Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: LWC on August 19, 2008, 07:42:46 am
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i know we've touched on this before, but does anyone run a 2 man setup off trheir van battery alone?
the viovaro has a lovely positioned battery underneath the passenger seat andi was thinking i could just run it off there?
in my last van i had a serperate battery with a split relay on it which never let me down. however this battery is bigger on this van than the partner
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Concept20 run their systems off the van battery - just need a new battery more often apparently.
LWC - how come your not LTD today?
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hes someone else on here who copied my name
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i have run a pump 4 different ways
1. Straight off a van battery
2. Straight off a dual battery pack
3. off of a second battery with a split relay
4. off of a second battery with a switch
what i found was running it off a van battery was fine for about 80% of my work but when we worked at a contract constant for anything over 4 hours it was a bit of a lottery if the van started as we would drain all the power.
I found the other 3 ways to be as reliable as each other. installing a second switch was the cheapest and easiest way. but means you need to remember to switch it off if the van is staionary for a long time as it will drain the main battery if the second battery needs a lot of charge.
the dual battery pack was very effective. i could run a 2 man system for 8 hours constant and still have enough charge to start the van afterwards ok and that was the same with the split relay as well. the only thing that makes me a little nervous with the split relay installation is taking a feed from the alternator. i had to get someone else to do that for me because i didn't want to mess things up!
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how does the second switch work?
new battery andconnecting it in the circuit with a switch so the van charges it aswell asthe other battery?
im not keenon a split realy onthe new van as you said takes a feed off alternator
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its in my vivaro as well LWC so all i've done is taken a feed off then main battery, run it from the battery tray under the van, drilled a hole in the back to where my second battery is, install a switch and fuse between. then run my pump off the second battery. just don't forget to turn the switch off though otherwise you might be buggered!! ;) we also carry round a jump pack in the back just in case it does happen so we are pretty full proof although never had to use it yet!. touch wood :D
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what size cable did you run from battery to the 2nd battery?
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look at this option all you need is a simple car relay
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We run 3 vans with twin set up straight from the van battery with no trouble at all, been this way since we started wfp
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We run 3 vans with twin set up straight from the van battery with no trouble at all, been this way since we started wfp
have you run your systems constant for a whole day Dave without starting the van at all? this is where my problem lies
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I think it has happened to us 3 times in 3 years, usually in cold weather when the van has had a lot of short trips, If we know we are going to be more then 4 hours we either park on a slope, or run the van for ten mins to give the battery a boost.
Never had to change a battery yet, the T4 battery is still going strong even after 2 years and that van takes the most hammer.
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Well when i said no trouble at all, i meant none worth mentioning lol
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that sounds like the trouble i had dave hence why i installed a switch. i found that i would get paranoid about the van not starting so would leave the engine running which wasn't effective at all incase someone nicked it!! ;D
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Hi Dave
down your way on saturday for a week with another window cleaning mate.If its not beach weather might give you a ring and come and have a chat if its ok
wayne
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Wayne
You got my number
Dave
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Always run my ONE man system from van battery with no probs. OE battery lasted 6 years & replaced it with the cheapest one i could find, 35 quid (60AH/AMP) which has been running 18 months & not failed once!
It would be wise to just buy one of those jump-start packs for about 40 quid & just keep it on van, no worries then. ;)
Tony