[stevieg]

What is the best battery set up?  I have been using lorry batteries for a while but i am aware that ordinary batteries used incorrectly shortens their life so i tried a split charger,this didnt work very succesfully at all!!  My most recent set up has been with the battery connected through the van battery.(so that it is being charged continuously when driving, This has been done using a very heavy duty set of cables and was working very ncely for about a month.Unfortunately this also seems to have come to an end and although not completely flat the water flow is not what it should be.
Does anyone else use this set up and if so how do you get on with it?

[GWCS]

80Ah leisure battery with a split charger

[concept]

i have a 110ah leisure battery, just done 3 busy days without a recharge inbetween, getting a split charge though, as it's becoming a pain in the ass pulling it on and off the van.

[ronnie paton]

even with a split relay you will need to charge

[concept]

even with a split relay you will need to charge

howcome?

[GWCS]

even with a split relay you will need to charge

depends how far you drive  


Some guys have started to use solar panels (Sunshine Cleaning) is one, i think the battery was charged fully to start with and the solar power tops up during the day - think its been about 4-5 weeks now since he installed it.. was working well for him.

[ronnie paton]

were can i get them from?? im very disapoimted with mine some days we do 2 and a half hours driving others 45 min but since fitted in april iv had them out sorting things three times and it cost around £400 mmmmmmmmm

[windowswashed]

I use 2 x 110 amp leisure batteries. 1 for the pump and 1 for the heater. Smart split charger generating 35 amps max as it can't be charged directly from 60amp van battery without damaging electric sensor box. Top it up from mains now and again for good measure. Pump and heater run all day with no problems.

[jeff1]

There is no good substitute for a regular bench charge to keep a battery in top condition over an extended period, with a split charge relay you need to cover a very long distance to fully charge an auxiliary battery  and a solar panel will trickle charge only but hammer a battery for a day and non of the above except a bench charge with fully recharge a battery.

Buy yourself the biggest AmpH battery you can afford and charge it on a regular basis with a bench charger you will reap the benefit over a longer period.

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

even with a split relay you will need to charge

depends how far you drive  


Some guys have started to use solar panels (Sunshine Cleaning) is one, i think the battery was charged fully to start with and the solar power tops up during the day - think its been about 4-5 weeks now since he installed it.. was working well for him.

I think sunshine cleaning is in Australia which might make a difference to his charging.

I have a 110amp/hr running 2 pumps, but trickle charge the battery every night.

Simon.

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

In Derbyshire UK. Wish I was in Aus!

Since fitting the panel I have not had to recharge at all. I have a 2 man set up but just me using it so in affect I have 2 batteries and each week or so swap them over from the solar. As I am working I use which ever pump is handier so they get equal use throughout the week.

I have varistreams on both so the battery can go down to 10v and still function.

One battery was fully charged and one less than 12v when I put the solar on. They both reached 14v holding during June and the full sun. July they stayed at 12.7v ish.

Any questions feel free to ask. mobile no. is on my website.

Stuart

[stevieg]

Good advice from all. The next question is if charging every night ,trickle or fast charge?

[jeff1]

Trickle charge is always best, you do a fast charge and the plates heat up and can buckle

[eclipse]

I had a one of the pure freedom systems fitted to the back of my vito and the flow controller has a built in split charge relay
my rounds are quite compact and in 9 months since i had the system fitted  i have had no problems with flat battery will this shorten the life of the battery?

[jeff1]

using a split charge relay will not fully charge a battery you would have to cover a very large distance to get a full charge, this means your battery will not be running at full capacity and shorten battery life, take it out as often and as regular as you can and bench charge it.

[ronnie paton]

sorry jeff if i sound daft but what is Bench charge?

[GWCS]

sorry jeff if i sound daft but what is Bench charge?

Basically taking them out of the circuit they are in - sticking on a "bench" in a lab or workshop and charging them directly from a charger via the mains.

You can do this in situ in your vehicle but remember to disconnect all the other wires/connections first!

some leisure battery help..

http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/Documents/Looking%20after%20your%20leisure%20battery.pdf

[trees]

does anyone use the halford power pack/ jump packsthe ones with the power outlets for window cleaning pumps as i have seen them on other sites being used?

[L.J.Thorpe]

even with a split relay you will need to charge

howcome?

because you need to do large miles
also leisure batteries need frequent ,long and slow (ie trickle ) charging for best performance

[L.J.Thorpe]

whoops :
just read all jeffs posts so.......what he said