[matt]

my 85 amp leisure battery lasts me 3 or 4 days without charging

its then still 2/3 full, i never run it below that though

[dai]

For optimum battery life it should be recharged when it gives a meter reading of 12.05 volts. Dai

[pjulk]

This is the split charge relay i got.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12V-Split-Charge-Relay-Kit-Battery-Boat-Motorhome_W0QQitemZ280042576545QQihZ018QQcategoryZ76066QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item280042576545

I have been using it now for a couple of months and i have not had to charge the battery at all.
And i don't travel that many miles as most of my work is within 5 miles of my home.

Also really easy to install.

And comes with good instructions


Paul

[Mr. S]

Paul, what size battery are you using, mine is a 110amp, would i need a different relay?

[gaza]

Ive had a split relay fitted for 4 years, and Imm still on the same battery,but diff van.
its  nearly a must to use a leisure battery,its used to give out voltage in long periods,
a car battery gives short bursts of power all at once{like for starting your ccar/van]
        Once Ive used the leisure battery for starting my van whicch was a god send but frowned apon in the motor trade beccause its not aproppiate use of the battery.
 To cchage my splitter all I had do do was  wire the battery splitter leads red to red black to blacck,pass the ccable through the bulk head to the battery in the rear of the van but you maybe need some extra wire to reacch your battery [in the rear] jobs a goodun

  gaza
 just going on a all day bender with me mates   why do we do it :?

[Moderator David@stives]

I have been running off my van battery for over 12 months, my auto electrition told me i dont need a split charge relay because the pumps we use draw such a low ampage. 

I use 2 pumps going all day sometimes and still have no trouble starting

[gaza]

DAVE :14AMPS PER HR USAGE : X EST USAGE 6 HRS OF A 8 HR DAY  = 84 AMPS SO WHAT SIZE VAN BATTERY AV YOU GOT FITTED? 120 AMPS?

 GAZA

[Moderator David@stives]

80 amp hours , remember your pump is never in constant use and uses a lot less with a varistream fitted

[P®oPole™]

I have been running off my van battery for over 12 months, my auto electrition told me i dont need a split charge relay because the pumps we use draw such a low ampage. 

I use 2 pumps going all day sometimes and still have no trouble starting

Dave,

Thats what I was told mate, seems not to be the case tho doesnt it.

ProPole

[AuRavelling79]

80 amp hours , remember your pump is never in constant use and uses a lot less with a varistream fitted

And of course some charge will be going in when the engine is running (less the juice taken from start-ups)

[GRAHAM.K]

my pump has run from the van battery for years, 8 hours a day 5 days a week not one problem.

as for insurance any van with wfp system with a tank permanantly installed is considered to be a modified vehicle your normal insurance will not cover this.

if you just insured your van as an empty vehicle come claim time in the event of an accident you might find yourself up s**t creek.


also your gear is not covered. you need to use a specialist insurance company.

[Pat Purcell]

Could you fit your Van with a remote starter, then it could be running with no keys in the ignition so less chance of it being nicked and nice on those cold mornings to get into a warm van, or just work as normal and when you feel youve been at it for a while just press the button and start the engine from where your standing

[JM123]

we always recommend an 85Ah battery for single pump operations and a 110Ah battery for 2 pump operations as a MINIMUM.

Remember also that if you are using a split relay charger go for a high capacity charger and a higher capacity battery, you must remember that a split relay will divert charge to whichever battery needs it most - normally the van battery (diesel requires a huge amount of current to start - flowplugs and a high compression ratio mean the starter has to work really hard), so you'll find that the leisure battery will only start charging about 5 mins after the engine is switched on.

[neil100]

Graham not all insurance companys class a fitted tank in a van as a modification, Some do some dont.Both mine and My sons Insurance companys do not class the fitted tank as a modification. Though they are well aware that the vans have them fitted. I made absoultley sure the Insurance companys where aware of this.

So our vans are insured but the contents are not. So in the event of an accident we would hope that not to much damage would be done to the tank, Though we are aware you can take out a separte policy for van contents Ins.

Nel