Removing leisure battery

[diane taylor]

Hi, I have a 2010 Hobby Siesta Exclusive 650. Does anyone know how to get the leisure battery out from under the driver’s seat? Someone told me you have to remove the seat! Surely there’s an easier way. The manual doesn’t tell you. TIA

 

[Nanniemate]

Hi, I have a 2010 Hobby Siesta Exclusive 650. Does anyone know how to get the leisure battery out from under the driver’s seat? Someone told me you have to remove the seat! Surely there’s an easier way. The manual doesn’t tell you. TIA

Not a hobby but a whoosh bang and yes you do need to remove the seat 4 bolts on each corner and lift and yes they are heavy sorry to disappoint you

 

[diane taylor]

Not a hobby but a whoosh bang and yes you do need to remove the seat 4 bolts on each corner and lift and yes they are heavy sorry to disappoint you

Really? How absolutely ridiculous! Thank you for replying

 

[Stealaway]

You can usually fit two batteries under the seat. Could be time to upgrade?

 

[Stealaway]

Really? How absolutely ridiculous! Thank you for replying

They don't need replacing very often and a good usiof space.

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[Nanniemate]

Really? How absolutely ridiculous! Thank you for replying

I have two one under each seat changed both last year , long story if you have swivel seats there is a knack to positioning the seat to get to the bolts easily

 

[diane taylor]

……but, how do you keep the leisure battery charged then without having to keep taking it out. It’s not stored on our drive so there’s no hook-up. Do you just let it go flat when it’s not being used? I’m not getting it! Help!

 

[lunarman]

Do you have a solar panel? If not get one fitted that will keep the battery charged when not hooked up. Also either have a dual regulator or battery master fitted to keep the cab battery charged.

 

[VXman]

As above - or isolate the batteries at the electric control unit???? (not sure what your set up is) If the batteries are not using any power they should last a few months.

How are you managing your starter battery? If you have a alarm then that's the one that is more likely to go flat.

 

[mackeellan]

Mechanic changed mine last year without removing the seat. He managed to slide the battery forward without any problems and unbolt the terminals. I have 2014 hobby siesta but they are all basically the same type seats

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[Nanniemate]

……but, how do you keep the leisure battery charged then without having to keep taking it out. It’s not stored on our drive so there’s no hook-up. Do you just let it go flat when it’s not being used? I’m not getting it! Help!

Put a solar panel on , one of the best things I did, before that travel overnight 1to2 nights off grid move on . Yesterday went out and started the 17year old on first turn of the key only trickle feeding from solar
But mines on drive so do have hook-up if needed

 

[diane taylor]

Do you have a solar panel? If not get one fitted that will keep the battery charged when not hooked up. Also either have a dual regulator or battery master fitted to keep the cab battery charged.

Thank you. Solar panel sounds like a plan. We take it out every so often for a good run so that seems to keep the cab battery charged ok

 

[diane taylor]

Mechanic changed mine last year without removing the seat. He managed to slide the battery forward without any problems and unbolt the terminals. I have 2014 hobby siesta but they are all basically the same type seats

Ooh that sounds hopeful! Thank you

 

[diane taylor]

As above - or isolate the batteries at the electric control unit???? (not sure what your set up is) If the batteries are not using any power they should last a few months.

How are you managing your starter battery? If you have a alarm then that's the one that is more likely to go flat.

We forgot to turn the leisure battery off, that’s why it’s flat . We do take it out for a run every so often so the other battery seems ok…so far anyway!

 

[DJL220]

Worst case just get a portable solar panel and connect to the battery. I have yet to put solar on mine MH and have a small solar panel which keeps the engine battery charged. I keep mine on the sunny side of the van in storage and it manages to keep the battery charged. I keep it inside and tucked behind the blind. Think mines a 6 or 10 watt which I brought from Halfords.

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[pappajohn]

Mechanic changed mine last year without removing the seat. He managed to slide the battery forward without any problems and unbolt the terminals. I have 2014 hobby siesta but they are all basically the same type seats

Disconnected maybe, but removal without removing the seat is not possible.

 

[mackeellan]

Disconnected maybe, but removal without removing the seat is not possible.

Yes. Removed and replaced with new battery. I assure it was possible as I passed him his tools.

 

[pappajohn]

Worst case just get a portable solar panel and connect to the battery. I have yet to put solar on mine MH and have a small solar panel which keeps the engine battery charged. I keep mine on the sunny side of the van in storage and it manages to keep the battery charged. I keep it inside and tucked behind the blind. Think mines a 6 or 10 watt which I brought from Halfords.

In winter you need, at the very least, a 50w panel.....then it may struggle.
A 10w panel in winter may supply 3 or 4 watts .......thats around ⅓ of an amp. The natural discharge and parasitic loads may amount to 4 or 5 times that.

 

[pappajohn]

Yes. Removed and replaced with new battery. I assure it was possible as I passed him his tools.

Then you didn't have a standard fiat/peugeot seat and base.

Oh.....happy birthday.

 

[diane taylor]

Worst case just get a portable solar panel and connect to the battery. I have yet to put solar on mine MH and have a small solar panel which keeps the engine battery charged. I keep mine on the sunny side of the van in storage and it manages to keep the battery charged. I keep it inside and tucked behind the blind. Think mines a 6 or 10 watt which I brought from Halfords.

Then you didn't have a standard fiat/peugeot seat and base.

Ours is on a Ford chassis but don’t know if that means the seats and bases are Ford

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[pappajohn]

Ours is on a Ford chassis but don’t know if that means the seats and bases are Ford

Haven't looked at ford seat bases so it may be possible.

 

[Nanniemate]

Haven't looked at ford seat bases so it may be possible.

Also depends upon the battery the new ones that were put into mine measured slightly larger as like for like were no longer manufactured , I also have swivel seats so that may make a differences.
You may have to just try it and see.

 

[DJL220]

In winter you need, at the very least, a 50w panel.....then it may struggle.
A 10w panel in winter may supply 3 or 4 watts .......thats around ⅓ of an amp. The natural discharge and parasitic loads may amount to 4 or 5 times that.

It has managed to keep my 2006 old Bessie topped up for the past few weeks

 

[Nanniemate]

It has managed to keep my 2006 old Bessie topped up for the past few weeks

That's because you haven't got all the 'extras' that moderner vans have. 2006 was a good year