Suite Maxi extra leisure battery?

[GerryG]

Hi

We've recently bought a Chausson Suite Maxi and I am making some changes to allow it to be off grid most of the time.

We have the motorised bike rack in the garage and the battery storage is in-between the rails of the bike rack.

I was wondering if anyone had managed to fit a second leisure battery?

I'm assuming that another hole could be cut in the garage floor, but I'm worried about how that might affect the strength of it.

Does anyone have experience of either doing this themselves or having it done?

Thanks.

 

[phillipsheila]

You can fit one on the left when you open the locker door. I had a 100 amp battery in there

I ran the wires outside through the battery box then back in so only two small holes in the floor

 

[Jev88]

You could just relocate your leisure battery bank to somewhere better for you - space etc... Then just a case of extending cables, making sure batteries are vented to outside and for peace of mind placed in a tray to catch any spills should the worst happen (and secured to floor or wall to stop them moving).

I moved one battery from a tiny dedicated battery tray on one side of my old MH to under a vacant dinette seat on the other side of the van where two batteries fitted perfectly.

 

[GerryG]

You can fit one on the left when you open the locker door. I had a 100 amp battery in there
View attachment 633164
I ran the wires outside through the battery box then back in so only two small holes in the floor

I keep looking at that little space, it is useful for bike helmets and tools, but it may well make a good place for a second battery.

Did you put a battery tray in there?

 

[GerryG]

You could just relocate your leisure battery bank to somewhere better for you - space etc... Then just a case of extending cables, making sure batteries are vented to outside and for peace of mind placed in a tray to catch any spills should the worst happen (and secured to floor or wall to stop them moving).

I moved one battery from a tiny dedicated battery tray on one side of my old MH to under a vacant dinette seat on the other side of the van where two batteries fitted perfectly.

That's a good idea. I will have a look around to see if there is a place to put two together.

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[phillipsheila]

I keep looking at that little space, it is useful for bike helmets and tools, but it may well make a good place for a second battery.

Did you put a battery tray in there?

No tray but it was vented and strapped down

 

[GerryG]

OK. Finally got around to trying to take this job on. A couple more pointers needed, if anyone can help?

I have a second battery and have identified the space to put it, I just need a little help on wiring.

I have followed the wires out of the existing battery and as far as I can see the first place that they pop out is at a split relay box, so I have something that looks like this:

Main is the existing LB.

The positive battery cable (25mm) and a much thinner negative cable come from the main leisure battery to the relay.

Can I check my thinking, please?

I think that I want to end up with it like this:

But having looked at the diagramme on this page - Second leisure battery

It looks like I don't have to connect the negatives battery to battery? As long as they are grounded they will be OK?

It looks like a fuse 'in-line' between the two positives would be a good idea? I have not seen this recommended elsewhere.

Any suggestions gratefully recieved!