How To Leisure Battery

by **Grizzly** Fri Mar 04 2011, 11:46

There are varying ways to fit a leisure battery but the most common is a split charge relay. It dual charges off you dynamo, alternator so you can safely discharge the leisure battery while keeping your starter battery at full charge.

What you need;

• Split Charge Relay rated at least 30 amps, don’t buy the ready wired type from my experience they don’t last.
• 2 x 30 amp fuse holders
• 2 x 25 amp fuses for above
• Fuse box
• 12v Battery (Minimum 85 amp hour the bigger the amps the better) I don’t personally use leisure batteries they need to much maintenance and need a lot of charging a heavy duty car battery does just as well.
• Battery box or bracket for securing battery.
• Battery Terminal (quick release type can be used)
• Suitable wiring, connectors, fuses, etc.

Please Note; If you are placing 25 amp fuses then you need higher rated wire i.e. 27 – 30 amp, if you use 30 amp fuses you need 32 – 35 amp wire, fuses must always be rated below the wire you use so they are the weak point. Make sure all your connectors, fuse holders, wire etc. are rated appropriately for the loads they are carrying otherwise you risk fire.

Most items can be sourced off ebay or local motor stores, but if you need help sourcing the bits get in touch.

What to do;

• First decide where you want to put everything, where your running the wiring, what your drilling through etc. Once your happy disconnect your starter battery.
• Fit your split charge relay, fuse box, leisure batter and battery box or bracket securely in position.
• Connect the negative leisure battery terminal to a chassis earth point on the vehicle.
• Connect terminal 85 of the split charge relay to the same chassis earth point as above on the vehicle.
• Connect the positive leisure battery terminal to terminal 87 on the split charge relay inserting the 30 amp fuse holder close to the battery terminal.
• Connect the positive starter battery terminal to terminal 30 on the split charge relay inserting the 30 amp fuse holder close to the battery terminal.
• Connect terminal 86 to your alternator / dynamo warning light.
• Connect the positive of the leisure battery terminal.
• Double check everything is secure fastened and tight and insert the 25 amp fuses in the 30 amp fuse holders.
• It is all ready to go and next time you start your ignition both batteries will be charged. You can check by putting a voltmeter on your leisure battery positive terminal and measuring the voltage with the ignition off around 12.7 volts now start your engine and measuring again there should be about 13+ volts. if you have a dynamo remember you will need to rev the engine first.

Diagram updated 2012 . . .

How To Leisure Battery 4563743954