XPost: aus.cars, aus.computers, uk.rec.caravanning
From: damian_andrews75@yahoo.com.au
Hi Neil,
Thanks for clarifying that for me. I now know lot more about batteries than
I did before. I think I will get a sealed maintenance free battery as it's
bit challenging for me to install the battery outside the van and installing
it under the bonnet is not a choice either as there's no room.
So, I won't be able to get a battery with the ability to maintain like
yours.
I am thinking a maintenance free AGM deep cycle battery(or two). Does that
sounds like a good idea for my application?
Thanks
"Neil" wrote in message
news:fpk398taqtm3jcvfo1gob48fdletvdt34v@4ax.com...
>
>
>>>>> Ok - here's my two pen'orth:
>>>>>
>>>>> 1) The real issue with using two batteries together is when they are
>>>>> connected in parallel permanently. Connected in series, there is not
>>>>> really any difference to one battery, i.e. it is still 6 cells
>>>>> connected in series, just that they are housed in two separate
>>>>> casings.
>>>>>
>>>>> 2) Is the automatic charger up to the job of charging a 300Ahr
>>>>> battery? If the spec is the same as the one in that link(350mA) I
>>>>> seriously doubt it! It might be OK just to leave connected AFTER the
>>>>> battery has been nearly fully charged at a more practical rate(say 10
>>>>> to 25 Amps), just to top it off and supply a maintenance charge during
>>>>> long periods of lay-up.
>>>>>
>>>>> 3) As has been said, the cost of the batteries, and their capacity,
>>>>> probably justifies a high quality charger designed for such a bank.
>>>>>
>>>>> 4) In time one of the batteries will no doubt develop a faulty cell or
>>>>> will have lost electrolyte in one of them. But again, this is no
>>>>> different to one cell going down in a 12V battery - you're still going
>>>>> to have to replace the bank. Meantime you're just going to have to
>>>>> regularly monitor your battery bank for terminal votage, because with
>>>>> AGM sealed units, you don't have the option of measuring the specific
>>>>> gravity in individual cells(or topping up electrolyte) - which is why
>>>>> after having used some sealed AGM batteries in the past(and also a
>>>>> VERY big Gel battery many years ago), for leisure use, I now use a
>>>>> conventional wet battery with screw caps to each cell so I can
>>>>> maintain the battery properly.
>>>>>
>>>>> HTH
>>>>>
>>>>> Neil
>>>>>
>>>>> (Reply via group please)
>>>>
>>> On Tue, 30 Oct 2012 12:20:04 +1100, "Damian"
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Hi Neil,
>>>>Thanks for the information.
>>>>Dont they(AGM batteries) suppose to last for 5-10 years without needing
>>>>any
>>>>maintenance(privided it's kept charged properly)?
>>>>I thought we pay extra money to get sealed AGM deep cycle batteries
>>>>because
>>>>they suppose to last lot longer than wet cell batteries.
>>>>You don't think that's the case?!
>>>>Thanks
>>>>
>>>
>>> Damian,
>>>
>>> I don't know whether AGM batteries last significantly longer than
>>> conventional flooded cell batteries, they may well do - do the
>>> manufacturers guarantee them for that long? It would be my guess that
>>> AGMs would last longer than a "maintenance free" flooded cell battery
>>> of similar capacity. The bottom line is that it's a trade-off between
>>> cost and longevity I guess.
>>>
>>> I personally prefer to be able to measure the specific gravity of the
>>> electrolyte in the cells in my vehicle, leisure and other lead/acid
>>> batteries, and be abe to top-up if necessary. The battery I have in
>>> my caravan at present is a 110Ah semi-traction battery with big, wide
>>> screw caps to each cell. It's about 7 years old, and showing no signs
>>> of loss of capacity, or deterioration of any cell above any other. I
>>> do occasionally give it an "equalising" charge, and top up the cells
>>> as necessary. It cost me no more than a vehicle starter battery at
>>> the time, and next year it will have lasted as long as my last sealed
>>> AGM battery did, before it's capacity started to fall significantly.
>>>
>>> HTH
>>>
>>> Neil
>>>
>>> (Reply via group please)
>>
> On Wed, 31 Oct 2012 13:11:01 +1100, "Damian"
> wrote:
>
>>Hi Neil,
>>I got little confused here.
>>I would like to follow your advice and purchase a battery.
>>I personally like the idea of maintaining the battery myself exactly the
>>way
>>you mentioned.
>>I thought batteries with screw caps on the top are usualy automotive
>>starting batteries. And the sealed batteries are the ones usually used for
>>solar, caravan, UPS, etc. I thought AGM(and deep cycle) batteries are
>>usually sealed.
>>Do the semi traction batteries give out Hidrogen gas when it's been
>>charged?
>>If so, do I need to install in outside the caravan or uder the bonnet like
>>starting batteries?
>>How is this semi traction battery different from typical vehicle starting
>>batteries?
>>Can you please send me a link to purchase a semi traction battery like
>>yours?!
>> I'm in Melbourne, Australia.
>>Thanks
>>Damian
>>
>
> Damian
>
> First of all, I'm not advising you get a flooded cell battery for your
> particularly high capacity requirement - only passing on my own
> experience. I do not know what the cost of 300Ah flooded cell leisure
> or traction batteries are likely to be. In the UK, capacities of 85Ah
> and 110Ah are very popular, hence the price is comparatively low. I
> suspect a 300Ah battery would be considerably more expensive than 3 x
> 110Ah batteries together, but you would have to research that
> yourself.
>
> The differences between battery types are basically this:
> Leisure batteries are designed for prolonged but light current drain,
> e.g. running the lighting, water pump and TV/radio/audio system in a
> leisure vehicle. Their life can be shortened prematurely if required
> to supply heavy current drain on a regular basis e.g. powering a winch
> or motorised motive device(caravan mover etc.) A leisure battery is
> classed as a deep cycle battery but to get the maximum life from it,
> it should not be discharged to less than 50% capacity.
>
> Traction batteries are designed for electric propulsion and other
> higher current drain functions like electric winches. Electric motors
> can have very high start-up currents when used for propulsion and
> winch use. Again they are classed as deep cycle but the same advice
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