johnlc

Onecal and Derek - thanks for your further responses. Derek - it was the 5054 battery in my mother's car. It was clearly marked so how the garage could "mistake" it for a 7054 surprises me. Even though she has been taking her car there for years I can't help but feel they were potentially trying to exploit an old lady who understands nothing about cars. Maybe I am wrong. Thank you again for all your help Best Wishes John

Thank you again to everyone who helped me with this. Banner replied weeks later confirming what Derek had said ie that the battery I wanted was no longer available in the UK. Onecal - I contacted the German supplier but they said "Good day, Unfortunately, due to the dangerous goods law, we cannot ship lead-acid batteries abroad." So, after looking carefully at the Yuasa, Varta and ABS batteries that had been recommended, and careful measuring of the space the batteries are to fit into, I went with the ABS battery that Alan B suggested. It is maintenance free, virtually identical in size, and had more power than the other batteries of that size. Value also came into it as it was just under £90 each delivered. Thanks again to everyone for your support. On the car battery for my mother that the garage said was unserviceable, I used my charger in repair mode and the battery seems fine, for now, anyway. It was a small Yuasa 40ah battery and the garage had quoted £180 for one. I could get one from Tayna, should I need to, for under £60 delivered!!! Best Wishes John

Thankyou to everyone for doing so much work on my behalf. I really appreciate it. I am away at my elderly mother's and struggling with internet connections but will investigate all this on my return. Coincidentally, I have had her car MOT'd and they say it needs a new battery (even though it is still starting the car) I can't escape battery replacements at the moment!! Thanks again John

Thanks for the further responses - really appreciated. East Neuk stopped making my van a few years ago. Onecal - thanks for the link to Germany. Suspect shipping costs may be high for two batteries but I'll investigate as well as the other suggestions.

Steve - thanks

Derek - thank you, as ever, for your detailed helpful response. I don't know how you do it, whatever the topic! John

Onecal - thank you for your recommendation. I appreciate both of you helping. Knowing you have found them to be good batteries is the crucial thing for me to know. I've just realised that the positive battery terminals are on the opposite side to the Banner on the Varta and Yuasa batteries. Presumably, I could just turn the batteries round so that the terminals would line up with the wiring system? Thanks again to both of you

Keith Thanks for the recommendation about Varta. It's good to hear from someone who has used them rather than just reading spec sheets. Best Wishes John

I have used two Banner Energy Bull 955/51 leisure batteries in my East Neuk Camper for many years, but they now need replacing. I can't seem to find this particular model in stock at any dealer I have contacted. Banner haven't got back to me about whether it has been discontinued. As this particular battery (x 2) is a perfect fit for the space under the floor where they are situated, and seems to deal with the demands of the compressor fridge well, I would really like to use the same again. But if it is not available what would you recommend instead? This is the spec with size being a crucial factor - 256mm long x 170mm wide x 205mm high https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/85ah-banner-energy-bull-leisure-battery-95551/ Thanks in advance for any responses

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to respond. I really appreciate it. I have never used the option to charge the starter battery via the hookup. It would be a quick way to check whether the starter battery warning light goes off but note the comment that it is not really a good option. I've never used a standalone charger to charge the leisure batteries as they are connected to a 60w solar panel on the roof of the van. Even in winter when the van is only being driven infrequently this has always kept the leisure batteries in good condition. The fact that it is no longer doing that makes me think they are at the end of their life. I think they are probably 7 or 8 years old. I forgot to mention the solar panel before. I now wonder whether it would be a good idea to just disconnect the leisure batteries over winter (covering the leads) as I don't know how to disconnect them from the solar panel charger circuit. I'm not sure I trust myself to find the right fuse to disconnect the split charge relay circuit. Thanks again to everyone for your helpful responses

That's getting beyond my technical abilities I think Keith! I guess if I wrap the leisure battery terminals up in something and also attempt to cover the posts on the leisure batteries that should stop any contact over winter even when I am driving the van.

Keith - thanks for the quick and helpful response. That's great it is possible to do it that way.I don't think we have a cigarette lighter . As a non-smoker I have never noticed! Can I ask another question? The leisure batteries (2) are showing flat, although it was possible to use them via hook up for 3 days last week. The reason I think the engine battery is showing needing charging is that we drove back from a campsite with the compressor fridge still on and the electrical system was trying to charge the flat leisure batteries from the engine battery. I don't want to put in new leisure batteries at this time of year as we won't be going away. But when I take the van out for a run every couple of weeks over winter I guess the engine battery will try and charge the leisure batteries again. So I'm guessing it would be best to disconnect the leisure batteries over winter until they are replaced. Does that sound the best approach? Thanks John

I have a 2008 Fiat Ducato 100 multijet camper van. I've rarely had to charge the engine battery but noticed the battery warning light on the other day. It is a faff taking up the cab floor to connect the battery charger. Having seen the engine jump started by the AA with the battery connection points in the engine bay I wonder if it is safe/possible to charge the battery this way. I never disconnect the battery terminals when charging in the cab as I don't want to cause problems like needing to reset the radio. I don't have the code for it. Thanks for any advice

Thanks to everyone for your responses. The electrician tells me it was a problem on the negative pin in the multiconnector going into the bulbholder plate, and has fixed it. Phew!

Labby and Robinhood - thanks for your responses. Will check this tomorrow.