Lenard

Hi, Sorry to hear of your problems with your dealership and swift. May I suggest that you write to "Ask Sally Hamilton" at the Daily Mail National newspaper. She takes on all manner of issues were people are receiving poor service. Her column is printed in the paper every Wednesday. Give as much detail as you have along with dates and names of people you have spoken to! and their replies. Send a recorded delivery Letter to both Swift and the Dealership giving them YOUR permission, for them to talk to Sally Hamilton regarding the problems with the motorhome they have supplied which as proved to be totally unacceptable Her address is Ask Sally Hamilton. Money Mail, Northcliffe House, 2, Derry Street, LONDON. W8 5TT. They won't like it up em Mr Mannering. Good luck Lenard.

Hi, Thanks for all the replies to my post. Yes Onecal is quite right I was only asking about a protection cover over the positive terminals. Not the steel floor plate. I have made one from a plastic food container but would like a more professional looking version. I will drop round Halfords and enquire. Cheers. Leonard.

Hi. On other motorhomes I have had with the engine battery in the box in front of the p/seat they have aways had a black plastic cover over the positive terminal set up, which clipped in place. Can you knowledgeable people come up with a Fiat part number.. Sadly my ace Fiat's parts Guru has passed on. It was missing from new. Cheers Lenard

Hi everyone. Sorry for the delay in revealing which battery I went for. After much thought I decided on the Yuasa Silver 100 ah. Mainly because the existing leisure battery is also a Yuasa, although a AGM type. Wishing you all a Happy Xmas and New Year. Regards Lenard.

Thank you, David L, RayC, Derek, AlanB and Deneb, The battery that was fitted to the M/H new is a Exide E100017TE with a Fiat sticker, which wasn't visible until I had cause to take it out and give a really good charge, It doesn't get charged on hook up, because the Leisure battery is a AGM version. It is now at least 5 years old and as coped very well to date but I feel with the cold weather upon us a change would be wise. With the choices you have given me I can proceed with more confidence. I will come back and post which one I went for. (Non were mention by Tayna) Ps, Is there a 12 volt Regulator that can cope with two different battery types on the market?. I did get a Battery Master, but as yet not fitted. Cheers Lenard.

Hi everyone, I want to replace My starter battery on the 2019 Fiat Ducato, It has to be a Sealed wet acid, 353x175x190h (not AGM or Gel), original one is working ok, but is only 75amp and I am thinking a spell of cold frosty weather may prove to much, if left standing for to long, Anyone know of a suitable replacement 95 to 100 amp, Yuasa, Varta, Exide or Bosch, C/W reference No's would be a great help. I have been on the Tayna Web site and ask for help in choosing, they E-mailed me some choices, but then E-mailed again saying oh no, they are AGM types!. In comparing battery makes there seems to be a lot of different letters and numbers in their spec's anyone know what they mean!. Cheers Lenard (Em)

Thankyou, Tracker, Deneb, John52 and Crocs, Yes it is a minefield which sadly you have to go through and I do not look forward to it. I did watch the programme the other night, but he talks so fast, that to take in all the points he is making, is difficult! The other thing is that you only know if the company is any good when you have to claim, something we have not had to do, touch wood. Regards Lenard

Good evening to one and all, It will soon be time to sort out the dreaded Insurance renewal, I assume like most people? I opt for the no claims discount when filling in the forms, But is there any real advantage in going down this route? It does not stop the premium going up at the next renewal, even if you have avoided any accidents/claims. I tried both options on the web and the result was £65-00 less for the non NCD option. Am I missing something? Regards Lenard.

Hi, Thankyou for the replies, Keith and Caddies. Will I need any paper work for the original bottles that I swopped for two calorite ones?. I will stand little chance of finding it, Re 1972 era. Cheers Lenard.

Hi, I am sure we have all read about the demise of certain Calor gas bottles, with regards to refilling?. Are these bottles now only good for scrap.?. Please DO NOT suggest any high risk activities, for do it yourself refilling, Cheers Lenard (Em)

Hi Robinhood, So sorry for the delay in replying to your question, The solar regulator is a Truma - Solar dual battery charger SDC/10, it seems to do all you have highlighted above. I have ordered a battery master which I know will work ok. I have also ordered a larger 95 amp sealed battery. The long dark knights are upon us now!. Many thanks, Lenard (Em)

Thankyou AlanB, Robinhood and Labby, I was just following the method shown in the MMM magazine by there electrical Guru, Mr Mott. there are lots of options with battery types and charging regimes, but remember the leisure bat is a AGM and the engine a bog standard 12v lead acid (Sealed) and if I connected it to the regulator as the second battery and set the charge regime at 12volt the leisure battery would never receive a full charge and if I set it to AGM? Why didn't Elddis do it at the build stage? Yes Labby I have had a battery master fitted on other motorhomes by vanbitz but I was hoping to utilise what is already fitted to the M/home. Regards Lenard (Em)

Thankyou Derek, You are quite right I did state that it was a Varta, But discovered some months later it was in fact an Exide when I removed the battery completely. The Sevel label was under plate with all the connection on held in place by the two S/T screws the Exide label is on the side of the battery, low down not visible when in the battery box. Moving on. The Leisure battery is a sealed Yuasa AGM which is serviced by a 100watt solar panel/engine/ hook up/ there is a Truma twin regulator, set at present to AGM and only feeds the leisure battery. The engine battery is only charged by the Engine and is a sealed lead acid. Can I safely run a Fused positive wire from the Leisure Battery to the Engine battery to keep it charged up when parked up? (Remove the fuse before starting the engine). Is there a Regulator that is capable of dealing with two different types of battery? Cheers Lenard/Em

Hi Thankyou to everyone who replied to my question, Some members may remember me logging in as Earthmover. When I brought the M/home I raised the point on this forum of what the make of the battery might be?, as no stickers were visible, it was only later on when I had occasion to take it out that I found the Fiat and Exide labels, it is only 75amp. The van is a Elddis CV 40 with a strange electrical set up!. More to follow Cheers lenard.

Hi, My starter battery is now 5 years old and still performing. But it is only 75 amp, I would like to change it for at least a 95 amp one. (Normal wet Acid). What is considered the best make at present. The one fitted is an Exide, badged Fiat. The M/H is a 2019 Fiat 2.3, The battery box is the normal underfloor with a removable bar in the bottom to stop the smaller existing one sliding about. Will the charging Electrics cope with the bigger battery. Cheers Lenard