Leisure Battery

[Germarchip]

Hi All,
I am looking to install a leisure battery in my 96 Bongo. Any tips/advice on good batteries etc?

[mikeonb4c]

Hi All,
I am looking to install a leisure battery in my 96 Bongo. Any tips/advice on good batteries etc?

I'm thinking I will fit an Elecsol next time I replace. They seem to be better at coping with higher current drain without dropping voltage. Have a search on here for more chat about them, or PM Ron Miel, who has one and can explain its virtues to you.

Oh and a guy call Willinton does a battery tray and wiring harness kit and sells from time to time on ebay. Quality stuff and easy to fit as it has instructions etc.

[dave_aber]

+1 for the Willinton kit.

It's expensive, but it's most definitely in the "buy right, buy once" category. Well thought out kit, Bongo specific, quality gear, and not under-engineered as some of the cheaper options available seem to be. (IMO!)

He doesn't list items on eBay all the time, so it's worth contacting him and he'll set up a sale for you. Top bloke to deal with.

I have a Numax XV30HMF - 113Ah, fits the Willinton kit no problem. Keeps my beer cold for 4 days!

[mikexgough]

There is a thread Here that gives some battery sizes for the Willinton tray.....later in the thread

I have a 110Ah, now 2 years old Wetline Brand, but still as good as ever (came with a 2 year warranty) next time, whenever that is, mine is going to be changed(it's in a Willinton Tray) for a Yuasa 115 AH(The Yuasa starter battery I got last year is brilliant and as their Leisure batteries are highly rated) or an Banner Energy Bull

Numax have always had a good write up on here and I am sure others will share their experiences with you

MMM did a test in the early summer and dissected some batteries, they mentioned the good brands (Energy Bull came out the best...110 AH - had a capacity of 122AH on the test and long warranty.......they did not mention the not so good other than to say a well known 100AH with a 5 yr Gtee had only 56Ah capacity.. and they had tested 2 examples of each make too for comparisons sake

Looking inside some of the cases they were only 1/2 filled with plates, some had "stuffing" in them, so not good on the industry....and some were top known brands too....

hope that helps.....

[mikeonb4c]

There is a thread Here that gives some battery sizes for the Willinton tray.....later in the thread

I have a 110Ah, now 2 years old Wetline Brand, but still as good as ever (came with a 2 year warranty) next time, whenever that is, mine is going to be changed(it's in a Willinton Tray) for a Yuasa 115 AH(The Yuasa starter battery I got last year is brilliant and as their Leisure batteries are highly rated) or an Banner Energy Bull

Numax have always had a good write up on here and I am sure others will share their experiences with you

MMM did a test in the early summer and dissected some batteries, they mentioned the good brands (Energy Bull came out the best...110 AH - had a capacity of 122AH on the test and long warranty.......they did not mention the not so good other than to say a well known 100AH with a 5 yr Gtee had only 56Ah capacity.. and they had tested 2 examples of each make too for comparisons sake

Looking inside some of the cases they were only 1/2 filled with plates, some had "stuffing" in them, so not good on the industry....and some were top known brands too....

hope that helps.....

Excellent and useful post Mike. Hmmmm - I hope the 5yr guarantee one wasn't an Elecsol

If the Yuasa is a starter type battery, are you not worried in case it suffers a deep discharge (which they say SBs don't like). What decided you not to go for the Energy Bull, as that performance sounds great.

[dvisor]

Hi All,
I am looking to install a leisure battery in my 96 Bongo. Any tips/advice on good batteries etc?

I'm thinking I will fit an Elecsol next time I replace. They seem to be better at coping with higher current drain without dropping voltage. Have a search on here for more chat about them, or PM Ron Miel, who has one and can explain its virtues to you.

Oh and a guy call Willinton does a battery tray and wiring harness kit and sells from time to time on ebay. Quality stuff and easy to fit as it has instructions etc.

