Leisure Battery questions

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Leisure Battery questions 18 October 2009, 10:18 AM

PaulBecks Joined 29 Sep 2009 3 posts

we've just got ourselves a cool nissan vanette pop top which has nothing but it's own battery for power so i have a couple of questions about leisure batteries?

how do i go about introducing a leisure battery?

is this charged away from the van when needed or does/can the existing battery work as a 'piggy back' to charge it?

cheers Paul

Leisure Battery questions 18 October 2009, 11:41 AM

spook Joined 5 Mar 2009 50 posts

Leisure Battery questions 18 October 2009, 5:34 PM

swifty Joined 26 Jul 2009 43 posts

I used an auto change over relay to charge the leisure battery I put in a Bongo I had, much cheaper than a Zig unit, worked fine for me they are called towbar relays designed to charge a caravan battery, charge is only fed to leisure battery when alternator is sending volts, you can adjust so that it only cuts in when 13 + volts are being generated, the leisure battery is simply connected in parralell with main battery, there is no danger that main battery will go flat due to running accessories as below 13+ volts it is isolated from the leisure battery. Suck eggs and all that! Vehicle batteries deliver about 12v alternator charges ideally at 13.8 v. Sure there is some complicated reason why you shouldnt use this device but it worked for me for 2 years. Find them at Towsure on line or search e bay item number 310174993358, good luck

Leisure Battery questions 18 October 2009, 8:25 PM

PaulBecks Joined 29 Sep 2009 3 posts

nope, no mains hook up so the auto change relay idea sounds like a plan.

..... anyone for chargrilled novice camper!?!? : )

Paul

Leisure Battery questions 25 October 2009, 4:00 PM

Rusty Locks Joined 9 Jul 2009 1 posts

I've got a 1968 VW Camper and am going through the same process. The best i have found the info on leisure battery introduction into a van is on a website called: http://www.earlybay.com
Look in the technical section and there are diagrams of what you need, wire gauge, fuses etc etc. All best towards a VW camper, but can easily be adapted to suit any camper.
Also look at a website called http://www.justkampers.co.uk or http://www.lighteningleisure.co.uk for the split relays. Cheaper than that though is always Ebay. If you contact the sellers they are always willing to give advice.

Hope that helps.

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