Standard Ford Radio CD

[isaune]

Hi Chaps

I've got a year 2000 LWB 2.5D Hi-top camper conversion with most electrics in the camper section running off 3 leisure batteries in parallel at the back.

When hooked up to electricity the 3 batteries are kept topped up and the tv, coolbox, chargers etc run from the sockets in the back.

All quite straightforward - EXCEPT - the radio CD on the dashboard still runs off the starter battery under the bonnet.

I've got two questions:-

1) I have always believed car radios draw very little power from a battery and, with this in mind, whilst I am camping over the weekend, I would have thought that having the radio on for, say, 6 hours without the engine running would be ok? What do you think? Views please.

2) Secondly, interestingly, I notice there are 2 batteries under the bonnet. One on the left and one on the right. Unfortunately, I am not clever enough to figure out exactly HOW or WHY they are there - whether one or other or both of them power the ignition. Or maybe one was used when it was a "working" van in an earlier life. Certainly, they both get charged when the engine is running. So I am thinking, therefore, I probably have even less to worry about when running the radio whilst camping, given I have 2 batteries at the front to play with? But here again, I would welcome your thoughts.

Thanks Chaps

Ian

[MinorMatt]

A radio doesn't take a lot of power - I'm not sure exactly how much but you should be ok.

Ford fitted twin batteries to a number of vans at the factory (mine had them) as an optional extra. They are also standard fitment on all mk5 automatics.

[isaune]

Ford fitted twin batteries to a number of vans at the factory (mine had them) as an optional extra. They are also standard fitment on all mk5 automatics.

Thanks Matt.

What was the original point of the extra battery, do you know?

Was it just to give more oooomff when starting or something else they had in mind?

[ake]

Ford fitted twin batteries to a number of vans at the factory (mine had them) as an optional extra. They are also standard fitment on all mk5 automatics.

Thanks Matt.

What was the original point of the extra battery, do you know?

Was it just to give more oooomff when starting or something else they had in mind?

Because you can't bump start an auto!

[MinorMatt]

Yeah but they fitted them to manuals too Ake

It was customer preference - presumably for a bit more go when starting, those who were stopping and starting regularly, and for those who wanted to leave lights etc on when parked up

[isaune]

I wonder if there may be some sort of switch relay meaning that only one of the batteries is live when the engine is switched off?

I think I will go home and experiment.

Disconnect 1 and see if the radio still works?

Disconnect 2 and see if the radio still works?

If it works with 1 but not the other then we will know and I will be able to use the radio when camping without worries.

[ake]

I wonder if there may be some sort of switch relay meaning that only one of the batteries is live when the engine is switched off?

I think I will go home and experiment.

Disconnect 1 and see if the radio still works?

Disconnect 2 and see if the radio still works?

If it works with 1 but not the other then we will know and I will be able to use the radio when camping without worries.

The standard setup had both batteries connected together full time with no disconnection

[dumper]

Why not rewire your radio to the leisure battery's or as I have done in my put a radio
In the locker above my bed so I can use it at night without getting out of bed