Which battery ?

keithintassie · Veteran Member

Which battery ?

Blue Orchid · Senior Member

Welcome to the forum Keith,

We run two 120AH batteries in our van, they are deep cyclel, that I know, but would have to take them out to find the brand and part number.

They are charged by the tug when we are towing, by a portable 120Watt solar panel (with a back up generator which hasn't been needed for two years) when free camping and by 240VAC when on a powered site.

Its not much info, but I hope it helps.

Blue

Vic · Guru

G'Day Keith,

You will probably find that the auxillary battery is charged while you are going along and also when plugged into 240V, in other words probably has an inbuilt charger like most motorhome conversions do.

From memory my auxillary is a deep cycle and is reasonably large, it may be a previous owner or dealer has swapped the one that was in there.

A motorhome dealer or somewhere like Batteryworld should be able to help, although plenty of experienced people on here so expect a few more replies.

keithintassie · Veteran Member

jimricho wrote:
"G'day Keith and welcome,
My guess is that the vendor just fitted any old battery to have one there when they sold the rig.

I'd suggest an AGM ("Absorbed Glass Mat") type battery of at least 100 ah ("amphours") capacity as a minimum. Regular "free campers" on the forum will probably suggest double that and I have no argument there, although 100 should be adequate if you're mostly staying in caravan parks where there's mains (240v) power available.

I'd also strongly suggest that you install a "smart" charger such as a Ctek 7 amp unit. If you opt for a larger battery you'll need a charger with appropriately more capacity, Ctek do a range of these. There are many other brands of smart chargers on the market that would also be fine for the job. "El cheapo" chargers including so-called automatic ones are not recommended for use with AGMs.
Again if you're mostly staying where power is available I wouldn't be worrying about solar panels at this stage but if your camping "modus operandi" changes you will probably want to revisit this option.
cheers,
Jim
PS: If you click on the underlined links above it will take you to more information."

G'day Jim,

Thanks for your informed input it is appreciated. It seems that the local stockist of the Ctek chargers in the Hobart area is Batteryworld. Looks like I'll be paying them a visit before too long. Many thanks once again.

Keith

Vic · Guru

Keith,

My Hi Ace Campervan conversion had a CTEK XS7000 Battery Charger fitted as standard, also a Redarc Smart Start SBI Duel Battery Isolator Solenoid, so just check yours to see if the Merc already has something similar fitted.

Batteryworld has been ok for me in the past, but any like business or Auto Elecricians should be ok. I would be checking with a campervan sales or conversion place first, but just make sure a salesman knows there stuff and doesn't give you a load of crap.

I don't have any solar or anything additional on my campervan other that already mentioned and the aux battery, if I stay in one spot (no power) I can get 3 days and nights running the fridge 24/7, I haven't tried any longer than that. Bear in mind that once you travel (move again) for any reasonable distance your battery is being recharged again as well as 240V charging at caravan parks etc. My 80 Litre Waeco fridge switches automatically from 12V/240V when required and doesn't need to be changed over on a dial etc. Mine is a compressor fridge and does not run on gas.

-- Edited by Vic on Sunday 11th of March 2012 12:54:24 PM

blaze · Guru

Where in tassie are you keith, I can point you to some good help on the nw coast
ceers
blaze

ps just looked at your profile so not much help

-- Edited by blaze on Sunday 11th of March 2012 03:51:06 PM

jimricho · Guru

G'day Keith and welcome,

My guess is that the vendor just fitted any old battery to have one there when they sold the rig.

I'd suggest an AGM ("Absorbed Glass Mat") type battery of at least 100 ah ("amphours") capacity as a minimum. Regular "free campers" on the forum will probably suggest double that and I have no argument there, although 100 should be adequate if you're mostly staying in caravan parks where there's mains (240v) power available.

I'd also strongly suggest that you install a "smart" charger such as a Ctek 7 amp unit. If you opt for a larger battery you'll need a charger with appropriately more capacity, Ctek do a range of these. There are many other brands of smart chargers on the market that would also be fine for the job. "El cheapo" chargers including so-called automatic ones are not recommended for use with AGMs.

Again if you're mostly staying where power is available I wouldn't be worrying about solar panels at this stage but if your camping "modus operandi" changes you will probably want to revisit this option.

cheers,

Jim

PS: If you click on the underlined links above it will take you to more information.

keithintassie · Veteran Member

Many thanks Blue for you input. It is appreciated.

