Where to put a leisure battery

Shakes · 2020-10-16 23:55:29

Where have folks fitted their leisure batteries in the mk1?

I was planning to fit one in the space under the middle passenger seat, but thinking about the need for ventilation and/or a proper battery compartment, I'm now thinking about putting it on the flat platform just ahead of the driver's side rear wheelarch and boxing it in, sealed to the inside but with an external vent for safety.

Any advice most welcome

vaz2121 · 2020-10-17 06:55:49

Shakes wrote:

Where have folks fitted their leisure batteries in the mk1?
I was planning to fit one in the space under the middle passenger seat, but thinking about the need for ventilation and/or a proper battery compartment, I'm now thinking about putting it on the flat platform just ahead of the driver's side rear wheelarch and boxing it in, sealed to the inside but with an external vent for safety.
Any advice most welcome

The flat platform in front of O/S Rear wheel arch is where mine is.....
I found the side spar that runs along the van to create a height fitment issue (I think it's the track for side door) when I killed original leisure battery and had to find a suitable replacement........
other than it was a PITA to gain access in & out & refit under small flap in bottom of "Wardrobe" where along with lots of wires it's boxed in ETC was brand new.........

After all in my case that's where all the charge cabling ETC ran to and from for that side of van electrics........

Last edited by vaz2121 (2020-10-17 06:57:31)

Shakes · 2020-10-17 08:25:03

Can I ask what sort of battery you've got Vaz ? Do you have any holes cut in the side as vents ?

tee_cee · 2020-10-17 10:36:06

Shakes wrote:

Where have folks fitted their leisure batteries in the mk1?
I was planning to fit one in the space under the middle passenger seat, but thinking about the need for ventilation and/or a proper battery compartment, I'm now thinking about putting it on the flat platform just ahead of the driver's side rear wheelarch and boxing it in, sealed to the inside but with an external vent for safety.
Any advice most welcome

I manged to get one into the engine bay

vaz2121 · 2020-10-17 14:49:42

Shakes wrote:

Can I ask what sort of battery you've got Vaz ? Do you have any holes cut in the side as vents ?

The original battery was out a mobility scooter and worked out at a surprising 75Ah...

The replacement that I got to fit space was couple mm's taller and from memorey was a leisure battery 90Ah......
The original was heavier than the replacement ..........
Which I was told years ago was a sign of a good quality battery ....... No idea if true or an old wives tale but if it's got more lead in plates it'll be heavier........

I just used the little window washer type hose that was connected to a sort of red right angle plastic pipe thing the hose bit went through a little hole to outside and I just reused it........

So No vents cut into van ..........

tee_cee's battery under bonnet location is a good idea as use any kind ........ it's already vented

Although either's not massive sized battery we've never had a problem but then we've never stopped for more than a couple days in one place and we don't use it for a TV etc.........
In fact phones on charge over night a lights (mix of LED's & Flouresent tube .......mostly Use the LED now) and that's it

Last edited by vaz2121 (2020-10-17 14:51:18)

Shakes · 2020-10-18 00:45:21

Tee Cee I know who to call next time I need a sink plumbing in....?

tee_cee · 2020-10-18 17:33:07

Shakes wrote:

Tee Cee I know who to call next time I need a sink plumbing in....?

Yes, of course.
I quite like to re-use whatever stuff is around me at the time.

Shakes · 2020-10-18 21:33:49

I like the idea of under-the-bonnet. Aside from having to reroute the screenwash pipe, did you have to move anything else? Did you have to make some kind of bracket to hold the battery in place? It's a very neat job.

tee_cee · 2020-10-19 20:09:41

Shakes wrote:

I like the idea of under-the-bonnet. Aside from having to reroute the screenwash pipe, did you have to move anything else? Did you have to make some kind of bracket to hold the battery in place? It's a very neat job.

