hope to get an answer to answer all batttery questions.
first year of waterfed pole i had a split relay charging a 85amp heavy duty battery which did work but battery only lasted a year, i then scrapped the split relay as i was always worrried about my alternator.the battery just died over a few days after being fully charged it would only last two to three hours , got it checked by a professional battery place who only sell batterys they put some electrical gadget on it to see how it perfomed when fully charged and under a strain and it all came up good.
they then tested the acid in it using a hydrometer which they said was the best way to test any battery and it still came up fine so i left it with them.next day i popped round and they said the problem could only be found when the battery had been charging for an hour or so or until it bubbled when dipped with the hydrometer the acid was showing all black which was the sign that it was burnt out.
my choices where then buy another battery which might only do me a year again using the split charge or go for a slightly bigger one and just bench charge it with an intelligent charger as recommended by jeff and hopefully get longer out of it , im not saying a battery on a split charge relay will only last a year but thats all i got out of it.
decided to go for 100amp heavey duty battery and am still using it one year on, i charge it every two nights and havent had a single bit of bother out of it, just getting fed up lifting it in and out of the van.
i know a few on here just run straight off there van battery and i think i would like to give that a go,i just need some advice
do you run it straight from the battery or the cigarrete lighter ?.
do you have to charge the van battery every now and again?
would a small solar panel be beneficial with it or a waste of time?
what if van doesnt start what do you use as back up do you carry one of them jump starters?
most of our work is about 10 to 15 miles away and all spaced out in the country a mile or so from house to house taking about say half an hour on average and then commercial taking about an hour on average but the run is mostly domestic houses . two of us using the one pump turned up full altogether the pump would be on for about 5 to 6 hours solid a day
would the vans battery beable to hold out to this ?
or should i just stay as i am with what i know is reliable
if i added a solar charger to my 100amp battery would it cut down the charging to once a week with out having to get too big a panel i dont want anything on the van roof
i probably sound like a newbie here asking so many questions but any replies much appreciated