Replacing leisure batteries

[WelshGas]

Could you post the exact battery make/ type/ part number. Could be useful for forum members in future.

 

[ceegee]

Mmmmm - I will if it's on the invoice.

If it isn't, I won't be able to see the info on the top of the batteries now that they are back in position.

 

[buster]

All done, using exactly the same make (Varta) and spec (they are different to a "standard" leisure battery) of batteries as would have been supplied by the main dealer

Just one difference - a big saving on the price - £310 fitted

Lifting the passenger seat out of the way whilst not disturbing the wiring was slightly tricky, but just a bit of care needed

Hi there, I now need to change my leisure batteries but have been quoted stupid money by VW.

Do you have the model number of the Varta battery you fitted please? Was it 70ah or 75ah ?

Thanks

 

[teeboy]

Holding the seat out of the way to manoeuvre the battery in and out so that you don't have to disconnect the seat heater wires is a two person job really, and the seat is pretty heavy

As long as you turn the ignition off - and leave it off while the wiring is disconnected then you can disconnect the wires without causing an airbag warning error.

 

[johnv]

thread resurrection! do we have a recommended replacement model for the leisure batteries? thanks

 

[Skylark2.0]

Surely it's just contacts off and contacts on isn't it ??

I've replaced leisure batteries in large motorhomes a number of times and it was very straight forward.

The company I use supply and fit lot's of leisure batteries, so I am thinking it will be within their abilities and I fell sure they will be able to match the spec without a problem or any compromise.

I can't imagine paying £250 each from the main dealer - lets hope I don't have to eat my words

How did the battery change go? There's a current thread on this

 

[estresao]

Just in case someone is interested:

I've took deliver of my Cali Beach on April 2015 (around 8000 miles at this moment) which have one aux battery. I'll fit two of them and, because they should be exact (same model, capacity, technology....). I'll remove the one which came from factory and sell. I don't know when I'll do it (I need some spare time), but I'd like to do as soon as possible, to I'm not advertising it yet, but if someone have interest just drop me a PM.

 

[Bluestone]

Reading this with interest. Some good points but if disconnecting the seat airbag to remove the seat, I would disconnect the main starter battery as well - just as a precaution!!

Also I use Optima Batteries, not sure how they compare in price, but they are excellent batteries and are sealed gel so can actually be mounted upside down!! But more importantly they are maintenance free The Blue top (marine) and yellow top (leisure) are actually both the same (blue top have another set of terminals) and of course the required deep cycle batteries required for leisure batteries which are suitable for deep cycle use.

The S5.5 Yellow Top is a 75AH Deep cycle Battery - not cheap at £192 each but they will last longer, give more power for longer (as the discharge rate is slower than for a standard 'flat plate' design, and they will even sit for 12 months and still start a Diesel 2.5 TDi engine (I use them on my Land Rover as dual deep cycle and starter battery so have first hand experience of this) - well worth the money in my opinion and last so much longer than the likes of Varta

 

[Bluestone]

http://www.optimabatteries.co.uk/en/yellow-top/22-optimar-yellowtop-s-55.html

 

[johnv]

are they direct replacements? (the ones you link to) .. did you install them yourself?
thanks

 

[Bluestone]

I install myself, but I'm sure any good garage/mechanic etc. would fit them. In terms of being a direct replacement then the Yellow Top version is a deep cycle battery only (I use the Blue Top for the dual duty of starting and deep cycle).

At the end of the day they are just batteries and as long as they size and terminal arrangement is the same or similar (in terms of size) then any deep cycle battery is good as a direct replacement. I do like the Optima as through many years of going through batteries, these are far superior to any others I've tried - yes they are AGM but also have other technologies and this might be just talk - they do last longer, discharge slower, and give more power than any other battery I've tried

I've even left one for a full 12 months without charging it at all and it started my Landy first time - poor thing I must get out in it more!!

 

[johnv]

but .. just to be clear in my fuzzy head, the yellow top is the right size/terminal config/power etc, so if I ordered two of them from your link, they would just need bolting in? (the only tricky bit being the passenger seat)
thanks!

 

[Bluestone]

John, I've sent you a PM

 

[Bluestone]

Sorry everyone, looks like the Optima solution is a little too big for a direct replacement -

Length - 325mm (Varta 278mm), Width - 165mm (Varta 175mm), Height - 231mm inc terminals (Varta 190mm)

Real shame as they are such good batteries

 

[zisdorf]

Hi All,

VW says our leisure batteries need to be replaced. I'm in Germany - they quoted >1000 euros !!!

The surprisingly nice VW guy said he's okay if we buy the batteries elsewhere to save money. You guys have some suggestions here, but I'm not actually able to find a retailer (preferably one in RM).
Can you help? I am looking for exactly the correct size.
(@Billy @Bluestone @johnv @buster ....?)

The VW guy gave me the following specification:
AGM (VLIES/GEL) Batterie 75 Ah , 420A DIN, 12V

thank you!

 

[MattBW]

Interestingly when I had my webasto fitted it turned out my Beach battery wasnt the AGM it should have been but a 80ah lead acid. Higher capacity but I always wonder if the charger was designed for it.

 

[Bigted]

I've got a feeling that AGM and normal lead acid batteries use slightly different voltages to recharge Matt - the danger is overcharging the lead acid and boiling it dry (and the gas this produces). Anyone with a more knowledge on this out there?

 

[Gavinskii]

I replaced mine in the summer for 100 Amp AGM batteries
£169 the pair delivered! They fit perfectly
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Deal-Pair...-Deep-Cycle-/111602658003?hash=item19fc096ad3

 

[IanE]

Wow Gavinskii - that sounds like a bargain! I know nowt about batteries but I guess it will be good to know whether they function well (otherwise it's not such a bargain ) and on that I suppose it's too soon to tell?

 

[Gavinskii]

Wow Gavinskii - that sounds like a bargain! I know nowt about batteries but I guess it will be good to know whether they function well (otherwise it's not such a bargain ) and on that I suppose it's too soon to tell?

I think another Cali forum member put me onto these batteries and they come with a 5 year warranty and the business has 99.8% positive feedback from almost 20,000 transactions, so I reckon they should be ok

 

[IanE]

Fab! Looks like they're my next Cali purchase!

 

[Wojciech Jerzy]

I think another Cali forum member put me onto these batteries and they come with a 5 year warranty and the business has 99.8% positive feedback from almost 20,000 transactions, so I reckon they should be ok

Hello Gavinskii, quick question - why AGM choice? They are designed for start/stop save fuel function cars. I cannot decide between AGM (as everyone seem to be using them) or Leisure Deep Cycle. The price is simmilar but the features slightly different. Thanks in advance

 

[Bigted]

AGM is just the construction type - absorbed glass mat. You can get different types of AGM batteries i.e. starter, leasure, marine designed for different applications.

 

[Wojciech Jerzy]

AGM is just the construction type - absorbed glass mat. You can get different types of AGM batteries i.e. starter, leasure, marine designed for different applications.

Thanks very much for clarification

 

[Janno]

Hi Billy, I've just replaced my AGM batteries I got them delivered by Euro car parts at £125 each plus vat.....Bosch equivalent to the Varta ones.....not sure whereabouts you are as I'm in Nottinghamshire....hope that helps ....Janno