I'm not so convinced by the Elecsol. It's physically nice and small for the capacity, unlike my previous battery which I always felt was in danger of shorting on the bonnet; and it has proved useful as an emergency starter battery (this battery is pretty much dual purpose). But, it doesn't seem to have as high a voltage reading as normal batteries when fully charged. I don't pretend to know much about this at all, but I think it is normal for this type of battery to have a lower reading, and I don't think I have a faulty battery. The problem comes when you have a compressor fridge which cuts out when the voltage gets below a certain level (to stop the battery draining completely). In my case the elecsol reaches that stage earlier. Voltage drop over the long cable to the back doesn't help (but I have upgraded the cabling anyway). Like I say, I'm not very knowledgeable on this, but I have my reservations based on my own experience. (I've also heard that after sales is pretty bad, but no personal experience of it).

[scanner]

(I've also heard that after sales is pretty bad, but no personal experience of it).

Judge for yourself from this
http://www.motorhomefacts.com/ftopict-9 ... re+battery

[mikeonb4c]

Hi All,
I am looking to install a leisure battery in my 96 Bongo. Any tips/advice on good batteries etc?

I'm thinking I will fit an Elecsol next time I replace. They seem to be better at coping with higher current drain without dropping voltage. Have a search on here for more chat about them, or PM Ron Miel, who has one and can explain its virtues to you.

Oh and a guy call Willinton does a battery tray and wiring harness kit and sells from time to time on ebay. Quality stuff and easy to fit as it has instructions etc.

I'm not so convinced by the Elecsol. It's physically nice and small for the capacity, unlike my previous battery which I always felt was in danger of shorting on the bonnet; and it has proved useful as an emergency starter battery (this battery is pretty much dual purpose). But, it doesn't seem to have as high a voltage reading as normal batteries when fully charged. I don't pretend to know much about this at all, but I think it is normal for this type of battery to have a lower reading, and I don't think I have a faulty battery. The problem comes when you have a compressor fridge which cuts out when the voltage gets below a certain level (to stop the battery draining completely). In my case the elecsol reaches that stage earlier. Voltage drop over the long cable to the back doesn't help (but I have upgraded the cabling anyway). Like I say, I'm not very knowledgeable on this, but I have my reservations based on my own experience. (I've also heard that after sales is pretty bad, but no personal experience of it).

Useful post and it sounds like Mike's advice is best to heed then if there are doubts about Elecsol.

[Alison01326]

(I've also heard that after sales is pretty bad, but no personal experience of it).

Judge for yourself from this
http://www.motorhomefacts.com/ftopict-9 ... re+battery

That link is for subscribers only

I've had my Elecsol for about eighteen months and run a compressor cooler and a diesel heater off it (amongst a few other little bits and bobs) and haven't had any issues with it to date.

[mikexgough]

There is a thread Here that gives some battery sizes for the Willinton tray.....later in the thread

I have a 110Ah, now 2 years old Wetline Brand, but still as good as ever (came with a 2 year warranty) next time, whenever that is, mine is going to be changed(it's in a Willinton Tray) for a Yuasa 115 AH(The Yuasa starter battery I got last year is brilliant and as their Leisure batteries are highly rated) or an Banner Energy Bull

Numax have always had a good write up on here and I am sure others will share their experiences with you

MMM did a test in the early summer and dissected some batteries, they mentioned the good brands (Energy Bull came out the best...110 AH - had a capacity of 122AH on the test and long warranty.......they did not mention the not so good other than to say a well known 100AH with a 5 yr Gtee had only 56Ah capacity.. and they had tested 2 examples of each make too for comparisons sake

Looking inside some of the cases they were only 1/2 filled with plates, some had "stuffing" in them, so not good on the industry....and some were top known brands too....

hope that helps.....

Excellent and useful post Mike. Hmmmm - I hope the 5yr guarantee one wasn't an Elecsol

If the Yuasa is a starter type battery, are you not worried in case it suffers a deep discharge (which they say SBs don't like). What decided you not to go for the Energy Bull, as that performance sounds great.

The Yuasa I am considering is the Leisureline one a full Leisure battery 115 Ah......or the Energy Bull....
Needless to say MMM did not say the poor performing battery was an Elecsol but I guess it is safe to assume by the 100Ah and 5 year Gtee that it was....... and with Scanner's link too....you have to wonder about the product.
Although on the other foot you have to ask what others think they are like and consider the consumption that different users require from their LB's.....

[westonwarrior]

willinton is the best choice for battery tray and wiring, as for batteries take a drive to Devan caravans or Highbridge as when I got mine I found they had leisure batterys almost as cheap as on line but if they is a problem its not so difficult to return.