What do you think of these batteries?

davidathomas42

davidathomas42

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Not knowing who makes the Halfords battery. Someone here might.

It's £76 for there 115Ah leasure battery as I have a trade card with them or £180 for the Exide one.

Now cash no issue I'd pay the £180 but I have lots and lots of things on the list so any money saved helps but only if it's a smart saving. I don't want to end up buying both because the first turns out to be crap.

I guess I could always return it though.

Anyone have any experience with the Halfords ones?

My current plan as we only have a locker for one battery is to put in the biggest I can manage and add a decent solar panel on the roof. We will mostly be on EHU so it's just to cover 1 might stops should we be without currently.

Later on I plan to add a 2nd in the garage area to double the power available.


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Don't skip your duff battery, cash it in at a scrap yard, every little helps :xThumb:
 
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davidathomas42 said:
View attachment 137333 Battery arrived today! Bonus! 15:30 order and here by the next morning. Good service.

Now........... it's a 135ah one which after talking to Rhino installs today they recon will be fine for my current expected use and should give me 3 days power if using it lightly. Or I guess a day hammering it hard.

So I am thinking I'll double it and build a retainer in the garage next to the battery cupboard and throw a 2nd one in there so I have 270ah on hand and that should cover me for any needs really as we're likely on EHU most of the time.

Question? Do I wait and throw them both in together in the new year or can I put the first one in now then the 2nd one in a month. That's how long I estimate it will take me to do the garage work etc to have it secure and linked in.
My common sense is saying they should both go in identically so they are exact age etc but would a month really make any difference? Be nice to get it whacked in tomorrow and lose that crappy 80ah one I have that seems a bit weak even for just 18months old.

We're next using it over new year and will be on EHU. Jan I'll have time to get both in.
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Do you really need another battery, I only have one at 80Ah and like yourself on EHU most of the time apart from festivals that we go too and then it will last for 3 days no probs
As our lights are LED with occasional use of the TV everything else can be run off gas and in 4yrs not let me down with one battery and no solar, however if your mainly off grid then I can see the advantages of a extra battery and solar
neither of which I have required, so ask yourself do you really need them
 
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FJmike said:
Not that simple, as I said have a look at http://www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk/battery-technology-2012.php most chargers on motorhomes are not compatible with Banners
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I've read this and quite frankly dismiss some of it as utter rubbish. The guy who runs this company was a member on here for a short time and clashed with a couple of member's over some of his posts. I simply do not accept that most chargers are not compatible with Banner batteries. This guy, IMO was on a mission to sell/promote Vatra batteries and slagged off Banner batteries.
If they are so bad, how come they have been approved by the NCC independent verification scheme as meeting Class A (AGM) Class B (lead acid deep cycle) and Class C (starter batteries).
Just because something is written in a technical paper on a private or even public website does not mean it's correct or even accurate.
 
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PhilandMena said:
I've read this and quite frankly dismiss some of it as utter rubbish. The guy who runs this company was a member on here for a short time and clashed with a couple of member's over some of his posts. I simply do not accept that most chargers are not compatible with Banner batteries. This guy, IMO was on a mission to sell/promote Vatra batteries and slagged off Banner batteries.
If they are so bad, how come they have been approved by the NCC independent verification scheme as meeting Class A (AGM) Class B (lead acid deep cycle) and Class C (starter batteries).
Just because something is written in a technical paper on a private or even public website does not mean it's correct or even accurate.
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IMO Banner batteries are absolute rubbish you only have to search the German forums if you want confirmation. And what really riles me is they won't honor their warranty. They market a battery as dual for starter & leisure use and then will only accept a starter battery test as proof of failure.

As for the NCC I wouldn't believe anything they publish even if they claim it to be independent. A organisation funded by manufacturers and dealers for their own benefit.
 
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Lenny HB said:
IMO Banner batteries are absolute rubbish you only have to search the German forums if you want confirmation. And what really riles me is they won't honor their warranty. They market a battery as dual for starter & leisure use and then will only accept a starter battery test as proof of failure.

As for the NCC I wouldn't believe anything they publish even if they claim it to be independent. A organisation funded by manufacturers and dealers for their own benefit.
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Well clearly, that's your view which you are fully entitled to express on this forum. However, IMO it holds no water as I fail to see how an organisation like the NCC can independently test and publish battery performance that is not correct. If they were to publish false results they would be setting themselves up for legal action from a long list of reputable battery manufacturers on whose results they publish. They do state on there website for this scheme 'Battery verification comes via a comprehensive, industry leading, testing process conducted by suitably certified and audited test houses'. If this was not the case they would have been exposed long before now.
With respect to your statement about only the starter battery warranty test being undertaken, i have no doubt this is true and the reason for this is simply there is no defined or accepted industry standard for the term 'leisure battery' yet there is a standard for a starter battery, namely BS EN 50342 n which lays down criteria that a starter battery must meet. There is no such standard for a leisure battery. The following clip demonstrates how battery manufactures mislead and rip of customers and demonstrates why we need independent verification.
 
