Buccaneer Caravel (1 Viewer)

[robrace]

The main battery on my Ford Transit based Caravel lives under the drivers seat as does another battery!I just found the front battery to be dud.It was a Vartex? leisure battery.I v'e replaced it with a identical battery but am confused as to it's purpose!!If I remove the inline fuse from the leisure battery under the dinette seat nothing works.Both the positive leads on the batteries under the seat go onto a small black ford box and if I put a meter they are are interconnected so is the front battery a second battery for the chassis /cab?and not a leisure battery after all although the one I took out was so marked.on my control panel I can switch between aux/veh..I never us the veh setting in case it runs the main battery down but is their some kind of failsafe device.Both my workshop manual and the Buccaneer one don't mention the purpose of the front battery.Anyone know?

 

[wasp]

The two batteries under the drivers seat are starter batteries one is bigger than the other you need to change them both cos the old one will drain the new one they are connected in series. I think they put two in because you cannot get one big enough to start the engine, that would fit under the seat, poor design by ford

 

[tonyidle]

The two batteries under the drivers seat are starter batteries one is bigger than the other you need to change them both cos the old one will drain the new one they are connected in series. I think they put two in because you cannot get one big enough to start the engine, that would fit under the seat, poor design by ford

In series??

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[daveandsan]

Had a drink so not sure but I think the big battery is the starter and the small one is a aux battery to run the alarm, radio and central locking. Don't think they are connected.

 

[tonyidle]

One way or another they have to be in parallel to be charged from the same alternator.

 

[robrace]

Thanks for replies.yes most logical answer is that they are both"starter batteries"Whats thrown me was the one I took out was a leisure battery and I've replaced it with the same.Perhaps the previous owner thought the front battery was a "leisure" one.As I've had the vehicle 5 years and had no starter problems I think I will leave it as it is unless a problem occurs!!Having had another look at workshop manual it does say some vehicles are fitted with a second battery

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[daveandsan]

Thanks for replies.yes most logical answer is that they are both"starter batteries"Whats thrown me was the one I took out was a leisure battery and I've replaced it with the same.Perhaps the previous owner thought the front battery was a "leisure" one.As I've had the vehicle 5 years and had no starter problems I think I will leave it as it is unless a problem occurs!!Having had another look at workshop manual it does say some vehicles are fitted with a second battery

If it is a Mk 7 the same as mine then no they are not both starter batteries. One is used exclusively as a starter battery and the other is used for electronics and ancillary equipment If you go on to a Ford Tranny website you can find out all about it.

 

[easygirl]

Daveandsan is spot on, one is a starter battery the other for the rest of the electrics in the cab

 

[jonandshell]

What they said!

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[robrace]

So there must be some method of the two batteries being split with only one being used for each operation!If I switch the control panel to VEH I assume the current will then be drawn from the front vehicle(leisure)battery!Hopefully without running the starter battery down.I don't normally do this as I have two leisure batteries under the dinette which appear to be able to supply all of our needs when off hook up!I am still confused as everything appeared to be still working ok even though the front battery was dud!