Leisure Battery advice (1 Viewer)

[Forestboy]

Thinking of adding another battery to my leisure batteries but not totally confident about wiring it correctly. I have 2 batteries one under each seat and plenty of room behind each seat to fit an extra battery in a compartment. My question is what is the correct way to wire the extra battery into the bank without doing any damage.
Thanks :thumb::thumb:

 

[peter marshall]

Hi
Posative to Posative, and Negative to Negative , + to + & - to -, inline fuse on the Pos if possible, I have done 3 without no prob, others like a fuse to be sure but the batteries have a inline fuse fitted already, you may also need a vent point if the additional Bat has a breather tube. Pete :thumb:

 

[Forestboy]

Thanks Pete :thumb: thats what I thought.

Just to clarify I only need to connect to one of the existing batteries not both. One would be easy both would be difficult as on opposite sides of van and don't want cables running everywhere.

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[Reallyretired]

One Battery is all you need to connect to. Make sure the fuse is appropriate for what you use though; don't use a 10A fuse if you run an inverter as it will just blow every time you use it. Unless the connecting lead is short then fit a suitable fuse in the positive line at both ends.

 

[Jim]

A Picture Rory

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[Forestboy]

Thats sorted then Thanks Guys:thumb::thumb:

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[mitzimad]

are both your existing batteries for the leisure side or is one the vehicle battery ? if so you have to connect the new battery to the leisure battery asuming thats the side you want the extra capacity

 

[hilldweller]

Broken Link Removed

But dangerously incomplete. All you have to imagine is any of that red line rubbing through the insulation to earth ( the blue line ). You could have in excess of 3000 amps flowing. That means a BIG BANG and/or fire.

So think fuses. Look at revised picture. If the red wire at point 2 was shorted to earth then current flows from two directions. From Batts 1+2+3 and from Batt 4. So you would need a fuse at point 1 and 3 to be safe. 50A would be a good guess.

 

[Forestboy]

are both your existing batteries for the leisure side or is one the vehicle battery ? if so you have to connect the new battery to the leisure battery asuming thats the side you want the extra capacity

Yes both batts are leisure

But dangerously incomplete. All you have to imagine is any of that red line rubbing through the insulation to earth ( the blue line ). You could have in excess of 3000 amps flowing. That means a BIG BANG and/or fire.

So think fuses. Look at revised picture. If the red wire at point 2 was shorted to earth then current flows from two directions. From Batts 1+2+3 and from Batt 4. So you would need a fuse at point 1 and 3 to be safe. 50A would be a good guess.

I was planning on fitting a 50amp fuse in the positive lead on the new connection, would that be correct?

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[TheBig1]

Yes both batts are leisure



I was planning on fitting a 50amp fuse in the positive lead on the new connection, would that be correct?

50amp sounds overkill for most applications. whatever you use, ensure that the weakest cable attached can take the current and fuse accordingly

 

[hilldweller]

I was planning on fitting a 50amp fuse in the positive lead on the new connection, would that be correct?

If in doubt fit one right next to each battery.

But if the wire is short and safe just fit one "just in case" something goes pear shaped within the battery.

 

[pappajohn]

Brian is correct of course, but if all the leads are long and wandering then put a fuse at both ends of ALL live/pos wires.

more work and expense but if ANY of the live leads touch earth and aren't fused then there's nothing to stop a possible fire situation from the unprotected end.

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[Forestboy]

Brian is correct of course, but if all the leads are long and wandering then put a fuse at both ends of ALL live/pos wires.

more work and expense but if ANY of the live leads touch earth and aren't fused then there's nothing to stop a possible fire situation from the unprotected end.

The leads will be about 3ft long as the batt will be directly behind passenger seat in a cupboard.

 

[haganap]

Rory,

Bring it to Chester, ill do it for ya

Its simple stuff, but as Brian points out,

I fuse every one, and ignore Jim's picture,,,,,,

You should never use them batteries, there crap

But, get yourself a good BM1 like in the picture, :thumb:

Ive got one and they are fascinating

Every time Jan turns a light on, you will be looking at it.