead where the clutch pedal hole is normally blanked off. Tails from this fuse box lead to the fusebox to the driver's right, below the dash and to transfer a circuit you just pull the relavant fuse and plug the tail into the accessory side of the fuse way. Then makesure the corresponding fuse in the LB fusebox is the correct value. I think they are the same physical size, couldn't swear to it.

Velocette wrote:

Goodfella211 wrote:We have just purchased our 2nd Bongo and this one has a leisure battery which I intend to make good use of. However I need help with the following:

How does the leisure battery work?, ie: when does the power swap from the main battery to the leisure?

Should certain functions work of the leisure battery without a key in th eignition etc.

Any help appreciated.

First of all are you sure that the second battery is a leisure battery? Bongos intended for Northern Japan have two starter batteries.

If you have a leisure battery installed it should be connected via a split charge relay which will make sure the starter battery is always charged and charge the Leisure battery as needed.

Which circuits remain energised is the choice of whoever installed the LB. I would expect the radio and the cig lighter sockets to stay on at least and I think the mirrors are on one of those circuits, pretty sure they are on mine. I also have the nearside blinds because the one over the sliding door is a PITA otherwise. If you have what is known as a Willington kit there will be a fusebox mounted to the bulkhead where the clutch pedal hole is normally blanked off. Tails from this fuse box lead to the fusebox to the driver's right, below the dash and to transfer a circuit you just pull the relavant fuse and plug the tail into the accessory side of the fuse way. Then makesure the corresponding fuse in the LB fusebox is the correct value. I think they are the same physical size, couldn't swear to it.

Thanks for this, it has enlightened me. Do you know if it is costly to have the 2nd battery converted to a leisure battery. I could probably do it myself with the right instructions. I want to run the blinds and lighting for starters.

Why not use the battery till it is of no use, then get a leisure battery, ive just got a normal starter battery instead of a leisure battery and find i have no problems, saying that i dont run a fridge or anything like that off it, just radio and the internal lights and the ciggy sockets (i would run the blinds but mine are not electric).
I dont have a willinton kit on mine, i made it myself about 5 years ago using corblimeys instructions.

Just buy a couple of battery cut off switches from Ebay...then switch off one of the batteries when parked up. Alternate between the two. Works a treat for me and has the added advantage of an extra theft deterent if you disconnect both when leaving the vehicle.

daveblueozzie wrote:Why not use the battery till it is of no use, then get a leisure battery, ive just got a normal starter battery instead of a leisure battery and find i have no problems, saying that i dont run a fridge or anything like that off it, just radio and the internal lights and the ciggy sockets (i would run the blinds but mine are not electric).
I dont have a willinton kit on mine, i made it myself about 5 years ago using corblimeys instructions.

Hi Dave, did you have the twin north Jap set up? Im thinking of installing a willinton kit on my north Jap set up (one battery as the 'leisure' and the other left as starter) but unsure if only one battery will have enough oomph to start the vehicle.
Has anyone else tried this before i shell out for a leisure battery?
btw im only looking to power interior lights, radio and cig sockets

Titan1995 wrote:Just buy a couple of battery cut off switches from Ebay...then switch off one of the batteries when parked up. Alternate between the two. Works a treat for me and has the added advantage of an extra theft deterent if you disconnect both when leaving the vehicle.

Love it. Nearly did that myself, but went posh instead. Great to hear from someone who has done it though.

Tidmo wrote:

daveblueozzie wrote:Why not use the battery till it is of no use, then get a leisure battery, ive just got a normal starter battery instead of a leisure battery and find i have no problems, saying that i dont run a fridge or anything like that off it, just radio and the internal lights and the ciggy sockets (i would run the blinds but mine are not electric).
I dont have a willinton kit on mine, i made it myself about 5 years ago using corblimeys instructions.

Hi Dave, did you have the twin north Jap set up? Im thinking of installing a willinton kit on my north Jap set up (one battery as the 'leisure' and the other left as starter) but unsure if only one battery will have enough oomph to start the vehicle.
Has anyone else tried this before i shell out for a leisure battery?
btw im only looking to power interior lights, radio and cig sockets

I didn't have the twin set up, but ive had two leisure battery's over the last few years and both died , so i decided to get a normal battery and that seems to work and is cheaper.
You can install the willinton kit with a normal battery, it does not have to be a leisure battery.
One battery is plenty to start the engine if its in good condition, on the plus side you can always jump start the engine if you have two battery's.

daveblueozzie wrote:

Tidmo wrote:

daveblueozzie wrote:Why not use the battery till it is of no use, then get a leisure battery, ive just got a normal starter battery instead of a leisure battery and find i have no problems, saying that i dont run a fridge or anything like that off it, just radio and the internal lights and the ciggy sockets (i would run the blinds but mine are not electric).
I dont have a willinton kit on mine, i made it myself about 5 years ago using corblimeys instructions.

Hi Dave, did you have the twin north Jap set up? Im thinking of installing a willinton kit on my north Jap set up (one battery as the 'leisure' and the other left as starter) but unsure if only one battery will have enough oomph to start the vehicle.
Has anyone else tried this before i shell out for a leisure battery?
btw im only looking to power interior lights, radio and cig sockets

I didn't have the twin set up, but ive had two leisure battery's over the last few years and both died , so i decided to get a normal battery and that seems to work and is cheaper.
You can install the willinton kit with a normal battery, it does not have to be a leisure battery.
One battery is plenty to start the engine if its in good condition, on the plus side you can always jump start the engine if you have two battery's.

Thanks for your reply Dave. Will give that a try.

Lovely Bongo btw! Thanks for the tour.

Many thanks for the debate etc. It is clear then that I have two starter battery's, can anyone help with the following:

1. Is the 2nd battery just piggy backed of the first?.
2. Can I just remove the piggy back and install a willinton kit?

Has anyone else actually done this and done it properly?.

Many thanks in advance, dont feel like shelling out hundreds.

Goodfella211 wrote:Many thanks for the debate etc. It is clear then that I have two starter battery's, can anyone help with the following:

1. Is the 2nd battery just piggy backed of the first?.
2. Can I just remove the piggy back and install a willinton kit?

Has anyone else actually done this and done it properly?.

Many thanks in advance, dont feel like shelling out hundreds.

1. Yes the second battery is a piggy back system for the freezing conditions in the north of Japan.
2. You remove the live wire from the second starter battery and isolate it, and fit the willinton kit, which will charge the second battery when needed.
Remember the second battery will not take being run down and recharged like a leisure battery, but it will be ok as long as you dont repeatedly flatten the battery.
The second starter battery is on the nearside (kerbside) of the bongo.

Sounds like a plan. Anyone know where to purchase?. I have googled and cant seem to find one.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/willinton/m.h ... ksid=p3686

Drop him a message and he will let you know when some kits will be ready

Hi all,

I also need a Willinton kit. Don't have much time before I'm off to France in a couple of weeks. Are there any alternatives? Looked like a good kit. Did it isolate the internal electrics from the main battery?

Thanks

Rhun

You won't find anything else which is as good and simple to fit with quality. I would have thought it worth a quick email to him as he can normally make kits available in a very short time. Also if your wanting to get away soon the last thing you want is to be mucking around with is a less than ideal solution from other sources !