Greetings fellow travellers, my current battery in the van is still working ok but I think it wont hold up to us doing any free camping for multiple days, as it is rapidly dropping voltage over a period of around 7 hours with out charge. So its time I looked around for a replacement. There are a whole range of batteries to choose from, but we are on a strict budget so paying $400 plus for a battery is not ideal, so my question is what do those of you with different experience of batteries think. I saw an Kings battery 115Amp for around $220, 12 month warranty, then looked at another brand, 24 month warranty but it is $387. Does any one have an opinion on the kings battery, is the dearer battery better ?
rgren2 said
07:57 PM May 20, 2025
Check weights, heavier is usually better, unless they stuff them with concrete.
thomas01 said
08:31 PM May 20, 2025
Hi Klaus,
About 9 months ago I purchased 2 x 115Ah Kings AGM batteries for my van. I wasn't sure of the quality but the price was right at $179 each. Although the warranty hasn't expired yet the batteries have so far exceeded expectations. With the everchanging battery technology I was looking for something to get me through to the next "big thing" as far as batteries are concerned, which is when I will probably change to Lithium as they will be a lot cheaper then.
Kings prices change almost daily so if you intend to purchase their products it pays to monitor their prices in the days prior to when you buy to ensure you get it at the best price. I am not saying their products are top grade, but I have purchased several items from them and so far everything has worked. Kings also tend to bundle their products when on sale and although you may not need whatever extra product the item is bundled with, it is usually cheaper to buy the bundle than the single item.
I think many people tend to put Kings in the same category as Jayco. When you sell more products, the chances are you will get more poor reviews. At least they have a physical store to return any failed items to. There are many Youtube videos about Kings products, (ignore the store based ones), so take a look if you can and decide if it is worth spending the extra money.
Robert
Whenarewethere said
08:40 PM May 20, 2025
You have opened up a can of worms. What mix of concrete do you suggest... cement, sand, blue metal ratio? But let's say for this situation a specific gravity of 2.3
So if the battery is stuffed full of concrete it will be stuffed upon stuffed!
Lead has a specific gravity of 11.3
So it would be better to stuff the battery with gold 19.3 or better still platinum 21.4. But It would be too expensive!
-- Edited by rgren2 on Tuesday 20th of May 2025 09:05:31 PM
-- Edited by rgren2 on Tuesday 20th of May 2025 09:07:06 PM
Whenarewethere said
09:46 PM May 20, 2025
This word?
assholedesign
Klaus said
11:39 PM May 20, 2025
Thank you Robert, That was good info.
Klaus said
11:41 PM May 20, 2025
Thank you to all who replied good advise.
TimTim said
05:05 AM May 21, 2025
I know you asked about Kings AGM batteries but in many cases people can change over to LiFePO4 batteries with nil or little extra cost.
I build my own LiFePO4 batteries but recently bought a 100Ah VoltX LiFePO4 battery and a seperate battery box and was pleasantly surprised at the quality. A number of capacity tests drew 107Ah.
If you tell us what solar charger, mains charger or DC to DC charger you have we can tell you whether they are suitable.
Below is a 280Ah LifePO4 that I built a few months back plus the 100Ah VoltXbeing capacity tested. The battery box looks a little different to that being advertised.
Last year I built two 100Ah batteries but now with such quality LiFePO4 batteries available at low prices at times it isnt really worth it.
Good luck which ever way you go.
Tim
-- Edited by TimTim on Wednesday 21st of May 2025 06:02:36 AM
Impressive info and battery build, never thought of building my own.
Klaus said
07:56 PM May 21, 2025
rgren 2, far out, talk about shonky of shonkies.
Linwood said
06:54 AM May 22, 2025
TimTam,
Please advise what the large orange discs are?
Greg 1 said
02:54 PM May 22, 2025
I have had a very good run out of Full River AGM batteries.
I have 2 deep cycle 120ah ones in my van and run a small race battery in my little Westfield 7.
TimTim said
05:43 PM May 22, 2025
Linwood wrote:
TimTam,
Please advise what the large orange discs are?
They are simply the fans that are running on the capacity testers with the heatsinks beneath. If you look closely at the display on the one you will see it is drawing 10A. The reason I have two running is that LiFePO4 batteries are discharge tested at 0.2C or in this case 20A for a 100Ah battery.
