[Jason Atwell]

I have always been mostly trad, just using a small di set up connected to customers taps for hard to reach windows.

I am currently aquiring the equipment i need for a set up in my mpv.

The question i have is what battery is recommended, i always here leisure batterys talked about?

What is the difference between the leisure battery and a car battery?

Is there more than one sort of leisure battery, i dont mean manufacturer, rather specification etc?

Also i have heard some one mention a battery tray, is this how you secure your battery?

Many thanks in advance

jason

[happywindowswales]

hya my names paul and i have used car baterys my self and they are ok but dont last as long as a leisher battry. if u buy them new they nornaly cum with a 2 year garentee whitch is also a good thing

kind regards paul

[RPCCS]

I think leisure batteries are more heavy duty than car batts as they are used in caravans motorhomes and boats.
You can get 1 from ur local caravan dealer's accesory shop for about £40

[jeff1]

leisure batteries are made to be deep cycled (discharged) unlike car batteries, if you deep discharge a car battery its chances of recovery are very slim against a leisure battery.

[Jason Atwell]

leisure batteries are made to be deep cycled (discharged) unlike car batteries, if you deep discharge a car battery its chances of recovery are very slim against a leisure battery.

But are'nt the leisure batteries linked up to your alternator to recharge so they are not discharging???

jason

[jeff1]

You can use a slit charge relay to recharge it along the way, but there only any good if you cover good milage between Jobs.
Or you can just take it out and recharge on the bench with a normal battery charger.

[Paul Coleman]

You can use a slit charge relay to recharge it along the way, but there only any good if you cover good milage between Jobs.
Or you can just take it out and recharge on the bench with a normal battery charger.

I've read this a number of times from various people about the mileage required for charging.  Personally, I've only found this to be an issue when the battery is getting old.  Sometimes on larger jobs I might need to run the engine for a while when I'm working or maybe just turn it over for a while if I stop for a break.  Today I've had it going for over three hours on one job with no problem and no need to run the engine - and a 70 amp battery at that.
Do you find that a split charge is OK on low mileages Jeff when the battery is relatively new?

[jeff1]

You can use a slit charge relay to recharge it along the way, but there only any good if you cover good milage between Jobs.
Or you can just take it out and recharge on the bench with a normal battery charger.

I've read this a number of times from various people about the mileage required for charging.  Personally, I've only found this to be an issue when the battery is getting old.  Sometimes on larger jobs I might need to run the engine for a while when I'm working or maybe just turn it over for a while if I stop for a break.  Today I've had it going for over three hours on one job with no problem and no need to run the engine - and a 70 amp battery at that.
Do you find that a split charge is OK on low mileages Jeff when the battery is relatively new?

Shiner, I don't and never would use a split charge relay because my mileage is far to low and I'm more than happy just chucking my battery in and out every day, my own battery is very old and with a complete recharge after every use, I can expect a few more years service out of it.

If you have a new battery with a SCR it will keep it topped up, but there will come a time when the SCR wont be able to cover the demand and its not until your half way through a Job you will discover the problem.

I don't fancy leaving my engine running while I finish a Job off, not in this day and age anyway, you have hundreds maybe thousands of pounds worth of gear in your van and for some undesirable to just hop in and drive off sends shivers down my spine.
Apart from the insurance implications

[Paul Coleman]

You can use a slit charge relay to recharge it along the way, but there only any good if you cover good milage between Jobs.
Or you can just take it out and recharge on the bench with a normal battery charger.

I've read this a number of times from various people about the mileage required for charging.  Personally, I've only found this to be an issue when the battery is getting old.  Sometimes on larger jobs I might need to run the engine for a while when I'm working or maybe just turn it over for a while if I stop for a break.  Today I've had it going for over three hours on one job with no problem and no need to run the engine - and a 70 amp battery at that.
Do you find that a split charge is OK on low mileages Jeff when the battery is relatively new?

Shiner, I don't and never would use a split charge relay because my mileage is far to low and I'm more than happy just chucking my battery in and out every day, my own battery is very old and with a complete recharge after every use, I can expect a few more years service out of it.

If you have a new battery with a SCR it will keep it topped up, but there will come a time when the SCR wont be able to cover the demand and its not until your half way through a Job you will discover the problem.

I don't fancy leaving my engine running while I finish a Job off, not in this day and age anyway, you have hundreds maybe thousands of pounds worth of gear in your van and for some undesirable to just hop in and drive off sends shivers down my spine.
Apart from the insurance implications

That's what I was wondering.  Probably explains why I don't yet have a battery problem.  My first one gave me a bit over two years before I started manually recharging it occasionally - even with SCR.  I am reluctant to run the engine while working too.  I am able to fully lock the vehicle while the engine runs (I take two keys with me) but it would only take a broken window to steal everything.  So when I do this, I try to be very selective about where I am (not always possible).

[steve.ternent]

I bought a leisure one for £60
I was told not to bother with a split relay!
I charge probably twice a week   

[RPCCS]

I bought a leisure one for £60
I was told not to bother with a split relay!
I charge probably twice a week   

same here

[AuRavelling79]

I've never used anything except a separate leisure and I charge it overnight every night. It's 135 amp and I've had it eighteen months so far - my 85 amp died at 2 years.

But I do an incredibly low mileage - my van is 20 months old and I'll hit 11,000 miles today or tomorrow. (10,991 when I closed the books for May yesterday)

I don't want a flat bettery or warranty issues with the van.

But it sits at the back of the van and is held in by a small ratchet strap. I just unclip, lift it and walk three paces to the side of the car port where my charger sits and I put on the crocodile clips.

[Paul Coleman]

I've never used anything except a separate leisure and I charge it overnight every night. It's 135 amp and I've had it eighteen months so far - my 85 amp died at 2 years.

But I do an incredibly low mileage - my van is 20 months old and I'll hit 11,000 miles today or tomorrow. (10,991 when I closed the books for May yesterday)

I don't want a flat bettery or warranty issues with the van.

But it sits at the back of the van and is held in by a small ratchet strap. I just unclip, lift it and walk three paces to the side of the car port where my charger sits and I put on the crocodile clips.

It's just as well the charger is so close to where you park considering you have a 135 amper.  I try to avoid removing and recharging as much as possible because it can be a hassle taking it up flights of steps to my flat.  If I had easier access to charging facilities, I would use a larger battery too.  I suppose it's about adapting the way we run our businesses to the resources we have available to us.

[dd]

I use 85 amp leisure battery, not too heavy to lift in and out.

Also always carry a spare to swap over if it gets low.

Use a scr but still have to take battery out regularly to recharge - do about 9k miles per anum, but running the van engine just to recharge battery would be a very expensive way to charge it.