What battery

[27 TUG]

I am thinking of going too A G M batteries is there any problem with these please & thank you

 

[Pausim]

AGM batteries need special treatment to get the best out of them. Alpha Batteries have a detailed guide on how to look after them.

A Detailed Guide to AGM Batteries - Alpha Batteries

With AGM products becoming more widespread in their use, knowing when you can or should use one and how to look after it properly is all the more important - our guide is here to help.

www.alpha-batteries.co.uk

 

[Figaro]

I am thinking of going too A G M batteries is there any problem with these please & thank you

Ask Lenny HB what he thinks

 

[Just smiffy]

AGM don’t get good reviews, better to go Gel or the extra expense of lithium…

 

[Jev88]

As a leisure battery I don't see much of an advantage using AGM over lead acid.

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[Carpmart]

The price of a lithium battery IMHO now renders any other choice a non valid choice!

 

[Outdoors Dad]

There's a couple of lithium batteries in classified adds that seem a good price

 

[LostInSpace]

It doesn't really matter what battery technogy you use. They all need the correct chargers to get the best out of them

How recent is your Rapido? And what technology are the existing batteries?

Often simpler to replace with like for like.

 

[Carpmart]

It doesn't really matter what battery technogy you use. They all need the correct chargers to get the best out of them

How recent is your Rapido? And what technology are the existing batteries?

Often simpler to replace with like for like.

Don’t need to change anything, optimal yes, 100% required, no!

 

[27 TUG]

Hi I got wet acid at the moment but only one battery I am thinking of going to two batteries maybe better to stay with wet acid but fit extra one l fitted a smart Victron solar controller so got that far but will have to change the charger to go to different battery’s? Thanks a lot for info

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[PlacidoD]

Hi I got wet acid at the moment but only one battery I am thinking of going to two batteries maybe better to stay with wet acid but fit extra one l fitted a smart Victron solar controller so got that far but will have to change the charger to go to different battery’s? Thanks a lot for info

You don't absolutely need to make any other changes if you go for a low power LiFePo4 - say 100Ah but conventional wisdom is that it is best to fit a B2B if nothing else. Given that you can run a lithium down to about 10% an 100Ah is the equivalent of about 180Ah lead acid. If you want major off grid capability (200Ah plus) you are going to need B2B, upgraded mains charger and solar charger - also likely more solar on the roof.

You still have not advised the age of you MoHo. I would say if it is modern and has a smart alternator a B2B is essential. If your van is old first base in my view is to swap to led bulbs then consider battery changes unless forced on you earlier by a failing leisure battery.

My leisure battery began to fail too early in my ownership to have the knowledge about upgrading to lithium so I did a like for like swap (So an 100Ah lead acid) and then changed to led bulbs. Long term plan is a B2B and slot in a circa 100Ah LiFePo4. They keep getting cheaper but there is not quite the range of sizes yet. I need a low profile to go under the driver's seat and there is not much choice there yet but it is growing all the time.

There are others far more knowledgeable than me on this subject on this forum but that is the wisdom I have gleaned from them.

 

[27 TUG]

Hi I have rapido A class 966 04 reg on a Mercedes done 30’000 my battery are linked I have led bulbs it’s just lost TV when wife was watching the Soaps just wanted to up rate thanks

 

[iandsm]

If it's any use to you I can say I have two enhanced flooded batteries and an 80 watt solar panel. I heve never had the need to charge them when on a trip, the solar and driving charges them just fine and I can depend on them for at least four or five days if parked up with no EHU, all my lights are LED so the only real use is water pump, fridge and the occasional iPhone charge. Of course that is wine the weather is fairly good and not in the dark winder months. In short, I am happy with enhanced flooded and confident they will serve my needs.

 

[PlacidoD]

Hi I have rapido A class 966 04 reg on a Mercedes done 30’000 my battery are linked I have led bulbs it’s just lost TV when wife was watching the Soaps just wanted to up rate thanks

As you already realise it will be the TV that is the killer for you. I suggest you measure up your existing battery and space to install a 2nd then compare prices of lithium and lead acid of the right dimensions for space available. I suspect you know that you cannot really mix the technologies.

If you opt for lithium you would be wise to fit a 30 amp of greater B2B. I don't have the skill to do that myself otherwise I would already be going down that path so I have to factor in the cost of somebody doing that work for me. Given that my lead acid is only 4 months old this is a 2025 problem for me and does not need sorting now! The fact that my battery is under the drivers seat and it is a pain to dismount the seat and get access to the battery adds to my enthusiasm for applying the maxim atm "If it ain't broke don't fix it!"

 

[PlacidoD]

If it's any use to you I can say I have two enhanced flooded batteries and an 80 watt solar panel. I heve never had the need to charge them when on a trip, the solar and driving charges them just fine and I can depend on them for at least four or five days if parked up with no EHU, all my lights are LED so the only real use is water pump, fridge and the occasional iPhone charge. Of course that is wine the weather is fairly good and not in the dark winder months. In short, I am happy with enhanced flooded and confident they will serve my needs.

Yes patterns of van use are also relevant to the decision. I am usually on an EHU if staying for more than a couple of nights. It is when I move sites staying only one night that I am without EHU and I am then usually driving for a few hours to the next site the next day. I am geared to two nights off EHU and can cope with three on experience to date but I don't watch much TV and when I do it is more usually on my notebook PC.

I can use gas for my fridge but my EHU need arises from a need to recharge devices - in particular my Ebike and PC Also I prefer to use an electric kettle in warm climates rather than gas and then there is the mini George Forman grill for the occasional bacon butty! Also it would be nice to watch TV on my 23" Avtex rather than the 13" PC.

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