Which battery?

[Blue Knight]

I’d be interested to see how you get on with the Yuasa’s

I know Varta state low to moderate use for their LDF90’s ( PhilandMena’s comment) but I had two in an old Swift, used throughout the year with one 120watt solar panel, and the batteries were fine, even with a TV and electric fan on the gas heater running on winter nights. I’m quite happy that they perform well enough for me.

I was intending to have a similiar configuration but our van has a compressor fridge and therefore a bit more solar and a few more Ah's from the L36's would help no end, assuming the Yuasa batteries work well.

 

[PhilandMena]

I was intending to have a similiar configuration but our van has a compressor fridge and therefore a bit more solar and a few more Ah's from the L36's would help no end, assuming the Yuasa batteries work well.

It's hard to tell how these batteries will perform. As others have said they are relatively new and I would suggest take up to 3 years to get some decent feedback on usage and on top of that (and most importantly) how they are being used. Feedback on leisure batteries that are constantly or predominantly maintained on hook up is of little to no value as the cheapest 12 V, starter battery would be suitable if on hook up all the time. So we need feedback on batteries that have in effect been hammered each year to give us an idea of how good they really are. Even the Varta LFD-90 which many members have purchased has resulted in limited feedback. I have purchased the Exide ET650 and will provide feedback on performance at a later date. (They will be hammered in Morocco and beyond).
One recommendation I would give to all members is, if purchasing from Tanya batteries, check there fluid levels and most importantly voltage levels before fitting. The two new batteries I received from them this year were both down to 12.4 V and with low fluid levels. I suspect they expect all new batteries they supply to be fitted straight away without checking and clearly these were not being maintained by them when held in stock. (They were returned and I asked for a refund and took my business elsewhere). I sent them a review stating my disappointment and this was not made available for potential and existing customers to see. They filter out any negative feedback/reviews from there customers. There's not one negative review on there website

 

[Nik]

You have plenty of solar and say you are a light user. I would just get flooded lead acid batteries which are cheaper and because of your solar should be kept pretty well fully charged all the time. Deep cycling is only useful if you need it. You don't say if you go away in the winter which might make a difference.

Hi @Reallyretired
Thanks for your reply and info. We don't do too much UK stuff in the winter but in the new year are off to Morocco, for our 1st time, and other places from 12th Jan to April so at least for part of the journey we will be off grid for a couple of weeks or more.

My Charger will cope with AGM so shouldn't have any worries there.

And lastly
Thanks to @PhilandMena, @pappajohn, @Lenny HB, @Allanm, and everyone else for their advice.
See you on the road or in Morocco.
Safe travels all.
Happy Christmas etc .
Nik

 

[Lenny HB]

Just had a message from another Funster who's AGM's have failed at just over a year old, new van with a proper AGM charger.

 

[PhilandMena]

Just had a message from another Funster who's AGM's have failed at just over a year old, new van with a proper AGM charger.

That's a rare event !

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Blue Knight]

Even the Varta LFD-90 which many members have purchased has resulted in limited feedback. I have purchased the Exide ET650 and will provide feedback on performance at a later date. (They will be hammered in Morocco and beyond).

I've just read a post by Allan on MMM in response to a forum member and he makes an interesting point about the LDF-90 and ET-650.

He mentions that the LDF-90 has a much better capability to support the average motorhomer who uses their vans infrequently whereas the ET-650 is more suited for daily use; i.e. a hammering in Morocco

 

[Lenny HB]

a hammering in Morocco

So that's what Phil getts up to

 

[Feltwell]

That's good to hear. I appreciate that it has only been 4-weeks but are they doing everything you wanted from them.

Yes, but they've not had much of a trial - 1 weekend away, that's it. When they arrived I put them on a maintenance trickle smart charger just to bring them up to full charge before they went in the van - usually that takes 24 hours or so, but with these it was only a couple of hours.

Just checked the van and it reckons they are at 12.9 volts (might be a tiny bit of solar going in). So far so good, but after 4 weeks any old rubbish should still be OK, the test will be what they are like in 3-4 years!

A and N Caravan Services has been very good with his recommendations in the past, hence why I was happy to give these a go.