Regards

Keith

keithintassie · Veteran Member

Vic wrote:
G'Day Keith,
You will probably find that the auxillary battery is charged while you are going along and also when plugged into 240V, in other words probably has an inbuilt charger like most motorhome conversions do.
From memory my auxillary is a deep cycle and is reasonably large, it may be a previous owner or dealer has swapped the one that was in there.
A motorhome dealer or somewhere like Batteryworld should be able to help, although plenty of experienced people on here so expect a few more replies.
Thanks Vic for your input. I think you may be right about the "swap" comment. What's been your experioence in dealing with Batteryworld?

Regards

Keith

keithintassie · Veteran Member

Thanks Jim for your informed comment.

It looks like Batteryworld being the local stockists for the Ctec product so it looks like I'll be paying them a visit before too long.

Thanks again

Keith

justcruisin01 · Guru

The second battery (housed in the living area)??????

Is this compartment vented ?? If not then it should be to disperse gases from the charging. Gas build up & a flame/spark is explosive, as well as the smell its not to good for the lungs.

All other info is good,if the motor home was built correctly there should be a 240 volt charger mounted there somewhere. also facility to charge through an isolater when driving .

Enjoy.

JC.

keithintassie · Veteran Member

G'day blaze and thanks for your input.

Foolowing your comment about my profile I have added a few more comments to it so that one and all can get some further information about us.

Thanks once more

Keith

aussietraveller · Guru

With regard to brands of batteries I have looked at AGM batteries that have been recommended the first was Remco 105 A/H and sold by Battery World but the price at their Penrith store was way too high at $365.00 and the second one is Full River AGM which was recommended by the Bushtracker club and I was able to purchase for just under $300 and its a 120 A/H battery it pays to shop around.

Muso · Veteran Member

keithintassie wrote:
Thanks Jim for your informed comment.
It looks like Batteryworld being the local stockists for the Ctec product so it looks like I'll be paying them a visit before too long.
-----------------------
Hi Keith, I shopped around for my 120Ah AGM battery and Battery World didn't get my dollars. I got it for around $50 cheaper elsewhere.
Something else to remember. My AGM 120 weight would be AT LEAST 2 times heavier than a 6 cylinders battery.
Also my camper trailer has 120A portable solar panels only for a source of power, no vehicle, no gennie as we prefer to free camp. I have a Waeco 50 L dual zone fridge/freezer (at the same time) and have never had any real dramas so far.

-- Edited by Muso on Sunday 18th of March 2012 07:39:28 AM

Justice · Member

Hi Guys, I finally "bit the bullett" and purchased a 105 amp Thumper (expensive alternative) however over the last few years I got sick of running down batteries whilst "free camping" I have a Honda 2Kva generator but that seems to upset a few camping nearby even during daylight hours.

The Thumper from flat battery status to fully charged from the vehicles altenator is between 3 to 4 hours of driving or overnight on a "smart charger using 240 volts" the battery has "no memory" so it can be recharged in several small drives. I can not tell you how happy I am with the Thumper as my 50 Litre Waeco maintains zero degrees for around 3 days + usage, including using lighting and TV etc in the van. I considered solar back up but it is totally unnecessary as I find that charging "on the run" is more than enough to satisfy our needs.

jimricho · Guru

I think you mean 105 amphour not amp. Not meaning to be "picky" here but the difference is significant as it helps to understand the underlying meaning of these terms.

Amps is the measure of the rate of flow of current from the battery. Think of it like water flowing through a pipe. The rate of flow in the water pipe is the litres per minute (or second or hour or whatever). The equivalent in an electrical wire is amps (just amps, not amps per anything). Also think of it being like the speed of a boat being measured in Knots, not knots per hour or anything, just knots. (a Knot is one nautical mile per hour)

If the water is being supplied from a tank, the capacity of the tank is measured in litres. Likewise the capacity of the battery is measured in Amphours. That means a battery with an amphour capacity of 105 amphours will supply a load ("load" is techiespeak for anything that draws electrical current from the battery) that draws (say) 5 amps for 21 hours (105 divided by 5). If the load is 15 amps the battery will supply that current for 7 hours (based on 105 amphours at that current).

I hope this clears up what for many is confusing and please don't take this personally as it is a bit confounding to people whose talents and skills lie in other areas.

