The Complete Beginners Guide to Fitting a Leisure Battery?

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 11:35 pm

Mork calling Orson, Mork calling Orson, Come in Orson

OK Chums

I'm really vexed about wanting to fit my own leisure battery. I'm sure it can't be that tricky if you have clear instructions to follow. I've searched hard on BF for information. There is a lot of useful advice, but it is a bit confusing to the newcomer. Much of it illustrates how you can have problems along the way if you fail to appreciate some keys points, and yet it is clear that many have ended up achieving a good result.

I've looked at Leisure battery stuff in the Members Section but it only gets you so far.

I've seen from threads that there are regular new enquirers asking how you do it.

So I've had a go at roughly copying and pasting various snippets into an MS Word doc simply as a raw document for gathering material for editorial consideration. I've had a go at putting some draft table at the top of the doc that might break the job down into What You Will Need, How to Fit the Leisure Battery, and How to rewire accessories. I've even spent a little time identifying objects of possible interest on ebay and have put links in the What You Will Need Table.

Finally, at the end of the doc you will see I did a PM to Veg_Ian today and he sent me his reply (he has done the job, but had trouble along the way - he also used Pippins advice on rewiring accessories - I noticed too that someone else did a nice variation where he didn't actually cut vehicle wires)

BUT

It really needs someone who knows their stuff and is prepared to take this raw material and turn it into a Complete Beginners Guide. I know there is some stuff on Kampfenwagon (or whatever it is called!) but I seem to recall that even that was not suitable for beginners.

Would anyone with a proper understanding of the subject consider taking a look at the Word doc and maybe knocking the information into some shape where it could become a cherished Guide for devoted Bongoists who want to boldly wire where they have never wired before? I think it would be invaluable to have (reach for your voting buttons everyone!)

I don't know what the Bongomeisters view on all this is - Ian, do you care to comment? (Edited by Ian 10/01/07: Good idea, let's see other comments. But don't disturb me now, I'm trying out one of Crazy's recommended ciders. Hic!) Maybe BF could offer a kit of parts if interest was sufficient?

Hope I'm not asking too much with this and grateful for any thoughts. The Word doc can be downloaded from:

http://lucyclare.homecall.co.uk/CBGFLB_V1.doc

Thanks chums

Mike (really must get something for my Bongo Fever - its even worse while Mango Bongo is away at the Bongo Bottom Hospital).

Scott & Gillian · Post by **Scott & Gillian** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:02 am

Great idea!
Be good to see a full and complete version - hope someone can finish it all off so as I can add something else to my 'to do' list!

Nice one!

MattK · Post by **MattK** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:22 am

Great idea..
been tryting to work up the courage to try fitting a leisure battery for ages.
Lectricitys just not one of my strong points.

Veg_Ian · Post by **Veg_Ian** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:20 am

Beg to differ Mike but the Kampenwagen site is aimed at the complete novice and describes everything at the novice level. Worked for me anyway. I'll take a look at your doc when I get some spare time.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 9:45 am

Apologies Ian - I didn't look at the Kamp... site when starting this thread as previous threads had seemed to suggest that even with looking at the site, people were having problems. I did look at it some time back. My recollection of it isn't good but I seem to recall not being left confident of interpreting it in precise Bongo terms (e.g. cut wire 5 or whatever to bypass the electric blinds - that kind of Bongo specific stuff). Hence the desire for a Guide for the Bongo

Do others want to look at the Kamp... site and give their view (the link to it is in the material in the MS Word doc I put together)

Mike

Veg_Ian · Post by **Veg_Ian** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 11:20 am

Actually Mike you could be right as there are some misleading recommendations on there, such as running the relay feed from the alternator which is not a good idea for the Bongo. However, a lot of info could be plagiarised from the site and then tailor it to the Bongo together with snippets from those on here that have done a lot of this sort of thing in the past such as Moonshine and Pippin.

pippin · Post by **pippin** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 11:26 am

Noboby ain't gonna plagiarise any of my work!

I wants me money for writing it.

Well, 'spose it's OK to use my technical suggestions, with the usual disclaimers of any responsibility.

Go for it, especially the long post on how to divert the internal lighting to run of the leisure battery.

Veg_Ian · Post by **Veg_Ian** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 11:45 am

Mercenary

Nah you do right

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:58 pm

Actually Pippin er...um...um....I was thinking that you were a prime candidate for producing the Definitive Guide. You have such an obvious grasp of it all, and it is striking that when a thread didnt know what to do, you went out there, discovered the answer, put it on the thread, and someone actually used it and it worked!

As Veg_Ian says, there is raw material on Kamp....whatever, and raw material from our own threads. Someone is going to send me in their idea of how it should be done and I'll forward that on. I'd have a go at producing it myself but it would be a bit like a blues guitarist writing the manual on 'How to Fly Concorde'. Come to think of it, thats exactly what it would be like!!!!. No. what is needed is a 'technical editor' - someone who has had real life experience of what will need doing. Dunno who you'd get revenue from the FAQ unless to say at the end '....and it you dont fancy doing it yourself, I can do it for you for a fee of......'

Mike

vic swan · Post by **vic swan** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 3:41 pm

Good Idea Mike, I hope something comes of it.
I had ago myself. Bought the wiring kit from Towsure. Blew up the original relay and a replacement. Paid a garage a further £40 to have a look and fit another relay. Result one knackerd battery and the relay keeps blowing fuses for a pastime. Got to get it sorted before we head for the hills again.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:51 pm

How many 'P's can I do..........here goes....

If we can persuade Pippin to Put Pen to Paper to pull peoples perambulations peicemeal into perfectly précised paragraphs, perhaps performing power supplies with adequate potential and produced on a pennywise budget will pop-up in places throughout these populous isles, which we proudly prefer to perceive as paradise personified.

Parp Parp

dobby · Post by **dobby** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 9:00 pm

http://www.iespell.com/

Downlaod and in stool this and pip in will never bovver you agane with spelling miss steaks

Seriously, it works

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 9:13 pm

Hi Mike

Instead of "on a pennywise budget", you could have got more Ps by using "for a pennywise pocket price"

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 9:39 pm

Damn! Lets get this thread back on track. Its ominously quiet from Pippins corner. In the end, if no-one else will have a go I'll have to see how much more progress I can make in understanding and organising it all myself

madmile · Post by **madmile** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:05 pm

Veg_Ian.
Interesting comment re the alternator feed being not such a good idea on the Bongo. I dont have the definitive answer, but am interested why you dont think it such.