The Complete Beginners Guide to Fitting a Leisure Battery?

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:54 pm

Lets get it all in that Complete Guide people

pippin · Post by **pippin** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 11:37 pm

Sorry, been a bit busy today.

Will give it some thought.

Well, some more thought!

madmile · Post by **madmile** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 12:02 am

Apologies if this is obvious, but for anyone doing their own leisure battery installation, just remember to keep the cable rated higher than the relay, and the fuse lower than the rating of the cable. You may blow a fuse, but you should avoid a fire!
I remember speaking to a converter about this a while ago. He said he used a 70 amp relay as they were still only a few pounds. I commented that it was quite expensive to buy 80amp cable.
His reply - 'we only use 20 or 30amp cable - I would rather the cable melt than the relay' - -- missed the point I think.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 12:04 am

Hurrah, looks like Pippins come round! I think this calls for some jolly old ginger beer and lashings of rice pudding with jam dont you think Timmy. Timmy? Timmy, what are you doing with the dog?

Seriously, this is good news. Thanks Pippin. Will you be connected by satellite and laptop while in NZ!?! Have a good trip

johnb8840 · Post by **johnb8840** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 12:45 am

Try giving AVA Leisure a ring. I purchased a leisure battery kit from them back in the summer. It included consumer unit, battery charger, split charge relay, all wiring cut to size with all the terminals fitted. All the ends were labelled, and also a set of instructions. They told me that they were also producing at set of photos as well. Oh and also included the leisure battery.

John b

Veg_Ian · Post by **Veg_Ian** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 8:58 am

madmile wrote: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.

Connecting to the low current feed screws up the 'no charge' light feed to the warning light on the dash making it come on all the time. I forget the reasoning now (but it made sense at the time) but I found another article that explained it. I'll repost if it turns up.

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:03 am

The no charge light uses the alternator body as an earth until the alternator starts charging. You should be able to connect it to the other wire though

I find it easier to use the automatic split charge relay that Towsure and others sell - it takes its signal from the main battery and switches to charge the leisure.

My advise is to ask Towsure for the green relay as the orange "Smartcom" one has given me problems - they are both under the same Towsure part number but what you get depends on their suppliers

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 1:59 pm

johnb8840 - I had noticed that AVA were producing a pack when I was reading up on the threads. I wonder if that route might be above the budget of some of us, also that we might want to cherry pick the components we want rather than have a standard pack put together by someone else. I'm often am happy to pay a reasonable amount if I know I've got the best relay, the best battery etc. etc.

Mike

Post by **Ian** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 1:41 pm

Whatever happended to this project? It seems a shame to leave it 70% completed. Anyone want to have a go at finishing it off?

corblimey · Post by **corblimey** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 1:47 pm

Hi Ian

I've did the job last weekend and have all the photos to make up a howto. Had the rellies this weekend so couldn't get the job done but that is my intention. I'll see if I can get something sorted this week.

Post by **Ian** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 1:51 pm

Excellent!