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It wasn't long ago that Elecsol batteries were the latest and greatest.
How many folk bought them on the strength of good reviews and alleged 5yr warranty ?
Turned out they were pants (I know some have had good experience, mine was anything but...)

It was an odd coincidence that as the Elecsol decline started, Banner Batteries took up the advertising space and started receiving great reviews :rolleyes:
Banner Batteries are certainly popular, perhaps it's why you often read about problems....
 
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kaasbroodje said:
It wasn't long ago that Elecsol batteries were the latest and greatest.
How many folk bought them on the strength of good reviews and alleged 5yr warranty ?
Turned out they were pants (I know some have had good experience, mine was anything but...)

It was an odd coincidence that as the Elecsol decline started, Banner Batteries took up the advertising space and started receiving great reviews :rolleyes:
Banner Batteries are certainly popular, perhaps it's why you often read about problems....
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Elecsol were fitted to my Motorhome when I purchased from new (2 x 110 AH) and i got 4. 1/2 years out of then included 3 months without hook up in Morocco so perhaps I was one of the lucky ones. Mind you when they died they died LOL no steady decline just sudden death.

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PhilandMena said:
I've read this and quite frankly dismiss some of it as utter rubbish. The guy who runs this company was a member on here for a short time and clashed with a couple of member's over some of his posts. I simply do not accept that most chargers are not compatible with Banner batteries. This guy, IMO was on a mission to sell/promote Vatra batteries and slagged off Banner batteries.
If they are so bad, how come they have been approved by the NCC independent verification scheme as meeting Class A (AGM) Class B (lead acid deep cycle) and Class C (starter batteries).
Just because something is written in a technical paper on a private or even public website does not mean it's correct or even accurate.
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Absolutely no idea why you are extremely quick at decrying all and sundry but the way I look at is :-
http://www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk/battery-technology-2012.php don't sell batterys and his advise seems reasonably sound as he mends chargers for a living.
NCC are a trade body who look after trade bodies, a lot of whom sell batterys,
So it is obvious to me where the unbiased opinion is
 
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NickNic said:
If you put 2 of them in you won't have 270ah of capacity. You will have 135ah. With just the one you have 67.5ah usable.

You need to remember that once this type of battery is discharged past 50% it's banjaxed and only good for the skip.
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Is this correct? Straight question because I don't know the answer, but what I do know is that I have two Banner 110ah batteries and when my control panel shows 100% charged it also shows 176ah so not 220 but also not 110. Gary
 
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By far the most common arrangement, usually of 12 volt 100-120 amp hour batteries is that shown below. A few have only one 12 volt battery but most have two or more. If four, each of 100 amp hour are parallel connected (as below) their voltage remains at 12 volts, but capacity is 400 amp hours (4800 watt hours).

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The above is a typical battery bank for a large caravan or motor home. Four 12 volt 100 amp hour batteries can hold 400 amp hour at 12 volts (4800 watt hours). Pic: caravanandmotorhomebooks.com

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HymerB544 said:
Is this correct? Straight question because I don't know the answer, but what I do know is that I have two Banner 110ah batteries and when my control panel shows 100% charged it also shows 176ah so not 220 but also not 110. Gary
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The two Banner batteries you have are actually 100 AH leisure batteries when measured at the 20AH rate. (This is the rate that most AH battery ratings are measured at). Also, and I'm guessing here, the battery monitor you are getting your reading from may not be calibrated for 100AH batteries and therefore giving an incorrect reading.......or, your batteries may not be fully charged.......or and more likley, your batteries are fully charged and there is a draw on them from one or more of your services and this is why your control panel is giving the reading it is. It could be spot on.
Finaly, if you join two identical batteries in parallel you double the Amps and keep same voltrage. So in your case. 12 V and 200 AH.
 
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@PhilandMena my batteries were listed as : Capacity 130 AH : CCA 850 A
CCA being Cold Cranking Amps.
But i cant see any ref in my battery description of the following :
85AH @ 5 HR
100AH @ 20 HR
110AH @ 100HR

like in the advert from Alpha batteries. i'm just wondering what the real AH of my batteries are , which i will link here :
Amazon product ASIN B01DT5GA7E
 
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OK!
Bart said:
@PhilandMena my batteries were listed as : Capacity 130 AH : CCA 850 A
CCA being Cold Cranking Amps.
But i cant see any ref in my battery description of the following :
85AH @ 5 HR
100AH @ 20 HR
110AH @ 100HR

like in the advert from Alpha batteries. i'm just wondering what the real AH of my batteries are , which i will link here :
Amazon product ASIN B01DT5GA7E
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OK Obviously I have the wrong size battery. (Sorry about that must be getting confused with another thread.) No link for your batteries so unable to comment on them.
 