Linwood said
07:09 AM May 24, 2025
Thank you
rgren2 said
08:04 PM May 27, 2025
thomas01 wrote:
Hi SOUOPower.
You wouldn't be advertising by any chance would you?
Greetings fellow travellers, my current battery in the van is still working ok but I think it wont hold up to us doing any free camping for multiple days, as it is rapidly dropping voltage over a period of around 7 hours with out charge. So its time I looked around for a replacement. There are a whole range of batteries to choose from, but we are on a strict budget so paying $400 plus for a battery is not ideal, so my question is what do those of you with different experience of batteries think. I saw an Kings battery 115Amp for around $220, 12 month warranty, then looked at another brand, 24 month warranty but it is $387. Does any one have an opinion on the kings battery, is the dearer battery better ?
About 9 months ago I purchased 2 x 115Ah Kings AGM batteries for my van. I wasn't sure of the quality but the price was right at $179 each. Although the warranty hasn't expired yet the batteries have so far exceeded expectations. With the everchanging battery technology I was looking for something to get me through to the next "big thing" as far as batteries are concerned, which is when I will probably change to Lithium as they will be a lot cheaper then.
Kings prices change almost daily so if you intend to purchase their products it pays to monitor their prices in the days prior to when you buy to ensure you get it at the best price. I am not saying their products are top grade, but I have purchased several items from them and so far everything has worked. Kings also tend to bundle their products when on sale and although you may not need whatever extra product the item is bundled with, it is usually cheaper to buy the bundle than the single item.
I think many people tend to put Kings in the same category as Jayco. When you sell more products, the chances are you will get more poor reviews. At least they have a physical store to return any failed items to. There are many Youtube videos about Kings products, (ignore the store based ones), so take a look if you can and decide if it is worth spending the extra money.
Robert
You have opened up a can of worms. What mix of concrete do you suggest... cement, sand, blue metal ratio? But let's say for this situation a specific gravity of 2.3
So if the battery is stuffed full of concrete it will be stuffed upon stuffed!
Lead has a specific gravity of 11.3
So it would be better to stuff the battery with gold 19.3 or better still platinum 21.4. But It would be too expensive!
So, the heavier the battery, the better!
Here is an example of what I was alluding to.
www.reddit.com/r/*******design/comments/n6sbhu/the_heavy_duty_battery_was_just_a_less_heavy_duty/
There is a banned word in the link. But, less plates (less lead) and concrete in base of the battery.
https://www.facebook.com/TaurusBatteryZim/photos/original-batteries-all-the-way/537716091404603/?_rdr
-- Edited by rgren2 on Tuesday 20th of May 2025 09:05:31 PM
-- Edited by rgren2 on Tuesday 20th of May 2025 09:07:06 PM
This word?
assholedesign
Thank you Robert, That was good info.
Thank you to all who replied good advise.
I know you asked about Kings AGM batteries but in many cases people can change over to LiFePO4 batteries with nil or little extra cost.
I build my own LiFePO4 batteries but recently bought a 100Ah VoltX LiFePO4 battery and a seperate battery box and was pleasantly surprised at the quality. A number of capacity tests drew 107Ah.
If you tell us what solar charger, mains charger or DC to DC charger you have we can tell you whether they are suitable.
You will not get better value than this.
https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/productdetails/1120197769/voltx-12v-100ah-lithium-battery-battery-box
The other alternative for anyone interested is the Wattcycle brand which have some very good reviews.
https://au.wattcycle.com/products/wattcycle-12v-100ah-group-24-lifepo4-battery
Below is a 280Ah LifePO4 that I built a few months back plus the 100Ah VoltXbeing capacity tested. The battery box looks a little different to that being advertised.
Last year I built two 100Ah batteries but now with such quality LiFePO4 batteries available at low prices at times it isnt really worth it.
Good luck which ever way you go.
Tim
-- Edited by TimTim on Wednesday 21st of May 2025 06:02:36 AM
Thank you Tim Tim,
Impressive info and battery build, never thought of building my own.
rgren 2, far out, talk about shonky of shonkies.
TimTam,
Please advise what the large orange discs are?
They are simply the fans that are running on the capacity testers with the heatsinks beneath. If you look closely at the display on the one you will see it is drawing 10A. The reason I have two running is that LiFePO4 batteries are discharge tested at 0.2C or in this case 20A for a 100Ah battery.
Thank you
Fixed.