Dual battery setup.....

[GaryGavlaar]

Thinking if getting 2 of these......

https://batterystore.co.uk/leoch-sfl-85dt-leisure-battery.

.....as they fit the bill for using the available space under the passenger seat of my fiat Ducato.

Is there anything special needed to be able to wire two batteries up together, or is it ok to use any batteries?

I understand its best to buy them as a pair which is why I'm looking at replacing my 70ah that I have already rather than matching that with an identical battery.

I'm sticking with lead acid as I have an old zig charger setup in the electrics of the bessacar motorhome they are part of, which i don't think can be changed as far as charging profiles go.

Has anyone used this website before? They seem cheap.

 

[Lenny HB]

At that price I wouldn't have much faith in them better to go for a branded battery.

If your Zig is one of the older ones that only puts out 13.8v they kill batteries in a couple of years. It would be money well spent to replace with a multi stage charger.

 

[poppycamper]

At that price I wouldn't have much faith in them better to go for a branded battery.

If your Zig is one of the older ones that only puts out 13.8v they kill batteries in a couple of years. It would be money well spent to replace with a multi stage charger.

I thought "Leoch" was a well known branded battery!

 

[GaryGavlaar]

I thought "Leoch" was a well known branded battery!

Me to

 

[GaryGavlaar]

At that price I wouldn't have much faith in them better to go for a branded battery.

If your Zig is one of the older ones that only puts out 13.8v they kill batteries in a couple of years. It would be money well spent to replace with a multi stage charger.

I did ask about this in another post which didn't gain any traction. Do you have any recommendations on a more modern charger that could replace a zig x80?

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[Lenny HB]

I did ask about this in another post which didn't gain any traction. Do you have any recommendations on a more modern charger that could replace a zig x80?

You only need to replace the charger not the whole unit something like a Victron IP 22.

 

[GaryGavlaar]

You only need to replace the charger not the whole unit something like a Victron IP 22.

Will it work exactly as the one in works now, with all the normal motorhome functionality. I keep seeing the zigs touted as a charger and power supply. Will there be any issue with functionality like split charging or fridge running functionality when driving etc....

 

[Lenny HB]

You should be able to pull the mains fuse on the zig so the charger doesn't function that should leave all the 12v side working.

 

[GeoffnDee]

www.apuljackelectronics.co.uk supply multi stage chargers that can replace your Zig unit and have electrical adapters to enable a straightforward change.

 

[GaryGavlaar]

www.apuljackelectronics.co.uk supply multi stage chargers that can replace your Zig unit and have electrical adapters to enable a straightforward change.

I'll check them out. Cheers.

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[Marie-Claire]

Leoch are fitted new by adria, I've just taken one out of my 2019 sonic , replaced with lithium not because the battery failed in any way

 

[autorouter]

Will there be any issue with functionality like split charging or fridge running functionality when driving etc....

As @LennyHB says. The issues of split charging and fridge 12V power are not related to the mains EHU charger. These issues only arise if you are fitting a B2B charger, which is a 12V DC-DC charger that charges the leisure batteries from the alternator while driving.

 

[GaryGavlaar]

As @LennyHB says. The issues of split charging and fridge 12V power are not related to the mains EHU charger. These issues only arise if you are fitting a B2B charger, which is a 12V DC-DC charger that charges the leisure batteries from the alternator while driving.

I just see the zig is classed as a battery charger AND power supply, which you don't see that same terminology used on the modern chargers so was just hoping I didn't mess with the motorhomes factory functionality.

Can I remove the zig all together, and just plum the new modern charger in in it's place?

 

[autorouter]

I just see the zig is classed as a battery charger AND power supply, which you don't see that same terminology used on the modern chargers so was just hoping I didn't mess with the motorhomes factory functionality.

Can I remove the zig all together, and just plum the new modern charger in in it's place?

The Zig charger is a fixed 13.8V supply. It functions as a fixed-voltage battery charger, because its voltage is above the 12.8V resting voltage of a lead-acid battery, and is about or slightly above the float voltage of a battery which can be connected indefinitely if you want, without too much overcharging. It's not ideal, a mutlistage intelligent charger treats the battery better.

It's a power supply because if you remove the battery you can still use it as a 13.8V supply to power your habitation circuits. Some battery chargers won't switch on at all if there's no battery present. Some of the Victron ones, and others, will function as a power supply like that if you want. However most people never need that functionality.

 

[GaryGavlaar]

The Zig charger is a fixed 13.8V supply. It functions as a fixed-voltage battery charger, because its voltage is above the 12.8V resting voltage of a lead-acid battery, and is about or slightly above the float voltage of a battery which can be connected indefinitely if you want, without too much overcharging. It's not ideal, a mutlistage intelligent charger treats the battery better.

It's a power supply because if you remove the battery you can still use it as a 13.8V supply to power your habitation circuits. Some battery chargers won't switch on at all if there's no battery present. Some of the Victron ones, and others, will function as a power supply like that if you want. However most people never need that functionality.

Ahh ok cheers... I think i'll go down the victron route as that's what i had in my smaller t4 van i had before this. It was far more simple than this motorhome though electrics wise, so just wanted to check before i went down the wrong route.

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[GaryGavlaar]

autorouter this was the victron charger i had in my last van.

A worthy replacement for the zig?

 

[Lee Fryer]

Have you checked it will fit under the seat as it is 210cm High most under seat battery's are 19cm high.

 

[GaryGavlaar]

Have you checked it will fit under the seat as it is 210cm High most under seat battery's are 19cm high.

yes, there is currenmtly this one under there....

Lion Leisure Battery Type 677 - 70Ah | Euro Car Parts

Lion Leisure Battery Type 677 - 70Ah at the lowest UK prices from Euro Car Parts UK’s No.1 for Car Accessories, Car Styling & Car Care. Buy today Online, In store or by Phone + Branches Nationwide – Next Day UK Free Delivery.

www.eurocarparts.com

.....which is 220mm

 

[GaryGavlaar]

autorouter this was the victron charger i had in my last van.

A worthy replacement for the zig?

Ahh just realised its the IP22 that Lenny HB mentioned above.