Bongo Fury

I have an unconverted Bongo I use a base for weekend trips and for camping and have a few questions regarding the batteries.
I assume the second battery under the bonnet is indeed a leisure battery, I have seen several other topic surrounding life of the leisure battery, what runs from it and when and how long it runs on a charge etc. but I have a couple of questions I can't seem to find the answer for:
I have seen several conversations surrounding split charge relays, but surely with a leisure battery fitted as standard this already exists? What are the benefits of updating?
Also, assuming there is a split charge relay fitted, is it possible to fit a ZIG unit to monitor the charge in each battery to avoid running it flat and if so does anyone have any experience on best locations, ease of fitting etc?

I don't plan to ever convert my van with a kitchen etc, I have reversed the seats (the 'correct' way so I can still make a bed) and this is sufficient as I like this set-up... does anyone have any other ideas of ways to improving the already superb set-up in these lovely vans?

thanks for reading



D

Hi dunky bongo
Some Bongos have two starter batteries. If you have a heavy cable (same thickness as the earth cables) running between the 2 batteries it is not a leisure battery.

Sorry, should have said between the positive terminals.

hmm, it's a but dark now, but I'll have a look in the morning. Is there any way if this is a second battery it could be converted to a leisure battery???

thanks
D

Hmmmmmm.........wonder when Pippin's back.........

Yes there is, but starter batteries are totally different from leisure batteries. I am going to convert my second battery into a leisure battery because both batteries are new, so I'll wait until it packs up before getting a proper leisure battery.
The easiest way is just to run wires from the "leisure" battery to the fuses controlling the things you want to run from it (interior lights and cigar lighter sockets) then disconnect the cable between the batteries. Problem with this is, if you forget to reconnect it, your "leisure" battery won't be recharged.
Have a search for "leisure AND battery" (miss out the quotation marks) and you'll find all sorts of info.

thanks!

so what about replacing the second battery with a leisure battery?
I used to own a VW camper and still have a leisure battery AND split charge relay sitting in my garage that I bought from 'Just Kampers' a couple of years ago, never fitted. Assuming these work, would it be a simple job to swap over?

thx
D

It shouldn't be a problem at all if you are reasonably handy, and it sounds like you are.

Just disconnect the heavy positive link between the two batteries at both ends and connect the two batteries together through the split-charge relay. There is a lot of info on this, and re-wiring accessories to run of the leisure battery, already on this site. Any problems, PM me and I will try to help.

thanks moonshine, I might just take you up on that!!

D

I see you are not far from me either, just up the A10 a little way.

we are virtually neighbours!
keep your eyes peeled for a light (mint?) green P reg 4wd, green spot light and three spoke alloyed mean machine! that will be 'Winkanton' and me.
I know it sounds pimpled, somebody in Japan has given her a lot of love in her past life, she's my girl (just don't tell the wife)

D

Mine's a fairly standard dark green and silver AFT, with the freetop in body-colour rather than the more usual grey. I actually thought they were all like mine until someone on the forum remarked about wanting their freetop sprayed body-colour.

I will certainly keep a lookout for you. Bongos are quite rare around here, and I can sometimes go for weeks without seeing another of any colour or description. Yours sounds quite distinctive.

moonshine,
does this look like all the kit I need to DIY? I am a little nervous!!!


D

Looks ok to me. I presume that the cable running across the front above the radiator is the cable linking the battery positives. (I only have one battery, so I'm not sure where the link runs). If it is, that's the one you need to remove.

The relay looks similar to the one I used when I did my last boat, but the cables look a bit thinner than I used. However, it's difficult to tell from a picture, and cables are using thinner insulation lately. Does it say on the diagram how many amps the cables and relay contacts are capable of handling?

I would recommend using a relay and cables capable of handling at least 65 amps, preferably 70 amps. Also I would put a fuse in each cable to the batteries, with a rating about 5 amps less than that of the cables.

Where does the diagram say to take the wire that energises the relay from?