[Andrew46]

Excuise my ignorance but can you run the pump from your van battery and if so is that recommended?

I assume the best option is to have a seperate deep cycle 85amp battery fitted?  If so  how is this re charged and how long does this last on average?  Is a leisure battery better  and how long will this last?

Sorry for all the questions.

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

 
you can but its  best if you run it from a external source like a power station

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

As stated in your other post.

IF you use 8mm hose, 100psi sureflo pump + varistream controller you can run it from the cig lighter socket all day & not flatten the battery. Many do this including one company with multiple vans who uses this site. The battery on my van is 60Ah.

I would recomend you either make up or buy ready made, a pump box. Cleantech do an excellent one, all ready to, just connect hose either side (in/out), plug into 12v socket & you're away!!! All done in one, removable, neat unit- so no freezing pump in winter as you can just take it indoors at night. No wiring, no fitting, no hassle.

If you go for 6mm hose then you will probably have to go with the seperate battery/charger/hassle.

Is 2mm worth all the extra hassle/expense?

[rich fraser]

I was told by my local battery suppliers (bardens) that running the pump straight off your van battery reduced the battery life by half. Your normal car batt is not designed to be run down and then recharged reguerly. Where as a leisure battery is. It also reduces the life exspectancy of your alternator aswell, as it is being overworked. I have a 110amp leisure battery that i tricle charge every other night. I should think it would proably last a week  but i dont want to run the risk of running out of juice in it during the day. I have found this the easiest way forward.
Hope this helps

[Pittmonkey]

I would recommend a separate Battery unless you are clocking a few miles. Personally I've never fancied running from the van battery but plenty do.

Just bought my new Battery from here a LUC35.
http://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/buy-online/caravan-batteries-boat-batteries-leisure-batteries/cat_5.html

Bought two now from Halfords in the last two years, 80amp's only lasted 12 months each. The one above can do 500 cycles where as the Halfords probably only got 100. BTW the Halfords Batteries cost more than the one from Alpha.

Would also recommend a quality intelligent charger not a cheap one (again, another mistake I made)or, use a split relay from the van.

Hope this Helps
Wayne

[jarvy]

Got 110mah leisure battery in the back of my van,fitted a split charge system so i can drain the leisure batt and not the vans batt,charges back up as you drive. Also fitted a ciggy lighter up to the leisure battery so i can plug my inverter into it for the booster pump. The van is almost self contained now,just plug hose into it!
Also thinking of getting a frost heater in the back of the van for winter,will plug into the inverter and run of that. Then charges back up as van runs,should never get frozen pipes etc! (Hopefully!!)

[jarvy]

Also as said before,try not to use a normal van battery,these are not designed to be deeply discharged,it will kill 'em. 

[Andrew46]

I

Would also recommend a quality intelligent charger not a cheap one (again, another mistake I made)or, use a split relay from the van.

Hope this Helps
Wayne

Thanks.  For that battery what charger have you got??

[Pittmonkey]

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_210939_langId_-1_categoryId_165629

I use one of these. Had a cheap one prior to this and found this to be much better. Having said that just read some of the reviews on the site and cant understand why they are havin probs.

Anyone else is welcome to make a recommendation

[Andrew46]

tHANKS.  I'm also looking at AC70 from Machine mart and alpha-battery intelligent chargers

[macmac]

As stated in your other post.

IF you use 8mm hose, 100psi sureflo pump + varistream controller you can run it from the cig lighter socket all day & not flatten the battery. Many do this including one company with multiple vans who uses this site. The battery on my van is 60Ah.

I would recomend you either make up or buy ready made, a pump box. Cleantech do an excellent one, all ready to, just connect hose either side (in/out), plug into 12v socket & you're away!!! All done in one, removable, neat unit- so no freezing pump in winter as you can just take it indoors at night. No wiring, no fitting, no hassle.

If you go for 6mm hose then you will probably have to go with the seperate battery/charger/hassle.

Is 2mm worth all the extra hassle/expense?

Spot on, the "battery guy" hasn't a clue!

[macmac]

No need for any leisure battery or seperate charger if you do what winproclean said, I run a similar setup & have NEVER flattened the battery.

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

I run two old car batteries from a solar panel on my roof. Have done since June. Recharged them both once since as I flattened them when I went camping. (Tried to run a 12v cooler all weekend)

Never bought a battery since the first one 3 1/2 years ago