[LWC]

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

[ftp]

Concept20 run their systems off the van battery - just need a new battery more often apparently.


LWC - how come your not LTD today?

[LWC]

hes someone else on here who copied my name

[Steve CM]

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!

[LWC]

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

[Steve CM]

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

[JSMC]

what size cable did you run from battery to the 2nd battery?

[darragh windows]

look at this option all you need is a simple car relay

[Moderator David@stives]

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

[Steve CM]

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

[Moderator David@stives]

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.

[Moderator David@stives]

Well when i said no trouble at all, i meant none worth mentioning lol

[Steve CM]

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!!

[jakeandmia]

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

[Moderator David@stives]

Wayne

You got my number

Dave

[macmac]

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