Separate Battery for WFP?

« **on:** March 13, 2007, 08:14:08 pm »

Just thought I'd ask this, as Dave@St.Ives questioned the other day whether I needed to buy a battery and split charger.

With a decent battery on a diesel I can't see it being any problem at all.

Over the years I've run some fairly hefty audio amps from the car's battery with no problems.
I'm currently running a 300W(RMS proper watts) amp at 4 ohms and an active crossover from the car battery, and that's sucking some juice, but it's been fine.

Surely a 100psi Sureflo can't drain any more than that has...?
After all, most of the time I'll be off driving and charging it within half hour.

It would save a lot of bother, and a bit of money.
Any thoughts?

« **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2007, 08:27:56 pm »

We run two vehicles in two separate ways:

Vehicle 1 - runs off an uprated vehicle battery. Never gives any problems but does need changing about every 18 months.

Vehicle 2 - has separate leisure battery with split charger relay system. Fine most of the time but on commercial work can need the car engine running occasionally to recharge it. Ends up being put on top up charge about twice a month.

Which one would I go for out of choice? Running off the vehicle's own battery but make sure it is the biggest battery you can fit under the bonnet and then you should have no problems.

« **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2007, 08:38:31 pm »

I run 2 pumps at the same time for up to 5 hours at a time sometimes and the van still fires up afterwards.

18 months now and the battery is still going strong, I have also set 2 systems up for local shiners exactly the same way.

Why not run off your car then if its not up to the job then get a split charge relay

How many of you who voted for a separate battery have actually tried running off the vehicle battery ?

Especially those of you with a varistream

Dave

« **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2007, 08:43:36 pm »

I voted seperate battery , I have run 100psi surflow and vari2 from the car before and it didnt work well I had to walk to a garage in local village one day to borrow a booster pack to get car going again after draining car battery

Chris

« **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2007, 08:48:51 pm »

you could run it off the battery

in a week or 2 buy a "jump start" pack, just incase, only 20 quid in makro's, nice to have it as a backup

« **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2007, 09:34:59 pm »

stick with the leisure battery, quite simply, the car battery is not designed for constant drain.
You are only intending paying peanuts for a van Rog (at least until you can afford to upgrade to a decent one) so you will have no idea of the long term state of the battery.
And if you need to buy a new batery anyway, you mught as well go for the leisure battery, which is specifically designed for this type of use.

The reason you need a split charge relay is because of the difficulty you would have trying to stick it on charge each evening.

Others may well cope fine, but play safe and don't cut corners in this area.

Ian

« **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2007, 11:46:40 pm »

When I first started WFP I used car battery until one day I exhausted my battery and had to get a jump start, very embarrassing!!! Didn't want to be in that situation ever again so I now use a large leisure battery and split charge relay. I can run the pump virtually all day, non stop with no noticeable drain on the battery or reduction in water flow from the pump.

« **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2007, 11:51:39 pm »

Rog

Do the maths you are capable

Work out the amps of the pump versus the amp hours of the battery

A good battery can take a 100psi pump easily.

Dave

« **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2007, 07:57:01 am »

I just picked up 2 large batteries from our local Tip (council refuge place), I checked they were still at 12+ volts. Perfect and free. If there is nowhere that disposes of them try a garage they often have some old ones.

« **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2007, 08:11:22 am »

the other option is a deep cycle leisure battery NOTconnected to your van battery at all. Just wire your pump to it and you will get 2 full days work out of a 110A battery. Wire it with bulldog clamps and simply take it out of van at end of every 2nd day and recharge overnight.

« **Reply #10 on:** March 14, 2007, 09:12:49 am »

Quote from: steve k on March 14, 2007, 08:11:22 am

the other option is a deep cycle leisure battery NOTconnected to your van battery at all. Just wire your pump to it and you will get 2 full days work out of a 110A battery. Wire it with bulldog clamps and simply take it out of van at end of every 2nd day and recharge overnight.

Nah, sod that.
I'm not lugging a big battery up and down the steps every other day.

If I have to have a separate one it'll be charged on-board.

I'm convinced a pump will use less power than the stereo's amp.

« **Reply #11 on:** March 14, 2007, 02:58:55 pm »

A freind of mine has a transit connect with a WFP system fitted with varistream.

He has had to bump start his van a couple of times due to the WFP system draining his van battery.

Last time i see him he said he was going to get a leisure battery with a split charge relay.

Mine's off a leisure battery with a split charge relay and i have not even touched the leisure battery in the last 10 months the van keeps it charged all the time.

Paul

« **Reply #12 on:** March 14, 2007, 03:44:16 pm »

It will depend on the miles you do, if its only local, I doubt a split charge will be charged up sufficient, esp in winter

« **Reply #13 on:** March 14, 2007, 03:47:22 pm »

This isn't going to be simple clearly.

On another note, the 400L tank's just arrived.

It's a teensy bit bigger than I thought...

« **Reply #14 on:** March 14, 2007, 04:11:43 pm »

He he thats what i thought when i first got a 400ltr tank for storing my water.

They seem smaller after a while

paul

« **Reply #15 on:** March 14, 2007, 04:13:44 pm »

Stlii going for an Escort Rog?

« **Reply #16 on:** March 14, 2007, 04:49:22 pm »

Astra or Escort.

I'd prefer an Astra as the engine's bulletproof and not made by Ford.

I had an Astra Diesel hatch a while back, and the Isuzu diesel in it was perfect with 200,000 miles an my abuse on it.

« **Reply #17 on:** March 14, 2007, 05:17:44 pm »

i can recommend the astra van i am on my third one they are excellent vans but i wouldnt put a 400ltr tank in one i think 250ltr would be enough for the payload with all/any other equipment you may need to carry

« **Reply #18 on:** March 14, 2007, 05:57:32 pm »

The only problem with such a small van and large tank, will be that the tank will take up most of the floor space.

This may not leave any room for hose reel.

« **Reply #19 on:** March 14, 2007, 06:10:32 pm »

I'm not going to be putting more than 200-odd litres in it at the moment anyway, I don't need to.

I just figured that when I need more water in the future I won't need to buy another tank, and was it was only a few quid more than a 250L one.

The size is a worry though.
If it goes in widthways it's no problem, but if not, it's going to use a lot of space up.

Poll

Do you use a separate battery or run the pump from the van's battery?