(PS: Techies please note: I have deliberately avoided the many complications of this subject such the different capacities at different rates of discharge etc, in order to concentrate on the concept only)

turbopete · Senior Member

can anyone tell me if the ex Telstra batteries are worth having when they are replaced as a matter of course by Telstra,my understanding is that they replace them on a time basis not on a "battery died " basis,i have the opportunity to get a couple

beiffe · Guru

Any think for nothing is the right price.
Take them home and do a test to see how good they are.
Charge them up till the charger tells you they are full and then get a known load eg a light globe and discharge.
There are charts available to determine the amount of life left in the batteries after a set time of discharge with a set load.The higher the load the less time you will get and with AGM;s etc the higher the load the less total AH's you will get. In other words an AGM with a light load will return a higher AH result as there is less loss than if you use a high load eg a heater element etc. To do with some fella called peuket or similar (Just don't ask OK)
I would not be prepared to get into arguments/discusions on voltages and calculations as I prefer to keep away from that. I am just a user who has had a lot of experience using batteries in a motorhome.
I would do this test before installing in your RV
Regards
Brian

tcp99 · Senior Member

jimricho wrote:
I think you mean 105 amphour not amp. Not meaning to be "picky" here but the difference is significant as it helps to understand the underlying meaning of these terms.

Amps is the measure of the rate of flow of current from the battery. Think of it like water flowing through a pipe. The rate of flow in the water pipe is the litres per minute (or second or hour or whatever). The equivalent in an electrical wire is amps (just amps, not amps per anything). Also think of it being like the speed of a boat being measured in Knots, not knots per hour or anything, just knots. (a Knot is one nautical mile per hour) ..... etc.

One of the most informative explanations of 12v I've read. I think I can now get my head around it.

Thanks muchly

Terry

turbopete · Senior Member

acid battery

Exide Marathon M12V105FT 12V 100Ah Front Terminal AGM lead acid battery These are the details of the batteries i was given they are presently fully charged using a
a repco

10amp charger,,I am unfamiliar with how i should test the battys,,can someone enlighten me,,,

Brian where can i find the charts you refer to in your post above

thanks Peter

Similar to
Short supply
Item no. 12089
Shipping Weight: 35.80 kg
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Our price: 405.37
including 19% VAT, plus shipping

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Manufacturer: GNB / Exide ( More articles from GNB / Exide )

Category: Marathon M FT

Beschreibung Description
Frage zum Produkt Question on item

Lead acid battery company Exide

Areas of application include:
- Telecommunications
- UPS
- Alarm system
- Radio Technology
- Modelling

Specifications:
Voltage: 12 V
Capacity (C10): 100Ah
Dimensions: L (including lead): 511mm x 110mm x 238mm
Weight: 35.80 kg
Connection: F-M6

Data Exide Marathon M12V105FT 12V 100Ah Front Terminal AGM lead acid battery as PDF

turbopete · Senior Member

acid battery

Exide Marathon M12V105FT 12V 100Ah Front Terminal AGM lead acid battery These are the details of the batteries i was given they are presently fully charged using a
a repco

10amp charger,,I am unfamiliar with how i should test the battys,,can someone enlighten me,,,

Brian where can i find the charts you refer to in your post above

thanks Peter

Similar to
Short supply
Item no. 12089
Shipping Weight: 35.80 kg
Add to compare list
to wishlist

Our price: 405.37
including 19% VAT, plus shipping

Quantity: + - pcs Add to Cart

Manufacturer: GNB / Exide ( More articles from GNB / Exide )

Category: Marathon M FT

Beschreibung Description
Frage zum Produkt Question on item

Lead acid battery company Exide

Areas of application include:
- Telecommunications
- UPS
- Alarm system
- Radio Technology
- Modelling

Specifications:
Voltage: 12 V
Capacity (C10): 100Ah
Dimensions: L (including lead): 511mm x 110mm x 238mm
Weight: 35.80 kg
Connection: F-M6

Data Exide Marathon M12V105FT 12V 100Ah Front Terminal AGM lead acid battery as PDF

Diggings · Senior Member

Brother uses ex Telstra batteries and swears by them, they are a bit heavy though.

Cheers

Dave

Cruising Cruze · Guru

very nice if you can get them

SnowT · Guru

Look all I'll say is..

1 - work out what you want to do with the system.. - what will you power, for how long will you run it..
2 - Check out all different makes of Batteries..
Not all batteries are the same..
-- Cost
-- Weight of Batteries
-- How Will you recharge the battery..
Does the MH have a Solar panel..

Hope this helps you out..

Also Check out the prices of batteries online and compare the cost to what they tell you..

Juergen