Battery replacement time...

aussie_paul · Guru

Battery replacement time...

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

I would not install wet cell lead acid batteries in a motorhome or caravan.
That leaves AGM, Gel and Lithium.
Lithium promises longer life, lower weight and higher current draw ability (for some, but not all). It depends on the value of those features to you personally to determine if you are prepared to spend the extra $$s required, which might vary depending on your existing equipment which might need to be replaced.
Gels are fussier to look after compared with AGMs, so I would never go there.
That leaves AGMs which are the choice of the majority. Our Fullrivers are now over 9 years old and still hanging in there. Buy good quality.

How much battery capacity you need depends on your power requirements and how much solar you have.
The more solar, the less batteries required, so I would advise you to install as much solar as possible which means the batteries get fully charged every day and that makes them last longer and you need less because they are always full at the end of the day and only have to supply power until next morning.
Cheers,
Peter

Dougwe · Chief one feather

G'day Paul, nice to chat with ya late this afternoon.

I run two of these in the Aluminium TeePee and would replace with the same when needed.

photo (75).JPG

I also run AC Delco in the Collie and would replace with same again when needed.

Whenarewethere · Guru

If it has worked to date for your requirements & you don't need to reduce weight stick with lead! I have gel in my car. Otherwise go AGM.

yobarr · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
If it has worked to date for your requirements & you don't need to reduce weight stick with lead! I have gel in my car. Otherwise go AGM.

I seem to recall that Paul has MAJOR weight issues? Lithium.Cheers.

Extraordinary Rendition · Veteran Member

Eschew learned helplessness

rockylizard · Guru

Extraordinary Rendition wrote:
Eschew learned helplessness

Gday...

confuse Given that insightful response, it beggars belief why you are a participant on a forum ... let alone this one. cry

Do you really see your response as a valuable contribution to the OPs question?

eschew
1. To avoid using, accepting, participating in, or partaking of;
2. To refrain from (doing something).

learned helplessness
a condition in which a person suffers from a sense of powerlessness, arising from a traumatic event or persistent failure to succeed.
The act of giving up trying as a result of consistent failure to be rewarded in life.

One might suggest that to take your (hopefully) helpful advice, there would be no forum/s nor any need for any questions between members. cry

Cheers - John

Craig1 · Guru

AP, Full River AGM for me, but they are very b heavy versus calcium wet acid, 36-38kg, 120ah versus 22kg 100ah. So make sure you can handle the weight if self install and if rig can handle extra 30 odd kg for two. Don't know if lithium would blow the budget but my impression you use your rig a fair bit, so may be cost effective.

aussie_paul · Guru

This is one that I will be replacing. Original supplied with van.

Aussie Paul. smile

Ritar battery.JPG

-- Edited by aussie_paul on Monday 6th of May 2019 10:20:09 PM

Whenarewethere · Guru

Craig1 wrote:
AP, Full River AGM for me, but they are very b heavy versus calcium wet acid, 36-38kg, 120ah versus 22kg 100ah. So make sure you can handle the weight if self install.....

Once upon a time I wonder how we lifted 40kg bags of cement, 25 bags to the tonne. Without handles!

Eaglemax · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
I would not install wet cell lead acid batteries in a motorhome or caravan.
That leaves AGM, Gel and Lithium.
Lithium promises longer life, lower weight and higher current draw ability (for some, but not all). It depends on the value of those features to you personally to determine if you are prepared to spend the extra $$s required, which might vary depending on your existing equipment which might need to be replaced.
Gels are fussier to look after compared with AGMs, so I would never go there.
That leaves AGMs which are the choice of the majority. Our Fullrivers are now over 9 years old and still hanging in there. Buy good quality.

How much battery capacity you need depends on your power requirements and how much solar you have.
The more solar, the less batteries required, so I would advise you to install as much solar as possible which means the batteries get fully charged every day and that makes them last longer and you need less because they are always full at the end of the day and only have to supply power until next morning.
Cheers,
Peter

Now there's some logic

Tony

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

One usually goes 10 to 20% up in AH if they are quite happy with battery storage they had ? If the price is right .,

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Waiting on the advertisement.... confuse

Might be a little while 'cos he is away at the moment. biggrin

Cheers,

Peter

travelyounger · Guru

Hi guru I recently had to replace my agm batteries I had 3 x 120 amp and downsized to 2 130 amp agm batteries from auto one which set me back $350 each .I have 150 watts of solar which suits running 2 batteries better than three.There seems to be a big difference in what you pay for batteries and some say the real expensive agms will last up to ten years if they are charged all the time I only got four years out of my last set of batteries but that was my fault being a free camper and not keeping them charged regularly. I thought about lithium but to expensive at the moment they might get cheaper if Shorten gets in though cheers

Jaahn · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Waiting on the advertisement....
Might be a little while 'cos he is away at the moment.
Cheers, Peter

biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

jaahn

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Travel . I would look into increasing your solar. Its a bit like have $2 in 10 bank accounts. Imo 250 Atleast . Batteries should be on float charge by mid day . With load . If your traveling a couple of hours each day ? With alternator charging ? Youll get away with it . Btw theres no such thing as 100% efficiency. Be lucky to have 100 watt on
average day . ?

yobarr · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Travel . I would look into increasing your solar. Its a bit like have $2 in 10 bank accounts. Imo 250 Atleast . Batteries should be on float charge by mid day . With load . If your traveling a couple of hours each day ? With alternator charging ? Youll get away with it . Btw theres no such thing as 100% efficiency. Be lucky to have 100 watt on
average day . ?

As always Graeme,you talk a lot of sense.When I was researching my Solar,I was advised that always the panel capacity should be at least 150% times the battery storage capacity.In this case,with 260 amps storage,panel capacity should be 400+. On my van I have 1710 watts panels and 540ah lithium storage,while the car has 190 watts and 90ah lithium....soon to be increased to 180ah.....and nothing is hooked up to the alternator. Cheers

aussie_paul · Guru

yobarr wrote:
Whenarewethere wrote:
If it has worked to date for your requirements & you don't need to reduce weight stick with lead! I have gel in my car. Otherwise go AGM.
I seem to recall that Paul has MAJOR weight issues? Lithium.Cheers.

Chris, since I got the ATM of the van increased from 2727kg to 2950kg my weight problem is mostly too much ball weight for the Pajero. Need to upgrade the Pajero rear end or change vehicle. biggrin

Aussie Paul. smile

-- Edited by aussie_paul on Tuesday 7th of May 2019 05:30:27 PM

Craig1 · Guru

A P, if changing vehicle be careful of Landcruiser eights, a fantastic thing, but standard load rating is often not enough. I just got a gvm upgrade to cover my bum and a potential scaly.

aussie_paul · Guru

Thanks everyone for their comments.

Aussie Paul. smile