Batteries

[GowerOsprey]

Hi everyone, I'm a (quite) new Bongo owner and first time post-er, so be gentle please!

I bought the van at the tail end of the summer holidays and we managed to get a couple of nights away in it, but almost predictably the (starter/car) battery got drained on the second night.

Since then I have been investigating Leisure batteries and trays, and was on the cusp of buying both before I decided to pose a question to all you knowledgeable and friendly people:
Must I (or at least should I) have to purchase a leisure battery to run the blinds, internal lights, stereo etc, or can I buy a (much cheaper) starter/car battery instead? I use the van everyday to get back and forth to work, and therefore have the stereo going daily; this means the battery would be used all the time, and from my limited knowledge of these matters, does this not make it more suitable to use a standard battery rather than a deep cycle battery?

Maybe I'm over simplifying the issue, but any advice would be greatly apprecaited.

[You've Been Bongod]

hi and welcome to bongo fury

i run a leasure battery for
blinds, cigarrette lighter, stereo, dvd player, fold in mirrors so as not to flatten main starting battery

if you look on ebay for willinton he does the split charge relay and battery tray
if you tell him you are a bongo fury member you get discount

ps any further questions feel free to ask away

[cozmo1589]

Hi well i opted for leisure battery and tray, the wiring instructions that came with it allowed me to hook up the blinds, 12v accessory socket, internal blinds and stereo all with independent fuses. I would go for this option each and every time as it gives me complete peace of mind. If with this set up your starter battery ever went flat i have thought maybe one could disconnect the leisure battery from the vehicle completly and then use this as a one off jumper battery? Anyone else agree with this?