Thanks, heres the detail
http://blue-van.blogspot.com/2015/02/le … y.html?m=1

Just make sure you have a wiring route into the interior

Tranzformer · 2021-02-02 22:08:13

@Shakes

Great question as I am at that stage

@tee_cee

What are the dimensions of your battery please? As I am thinking of purchasing the NCC rated Exide ER550 115Ah leisure battery: L 345mm, W 175mm H 235mm.

Tranzformer · 2021-02-02 22:20:04

@tee_cee
Ah I just seen your blogg with the dimensions. Great job!

kenbw2 · 2021-02-02 22:28:10

I recently upgraded to a LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) leisure battery for the better performance and significantly higher number of cycles: https://www.batterymasters.co.uk/lithiu … luded.html

I got it to juuuuuust about squeeze in next to the starter battery

Last edited by kenbw2 (2021-02-02 22:29:05)

Tranzformer · 2021-02-02 23:03:34

Very nice.

Is the LiFePO4 battery compatible with a split charge relay?

kenbw2 · 2021-02-02 23:08:51

Yea it's a drop in replacement - I just feed it the charge from the alternator via a relay

Tranzformer · 2021-02-02 23:30:36

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Split-Charge … 890.l49292

Would that be suitable to use with it?

kenbw2 · 2021-02-02 23:34:41

Yea I just treat it the same as a lead acid. I don't know that that's true for all LiFePO4+BMSs, but I know mine is meant to be a drop in

That said, I neveer understand why I'd need one of those £60 relays - I just use this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maypole-2883-A … 003H5A2VW/

I have a 20A fuse on my wire between the two batteries, never had it blow so it can't be pulling that much current

Last edited by kenbw2 (2021-02-02 23:38:02)

Tranzformer · 2021-02-02 23:44:54

Cheers for the info.

Casper · 2021-02-03 00:01:07

I had a 30A split charge also what worked great. Think it was just the speed of the charge was that main difference but i was driving a few hours so battery got its charge just fine. When i ditched the Expert for my last convoy i used it again and worked fine with two leisure batteries also (200ah) I only got a larger one when i went to three 110ah battery's. Probably still overkill as no fridge but a 12v coolbox. As for battery's i need more and just buying three 110ah Superbatt budget ones if i only get the three years out them then hey ho. 70 quid a year for power you cant complain. They will also be getting topped up with 400w solar panels so i think i may just eek out that three year warranty.

kenbw2 · 2021-02-03 00:22:25

Yea £70 a year I'd be happy with. My battery gets cycled every day so was only lasting 6 months neutral

Casper · 2021-02-03 01:13:27

kenbw2 wrote:

Yea £70 a year I'd be happy with. My battery gets cycled every day so was only lasting 6 months

Was it not you that got the flexi solar, that not helping any?

kenbw2 · 2021-02-03 15:35:51

Yea the solar helps loads to recharge but my power consumption is still high so it still gets cycled every day.

That said, solar is great in better weather, less helpful on a winter day like today. Topped out at about 15W coming in earlier, currently only 1W neutral

Last edited by kenbw2 (2021-02-03 15:37:36)

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#1 2020-10-16 23:55:29

Where to put a leisure battery

#2 2020-10-17 06:55:49

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

#3 2020-10-17 08:25:03

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

#4 2020-10-17 10:36:06

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

#5 2020-10-17 14:49:42

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

#6 2020-10-18 00:45:21

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

#7 2020-10-18 17:33:07

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

#8 2020-10-18 21:33:49

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

#9 2020-10-19 20:09:41

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

#10 2021-02-02 22:08:13

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

#11 2021-02-02 22:20:04

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

#12 2021-02-02 22:28:10

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

#13 2021-02-02 23:03:34

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

#14 2021-02-02 23:08:51

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

#15 2021-02-02 23:30:36

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

#16 2021-02-02 23:34:41

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

#17 2021-02-02 23:44:54

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

#18 2021-02-03 00:01:07

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

#19 2021-02-03 00:22:25

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

#20 2021-02-03 01:13:27

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

#21 2021-02-03 15:35:51

Re: Where to put a leisure battery

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