Leisure battery do i need one ?

[Penfold 63]

Just a quick thought I am converting a Renault trafic for my daughter , nothing fancy no fridge so all she needs are a couple of lights and 2 USB ports and a 12v socket. Obviously can use existing lights in the van as a starting point. Just seems a bit pointless buying new battery ,split charge,etc for which may be a couple of weeks a year .if if was a new van just do it but it's only a 3k .is it a false economy ? Cheers

 

[Richard n Ann]

When our leisure battery failed in Spain I wired the starter battery in and it got us home perfectly well just using the LED lights and phone charging sockets. So it's a yes from me

 

[Gromett]

It is always worth doing. If you stay in one spot for 2+ days for example and run the battery down enough that the van won't start you will immediately regret not having had a separate starter.
You don't need to pull a starter battery down too far for it to become problematic for some vans.

And as Richard n Ann says it can also be used as a starter battery in a pinch.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Fit her a cheap monitor though so she doesn't let the engine battery go flat. These are good..

<Broken link removed>

 

[Penfold 63]

Cheers for the reply, my own bilbo camper hasn't had a leisure battery in for 2 years and it's never been an issue but its 25 years old and the battery only has to deal with the lights and water pump so it's hardly stretched .just haven't replaced the battery. I will when we can use it again .

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[emjaiuk]

Simple question, do you want to run the risk of your daughter having a flat starter battery and possibly flat phone, miles from nowhere, for the sake of £100 or so? I wouldn't.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Simple question, do you want to run the risk of your daughter having a flat starter battery and possibly flat phone, miles from nowhere, for the sake of £100 or so? I wouldn't.

I wouldn't either, I'd also fit a solar panel, then an MPPT Dual controller is a must, PSW inverter for straightners, ehu with two pole changeover switch, and then of course it would be rude not to fit a NASA BM1 monitor, Just to keep an eye on everything

 

[Jamesh]

If your using the can regularly you could use a cheap and small motorcycle battery?

Ok you would still need a relay / vsr but not a big one as the battery won't draw like the large battery can do.

It would give you the evening juice you need before driving the next day.

Any pics would like to see a smaller conversion!

Cheers James

 

[Lenny HB]

If you were only ever stopping for one night and then driving a good distance the next day it would probably be OK.
If stopping for 2 or 3 nights you will definitely need a leisure battery.

 

[Penfold 63]

Ok fair enough just being lazy have fitted one now

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