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No! Just give me the name and where you bought it from.
Alternatively, if you want some confidence that what you are buying, IS what it says on the tin (if you get my drift). 1. Buy a battery that has been verified by the NCC verification scheme.
http://www.thencc.org.uk/our_schemes/ncc_verified_leisure_battery_scheme.aspx
2. Complies with BS EN 50342 -1 3. States the AH at the 20 Hr rate and the number of cycles and DOD (Depth Of Discharge)

I would say, if your battery does not comply with any of the above, there is a reasonable chance that what you have paid for is likely to be different to that stated on the label.
Have a look at the video clip on page 2 of this thread.
 
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PhilandMena said:
No! Just give me the name and where you bought it from.
Alternatively, if you want some confidence that what you are buying, IS what it says on the tin (if you get my drift). 1. Buy a battery that has been verified by the NCC verification scheme.
http://www.thencc.org.uk/our_schemes/ncc_verified_leisure_battery_scheme.aspx
2. Complies with BS EN 50342 -1 3. States the AH at the 20 Hr rate and the number of cycles and DOD (Depth Of Discharge)

I would say, if your battery does not comply with any of the above, there is a reasonable chance that what you have paid for is likely to be different to that stated on the label.
Have a look at the video clip on page 2 of this thread.
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Hi Phil

They look like a 110ah sticker battery, same size as a Numax 110ah and case look exactly the same also the same size as the 135ah on GCD web site,



12V 130AH SB DT130 Super Heavy Duty Ultra Deep Cycle Leisure Marine Battery - Dual terminals / Twin Posts - Replace 12V 110AH Numax XV31MF and Lucas LX31MF

by Link Removed
 
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Is it from Amazon. Superbatt DT130

It has good reviews which appear to be based on delivery only. 'Maintenance Free' lead acid battery (? here we go !!). No information about No discharges & DOD, compliance with BS EN 50342 -1 or included in the NCC scheme.
It could be no more than a lead acid starter battery.
Personally, I would not buy a leisure battery on price alone without having some verifiable accurate information on it's true description and performance.
 
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I bought a new Halfords battery in August and it sat unused in my garage since then. I put it on the car a few days ago and it was flat. Charged it up 3 times now and though it shows just over 12V it won't crank the car unless I give it some help from jump leads.

I took it into Halfords this morning to get it changed and they refused. They put a "battery tester" on it which turned out to be no more than a voltmeter and it was showing 12.8V or "89% charged" according to their box. When I questioned the guy how it checked the current draw he told me it was illegal for them to use a drop tester which loads up the battery. I'd already used a proper battery meter on it and it sat in the red and read poor. So they have no way of testing the battery properly and because their box shows it as holding voltage they won't change it. I have to bring the car to them to show it won't crank. That means I have to put a different battery on it to get it though the MOT (because I doubt it will pass if it can't start itself) then jump start it to get it to the shop.

It's a joke and I'm not happy. I splashed out on a set of metric and imperial Professional spanners at great expense but they will be going back for a refund and I'll get them from Snap On or something instead, I'm fed up and they can't have my custom, time for a letter to head office
 
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Agree with you about Halfords not checking it correctly but you are being a bit cheeky expecting them to change a battery that has been ruined by your poor maintainance. You can't leave a standard lead acid battery for 4 months without regular charging and expect it still to work.
 
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PhilandMena said:
A good read, but does not prevent dodgy battery manufacturers misleading customers and marketing products that are not what they claim.
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Precisely, that is why perhaps it should be compulsory for battery users to read the above links. :LOL::LOL:
 
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Charjabug said:
I bought a new Halfords battery in August and it sat unused in my garage since then. I put it on the car a few days ago and it was flat, SNIP>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
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What do you expect but a little leeway you do not mention whether you charged it in those 4 months.

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New Battery is installed.
However because its at the limit of the fit I was not able to attach the drain pipe. It's currently just stuffed in to the right of the red cap as you can see.

The hole for it was on the left about half way into the width. There is no way it will fit. Big issue? I am assuming any drain will still seep out into the battery tray as that's where the drain pipe end was anyway.

Also I broke the left side brown clip for the retaining strap attachment point. Anyone able to send me an eBay link to order a replacement

Thanks.

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