New battery needed, stuck in a camping in France

[barbapapa]

Hi all, I am new here. We got ourselves a bongo recently from second hand. Worked great so far as we crossed the UK from Scotland to Portsmouth. Then from Cherbourg to Quimper. Unfortunately, two days ago the battery got flat. I though it could be the children playing with the electronic and letting them on but this did not make much sense as the bongo beep when such electronic are left on. Anyway got the bongo running again via someone else battery.

But then today, battery flat again. I suppose it means the battery is dead and I need a new one. Since I am in France I am not sure what/where should I get.

From what I read on the forum, the Bosch S4 is recommended. Is that one compatible (S4 028) : https://m.ebay.fr/itm/S4-028-Bosch-Batt ... SwHPNbEBqu

Any other specific model to look for?

What are the criteria I need to look for?
Wattage?
Size?
Other?

Thanks

[Bob]

Hi

Welcome the forum.

The Bongo will not warn you if the children have run the battery down by using electronic games and such like, so it is quite possible they have just run the battery flat again.

You really need to put a test meter on the battery before you replace it.

Can you charge it from mains? Possibly remove it from the vehicle and put a charger on it?

If not I would suggest another jump start and drive to a garage or battery supplier to have it tested and replace if neccessary, but I would not order a new one without testing the old one first.

Good luck.

[barbapapa]

Thanks Bob. By electronic what I meant was the bongo lights mostly and none of them were on but they were activated when I turned the keys.
I also had my GPS plugged in but not on. Not sure if the power is drained anyway that way?

The second time though, only the wipers and direction lights were activated (but not on). So I don't know what could have drained the battery if it is not dead.

But you right, I should check the battery first.

Thanks again

[Bob]

Bongo only warns of lights left on when the door is open.

Equipment left plugged in may well cause drain so certainly check battery first.

[Markas]

Thanks Bob. By electronic what I meant was the bongo lights mostly and none of them were on but they were activated when I turned the keys.
I also had my GPS plugged in but not on. Not sure if the power is drained anyway that way?

The second time though, only the wipers and direction lights were activated (but not on). So I don't know what could have drained the battery if it is not dead.

But you right, I should check the battery first.

Thanks again

Hi Barbapapa, all electronic devices will drain the battery if they stay connected. Also, have you been using the interior lights? Unless converted to LED they will be another rapid source of battery drain. Wipers and indicators use a relatively small amount of current so will probably work after there is insufficient charge to start the van.
If you're planning to use your Bongo as a camper -which it sounds as if you are - I would swap all the charging sockets, audio/visual systems and lights onto a leisure battery as soon as possible. That way if they run the battery down, you are not hitting the starter battery.

[barbapapa]

Thanks all for the comments.

Got a friend mechanist look at the bongo and it is definitely the battery to be replaced.

Is the model linked above compatible?

Else what are the exact spec I need to look for when buying a new battery?

Dimensions?
Power?
...?

Thanks

[wonkanoby]

its what ihad in my diesel,but should fit any bongo

[barbapapa]

I also have a diesel from 99

Is your battery also the 4028 model?
I saw mention of the 4008 one and just want to make sure the 4028 works fine

Thanks

[barbapapa]

The current model I have in the Bongo is the
VARTA
D47
560 410 054
540
Blues dynamic

Not sure what some of these number means, where could I find dimensions?

[g8dhe]

The battery you linked to above is suitable for the Bongo.

[barbapapa]

What this means to me at least is that a 60Ah should work too.

Like https://m.ebay.fr/itm/BATTERIE-AUTO-VOI ... Sw9N5bGVxH

Or https://m.ebay.fr/itm/Batterie-voiture- ... Swll1W1Geq

Though they do not look exactly as the one I currently have in my bongo.

[barbapapa]

Thanks g8dhe

Is that a lot better to get a 95Ah as opposed to a 60Ah?

[Bob]

60ah Is well below spec for a diesel, this may well be a big part of your problem if that's what you have fitted.

95 ah Would be right.

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/bosch/s4028/

[barbapapa]

Is that the same for the leisure battery? Should I get a 95Ah too at some point?

[barbapapa]

Ok, I see that the 95Ah is 306mm length but the one currently fitted is 232mm

I see there are spaces on left and right that should be just enough for the extra length but I also see there some plastic tray under the battery that would not be able to fit under the 306mm one.

That's a bit weird to me. Like the previous owner did not put the correct battery and add to add the plastic tray underneath to block it from moving.

Can someone confirm the non existence of such plastic tray when using 95Ah batteries?

Thanks