Leisure battery as engine battery

Maximillionlar

Free Member
Sep 26, 2019
3
3
Funster No
64,758
MH
Auto trail Cheyenne
Exp
Newbie
Hello everyone.
We bought a 1999 Autotrail Cheyenne last year and haven’t really been anywhere thanks to the lovely virus!! Went to start engine yesterday and battery was flat. Got the RAC out. Under the battery where the engine battery should be was a Halfords 1100 leisure battery. It was definitely being used as engine starter as it was attached to starter motor and was also used for the inside electrics. He couldn’t test it because he couldn’t get it out and didn’t have the right kit. but suggested I buy they same battery. Everything I’ve read said you can’t use leisure for starting but he said it was fine if it’s been working up to now. Haven’t got a clue what to do!!! Any thought please???
 
All I can say is that leisure are not designed for starting vehicle, you could go on to Eurocarparts website and put in your reg and they will advise which battery or even ring Tayna batteries and they would advise you.
Plenty of advice to be had if you ring suppliers
 
You can certainly use a starter battery as a leisure battery but not the other way round. However many 'leisure' batteries are just rebadged starter batteries anyway so will work fine.
 
Unfortunately many so called leisure batteries seem to be just relabelled engine batteries. A proper leisure battery will be designed to withstand a long slow discharge and survive periods of remaining part discharged. It should be heavier than an engine battery having more substantial plates. Traditionally an engine battery is designed to deliver the very high amperage needed to start an engine but only for a very short periods. To do this it needs more plate surface area but the plates can be lighter and thinner, however it needs immediate recharging to avoid damage. I don’t doubt battery technology is moving on with Gel, AGM and stop start vehicles.
 
Last edited:
A Starter Battery should be capable of :-

Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)
CCA is a rating used in the battery industry to define a battery's ability to start an engine in cold temperatures. The rating refers to the number of amps a 12-volt battery can deliver at 0°F for 30 seconds while maintaining a voltage of at least 7.2 volts.

Not sure leisure batteries would last too long if used for starting.

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You need more than just a battery. The battery running the electrics in the habitation area should not be directly connected to your starter motor. The connection should be via a relay that only works when the engine is running.

Suggest you get a motorhome engineer to check your 12v wiring ASAP.
 
Hello everyone.
We bought a 1999 Autotrail Cheyenne last year and haven’t really been anywhere thanks to the lovely virus!! Went to start engine yesterday and battery was flat. Got the RAC out. Under the battery where the engine battery should be was a Halfords 1100 leisure battery. It was definitely being used as engine starter as it was attached to starter motor and was also used for the inside electrics. He couldn’t test it because he couldn’t get it out and didn’t have the right kit. but suggested I buy they same battery. Everything I’ve read said you can’t use leisure for starting but he said it was fine if it’s been working up to now. Haven’t got a clue what to do!!! Any thought please???
Do you have a separate leisure battery? Your comment that it "was used for the inside electrics" is puzzling.
 
Thanks for all your replies. I do have a separate leisure battery which the RAC man said was fine. I’m going to get a proper starter battery fitted. Thanks again

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