Replacing the 2 Ford batteries with one

[Davinci444]

Hello,

We own a Ford Transit 2012 camper (Rimor).
We have 2 batteries, a start battery and a aux battery standard from Ford.

Besides that we have a big 250Ah deep cycle AGM battery for the camper.
We would like to remove the Ford AUX battery and connect the things that are feeding on that battery to our 250Ah AGM battery.

It will give us ± 18kg weight gain.

Is that possible? Can we just remove that battery, and connect the leads to our AGM battery that sits under the passenger seat.

[loot]

Not sure i would tbh, if you have smart charge system it may go crazy, and would the alternator cope?
Do you just want to connect to the 250 battery from the front battery terminals and keep the split charge system and all standard functions the same?
Usually we advise to keep both original batteries the same size and type, then to add the extra leisure battery via relays etc.

[v8dave]

Go to www.etis.ford.com and download the BEMM - it will tell you all about putting an extra battery into the van.

As Loot says, if you have smart charge or stop/start then changes to the batteries could have odd effects.

Can't see that the 18kg weight saving is worth it, that's 1/4 of a tank of fuel or a proper case of beer. If you that close to overloaded you need to seriously look at what your carrying.

[ake]

I actually added the aux battery to my Chausson motor home, it starts much better, especially after an idle period. Personaly I think you'd be mad to change from the set up you have, if you are off grid for any length of time, and flatten your leisure battery you might not have enough power to power up the ignition, to allow the relay to connect the starter battery
Also with the Ford set up, both batteries are linked at startup, so the the full capacity can be used to start the engine, this means both batteries should be starter batteries. Using a leisure battery as a starter battery won't do it any good whatso ever

[knighty1981]

I've read before that both batteries are linked on startup anyway... but I haven't seen a relay big enough to do that anywhere on my van ?


I joined both my batteries together before I started using the van... lots of start stop driving, so figured it was the best way...

[v8dave]

I've read before that both batteries are linked on startup anyway... but I haven't seen a relay big enough to do that anywhere on my van ?


I joined both my batteries together before I started using the van... lots of start stop driving, so figured it was the best way...

On a mk7 the relay is in the battery fuse box under the drivers seat, it's rated at 450 amps from memory.
Single battery vehicles have a link strap in place of the relay.

[Hallii]

My '07 Motorhome only has the one vehicle battery. I have two leisure batteries and it all works as it should.
So it can be done.

Geoff

[75psT330lwb]

My '07 Motorhome only has the one vehicle battery. I have two leisure batteries and it all works as it should.
So it can be done.

Geoff

No. That doesnt mean u have a dual battery setup. that means u have a single battery setup + 2 leisure batteries.

[knighty1981]

On a mk7 the relay is in the battery fuse box under the drivers seat, it's rated at 450 amps from memory.
Single battery vehicles have a link strap in place of the relay.

ahhh, I looked but didn't see it

in that case I might as well remove my joining strap then... might save me one day if I occidentally leave the lights on etc..

[ake]

On a mk7 the relay is in the battery fuse box under the drivers seat, it's rated at 450 amps from memory.
Single battery vehicles have a link strap in place of the relay.

ahhh, I looked but didn't see it

in that case I might as well remove my joining strap then... might save me one day if I occidentally leave the lights on etc..

Listen for the loud click from under the seat when you turn the key on