We'll be collecting our Elddis Xplore 304 in a couple of weeks and I need to source a battery. Does anyone have the physical size of the battery compartment or even a battery make they are using in this van?
Many thanks
Many thanks
Battery physical size for Elddis Xplore 304
- Thread starter Sam Vimes
- Start date
Most manufacturers use a standard Thetford battery box which will take a 110amp battery through often a bit tight at the top. Any leisure or combination leisure/starting battery will br OK. Frankly, even a car starter battery will be fine but probably will not have the life expectancy as it’s not made for that.
My suggestion is, if you intend to do much use ‘off hook up’. Then a big battery is good. Otherwise save the weight and get a 75 amp which will cope with a mover.
John
My suggestion is, if you intend to do much use ‘off hook up’. Then a big battery is good. Otherwise save the weight and get a 75 amp which will cope with a mover.
John
Why don't you ask the dealer for the specifications as battery box can vary from caravan to caravan? Are you having a motor mover fitted or possibly one fitted sometime in the future? Also you can fit a 80, 100, 110 ah battery and they are all different sizes.
However more importantly you need to know the pole configuration for a battery. No good buying a battery only to find the negative pole is opposite to the cabling in the caravan.
When buying from a dealer many offer a start pack at a good discount so have you asked the dealer?
Thanks for your replies. I have contacted the manufacturer but still waiting for a reply. I saw a few posts from owners of the same van on here and thought I might get a quicker answer. Next step will be dealer but my experience is that you can get a better deal shopping around. I've used Tanya in the past.
We have an Xplore 302 and worried about battery size. I rang Elddis and the nice lady straight away emailed me a pdf of the battery box dimensions. It took a standard size battery if there is such a thing; what I mean is we didn’t have to get a specialist size, it was off the shelf from a battery purveyor . I am not at home at the moment but will measure the battery box for you later and tell you what we’ve got in it. Fab vans the Xplore. Love ours to bits.
Mel
Mel
Not any battery will fit as the poles need to be the correct way around. OP should be speaking to dealership.
Really the cables should be long enough that it doesn't matter which way round the battery poles are.
Not necessary as since when have caravan manufacturers been generous with cable lengths. LOL!
My Lunar has cables long enough to remove the battery while still connected and put it on the ground.Not necessary as since when have caravan manufacturers been generous with cable lengths. LOL!
You were lucky as with our Delta the cables were that short that we had to put the battery on a step. BTW I seem to recall that it was perhaps you that advised many years ago about a modication for the ALDE heating on Lunars by having slots cut across the front. Worked a treat for us.
Yes, our Clubman was modified by the dealer, with Alde approval, to move the false bulkhead back 10mm and up 10mm to create a 20mm channel instead of the original 10mm - it certainly works better like that although we still use a combination of the Alde and a £12 fan heater.
That’s the first time I’ve read or heard of anyone having to supplement Alde heating in a caravan. Most owners say how good it is for all round warmth compared to blown air heating. Did Lunar not get it right?
Nope Lunar never got it right about ALDE heating as our seats used to get very hot due to heat collecting underneath as no where to go. After modification it was a vast improvement as better air flow.
The problem is the slow response - due lack of air flow over the heater fins - so it's not supplementing the power, just the airflow - the blown air in our previous caravan used half the energy, 500w most of the time instead of 1kw - obviously both use full power to start from cold.
Thanks for the update. I have only ever had blown air and found it okay and as vans have been better insulated and the power of the Truma system has stayed the same like you it is on low setting when used. I also like the blown air simplicity and the fact it is very resilient in that even if electric power is not available and the fan is broken it still pumps out heat as a stand alone gas heater. 😊
The problem with Truma blown air is usually the un-insulated trunking under the floor - so insulating that makes a huge difference - given a free choice, I'd specify Truma blown air every time.
Thanks for the replies. Batteries do vary in size so not really such a thing as a standard battery - just look on the Tanya website.
Mel.... if you could measure yours or even post the pdf somewhere I'd be very grateful.
Thanks
Mel.... if you could measure yours or even post the pdf somewhere I'd be very grateful.
Thanks
My last van I insulated the underfloor run, but this one is all internal. Never thought I’d ever meet a “blown air lover“ 👍
It depends where the heater is and where the outlets are in relation to the door.Our current van has no external tubes (someone at the manufacturers has given this some thought - for a change ! )
The blown air system is more versatile - it can blow cool air as well as hot air,it's also lighter in weight,does not leak and doesn't freeze in the winter.
I also quite like the blown-air heating; It seems to heat the caravan immediately which is what you want. I did need to insulate the tube running to the washroom as this goes external for about 2 meters, due to the island bed layout - seems to have helped to get actual warm air to the vent the furthest from the boiler.
I will say that (in my installation) the ability to blow ambient temperature air is a somewhat useless feature; it will only work if the water heater is turned off and then will still be warm if hot water is present in the tank.
Hi Sam. Just measured the box. The tray that you put the battery box is 40cm wide. However there are protrusions along the side of the box that you fit the straps through; this reduces the size of the aperture for the battery to 34.5 cm. Our battery is 34 cm wide. The box is 20cm deep. The height of the box is 24.5 cm. Our battery is 21 cm high and this leaves room for the wires. The make of our battery is “Enforcer”. I think it is 110Amps but would have to pull it out to check. Too heavy for me!
I am searching for the pdf but it was 3 years ago and I may have deleted it.
The dimensions are for an Xplore 302
mel
I am searching for the pdf but it was 3 years ago and I may have deleted it.
The dimensions are for an Xplore 302
mel
Thanks Mel, very helpful, especially knowing what battery you are using. I imagine the battery box is the same for the 304.
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