[wind0wcleaner]

If a battery is not charged and so runs out halfway through the day is this going to damage it?

Also, if a replacement is needed what criteria do you need to look ofr and what do they mean?

Obviously 12v is the rating of the pump and this has to be a determining factor with the battery, but Ah? What is this all about, is the number of hours a battery will run for depending on the ampage of the pump being used? So a 10 amp pump on a 100 Ah battery would go for 10 hours?

Mine ran out today, at one point the digi screen was saying 12.2 amps and once it started to lose charge it quickly dropped out through 12 and down to 11.

TIA

[matt]

draining a battery really low is bad for it

as for the size, the bigger the better, i have a massive 110 amp battery from a BMW in the van at the mo, its huge though and it charged by solar panel, so far so good 

[Window Washers]

So will any battery do, but the more Ah the better?

Well, 12V anyway.

car battery wil die quick if you drain it down, I went through 3 in a year

I had a leisure battery and killed that aswell, I have a marine battery (so I was told) in one van and direct connection in other van

[matt]

So will any battery do, but the more Ah the better?

Well, 12V anyway.

yes, try and get the type you can top up the water inside and keep it topped up

it'll last ages

i used a old car battery from the recycling skips, it was 4 years old when i got it, i still got 18 months out of it, i think it would still be on the go, but i dropped it on the drive and it split open

get a nice solar charger, mine now doesnt get charged, the sun keeps ontop of it

[ftp]

Chewing gum from the recycle centre.

[matt]

Matt what is that solar charger fitted to the roof of you vehicle with?

its not fitted to the roof, its fitted to the side / rear window

[dai]

Matt what is that solar charger fitted to the roof of you vehicle with?

its not fitted to the roof, its fitted to the side / rear window

Whats the output of that charger Matt?

[dai]

So will any battery do, but the more Ah the better?

Well, 12V anyway.

Ideally you need a battery that would last 2 or 4 days, and charge it every night or every other.
A battery needs charging when it's half discharged, or gives a meter reading of 12.05 volts, this is what manufactures recommend for  maximum battery life.
I use an 85 amp hour, and charge it every other night

[matt]

Matt what is that solar charger fitted to the roof of you vehicle with?

its not fitted to the roof, its fitted to the side / rear window

Whats the output of that charger Matt?

i dont know of the top of my head, i looked at so many, it was either 2 or 3 amp ( which i read as it would put 2 or 3 amps back in per hour ) which when you consider summer daylight hours works about right,

[Mike #1]

i have had a battery on my purefreedom trolley for 18 mths now no probs , you are supposed to run a battery flat ideally , if it is a trolley battery for instance and you charge it every night as instructed the battery will last no time at all been told i should get about 3 yrs out of mine charge it every 3 -4 days

[dai]

i have had a battery on my purefreedom trolley for 18 mths now no probs , you are supposed to run a battery flat ideally , if it is a trolley battery for instance and you charge it every night as instructed the battery will last no time at all been told i should get about 3 yrs out of mine charge it every 3 -4 days

You have been misinformed, check this link.
www.smartgauge.co.uk/50percent.html

[jeff1]

I charge my batteries every night and they have lasted years, like anything else look after it and it will last.

[karygate]

i used to use leisure batteries and they kept dying on me, now use a cheap 35ah car battery and charge it every night and 7 months still going strong.

[ftp]

Same here, given up on leisure batteries - don't seem worth the extra expense.

[Londoner]

And me,  exactly the same. My battery is over a year old now and still working fine. Just the cheapest car battery from the local tyre garage.   Blow those leisure batteries.

[Mike #1]

i think i got what he was saying so how often do you recommend i charge battery

[dai]

i think i got what he was saying so how often do you recommend i charge battery

Too many variables to give a precise answer.
1] what amp hour is the battery?
2]] are you using an electronic flow controller?
3] how many hours a day is the pump runniing?



 The only way you will really know is to run a fully charged battery until it goes flat,
record the number of hours it has run, divide the number of hours by 2.
If your battery lasts for 20 hours, it should be recharged when you have done 10.
I have a compact round, so my pump is running most of the day, using a Varistream means that my pump is not continuously  running flat out. I recharge my 85 amp hour leisure battery every other night, if it was only a 40 amp battery I would need to charge it nightly.

[jeff1]

i think i got what he was saying so how often do you recommend i charge battery

If you want your battery to last then charge it every night, it may be a pain in the butt to do but you'll be rewarded for it in the future.

[mark dew]

I have 2 in my van and connect with a set of jump leads if i get caught out.
I charge the main 1 every couple of days and the other 1 every week.

[Sir Squeaky]

I've always charged my battery every night, but have got through four in 2 years.
Jump leads for me by midday lately.

I'm just going to end up permanantly wiring it to the van.