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leisure battery connections

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leisure battery connections

Postby john gardener » Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:01 pm

hi all, im looking at putting a 2nd battery under the bonnet.it seems to be ok to connect the possitive from the 1st battery to the 2nd batteries possitive,then ground the the negative to the body or engine.
the question is.... how do you get 2 large diameter cables into 1 battery connector,or is there a diffrent type of connection required ?,
also,is the above an ok way to do this. many thanks john
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Re: leisure battery connections

Postby pippin » Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:27 pm

What you are suggesting is really only doubling up the engine battery.
If you run one flat then you run them both flat as they are in parallel.

A leisure battery is built differently to an engine battery and needs to be connected via a split charge relay system.

That way you can run the leisure battery down but will still be able to start the engine.

Dig deeper via the forum "SEARCH" system and you will find info on how to do it.
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Re: leisure battery connections

Postby john gardener » Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:32 pm

cheers,i'll have another look,thanks john
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Re: leisure battery connections

Postby john gardener » Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:02 pm

hi,had a look at the search,and it seems ive used the term leisure battery wrongly,all im after is getting extra cranking power for starting the engine.
i use a genny while im away for my power source.
so how do i get 2 fat wires into the 1st batteries connectors,and is what i said in my 1st post ok and safe,thanks john
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Re: leisure battery connections

Postby trigger » Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:42 am

I believe the 2nd battery is wired to the starter and earthed to the body but basically they are in parallel but not simply daisy chained together.
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Re: leisure battery connections

Postby john gardener » Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:19 pm

hi,ive had another look at the search ,and it seems some have daisey chained them together,poz to poz and either neg to neg or neg to engine block.i know its getting warmer but would still like the extra cranking power of the 2nd battery,thanks john
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Re: leisure battery connections

Postby aln101tf » Sat Apr 04, 2009 12:47 am

john gardener wrote:hi,had a look at the search,and it seems ive used the term leisure battery wrongly,all im after is getting extra cranking power for starting the engine.
i use a genny while im away for my power source.
so how do i get 2 fat wires into the 1st batteries connectors,and is what i said in my 1st post ok and safe,thanks john

The battery terminals with the two screws to grip the wire usually have enough room to squeeze two cables in (generally from opposite sides though) unless you're using very thick cable.
Alternatively, battery terminal post clamps are available with a short vertical threaded stud and wingnut, which you can attach "eye" terminals to. Quite common in marine installations.
If you just parallel two batteries, remember they MUST be identical, otherwise they will "fight" with each other.
Much better to keep them separated with a splitting diode (or similar) for charging, and use a switch or solenoid to join them when needed (like a jump start).
Cant you make room for one bigger battery :) .
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Re: leisure battery connections

Postby Mad Lensman » Sun Apr 05, 2009 11:01 am

Ang on....

I'm confussed here...!

2 x 12v Batteries Daisy chained gives stronger 12v at the starter....

But....

2 x 12v in Parallel - Surely that's 24v output? Or has my brain just fried? :? (probably the later... it hurts!)

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Re: leisure battery connections

Postby Guy88 » Sun Apr 05, 2009 11:54 am

if there wired in series they give 24v and need to be the same

If there parrallel i.e +to+ - to - they give 12v but higher amps and can be different as long as there both good
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Re: leisure battery connections

Postby Mad Lensman » Sun Apr 05, 2009 2:44 pm

Ah...

So my addled noggin had it ar$e upward as normal eh? Ha Ha!!!!

Ta for that Guy - Answered yet another little Q I had with regard to my own electrical woes...!

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