 

[PhilandMena]

[QUOTE="Blue Knight,

He mentions that the LDF-90 has a much better capability to support the average motorhomer who uses their vans infrequently whereas the ET-650 is more suited for daily use; i.e. a hammering in Morocco [/QUOTE]
I interpret this as meaning low to moderate use and using frequent hook up. Not a good endorsement for a top end leisure battery I.M.O. Then again, who is providing this insight, it could be the man on the moon for all I know.

 

[autorouter]

Then again, who is providing this insight, it could be the man on the moon for all I know.

For lunar touring, best to use sealed batteries to avoid too much evaporation. Of course weight is less of a problem, with gravity being a sixth as strong. More energy from the solar panels due to absence of clouds. The nights are cold and last a fortnight, but great for amateur astronomy.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[PhilandMena]

For lunar touring, best to use sealed batteries to avoid too much evaporation. Of course weight is less of a problem, with gravity being a sixth as strong. More energy from the solar panels due to absence of clouds. The nights are cold and last a fortnight, but great for amateur astronomy.

Unfortunately, Free Loading Tossers's are not allowed to wild camp so that's me out ! I did write 'F'L'T but for some reason it was automatically changed to a term I do not agree with. An Algorithm may have been introduced to do this. Not acceptable I.M.O.if this is the case.

 

[Allanm]

I've just read a post by Allan on MMM in response to a forum member and he makes an interesting point about the LDF-90 and ET-650.

He mentions that the LDF-90 has a much better capability to support the average motorhomer who uses their vans infrequently whereas the ET-650 is more suited for daily use; i.e. a hammering in Morocco

In the real world though, lots of people rate the LFD90’s very highly. We had our last pair for two years covering over 20000 miles with maybe 10 nights on ehu in that time. When at home, we never hooked the van up to the mains, leaving the solar panel to top the batteries up.
I sold the van a couple of months ago, but took one of the batteries out, it’s now sitting in the garage. I charged it up last week and measured the voltage this afternoon, it was showing 12.9 v.
That’s a pretty good indication of how good these batteries are.

 

[PhilandMena]

In the real world though, lots of people rate the LFD90’s very highly. We had our last pair for two years covering over 20000 miles with maybe 10 nights on ehu in that time. When at home, we never hooked the van up to the mains, leaving the solar panel to top the batteries up.
I sold the van a couple of months ago, but took one of the batteries out, it’s now sitting in the garage. I charged it up last week and measured the voltage this afternoon, it was showing 12.9 v.
That’s a pretty good indication of how good these batteries are.

Two years, twenty thousand miles and only 10 nights on hook up with the batteries showing 12.9 V after being disconnected two months ago, is better than exceptional.

 

[Blue Knight]

I interpret this as meaning low to moderate use and using frequent hook up. Not a good endorsement for a top end leisure battery I.M.O. Then again, who is providing this insight, it could be the man on the moon for all I know.

Reading into the MMM article further it seems that the LDF is categorised as the best budget buy battery whereas the ET-650 is down as the best heavy duty unit.

For my style of usage I think the LDF90 or the L36 is probably best for me.

 

[MitchandJenny]

2 Varta 105AH lead acid sealed leisure batteries.
I paid less than £200 a year ago.
Bloody good batteries in my opinion.
Mitch.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Blue Knight]

A and N Caravan Services has been very good with his recommendations in the past, hence why I was happy to give these a go.

Yep, me too. I'm truely fascinated by the level of knowledge which is held by the A&N Team.

 

[funflair]

Two years, twenty thousand miles and only 10 nights on hook up with the batteries showing 12.9 V after being disconnected two months ago, is better than exceptional.

Charged up last week he said

Martin

 

[Blue Knight]

2 Varta 105AH lead acid sealed leisure batteries.
I paid less than £200 a year ago.
Bloody good batteries in my opinion.
Mitch.

Hi Mitch, do you know the battery code.

Cheers

Andrew

 

[chrisinplymouth]

I have been giving this some thought as well. In the end I bought 2 Varta LFD 90s this afternoon based on cost and being a lightish user. Will fit them tomorrow and hopefully report back in 5 years!

 

[Nik]

Thanks all

I think the Varta LFD 90's are the way to go too.
Happy Christmas and safe travels
Nik

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[chrisinplymouth]

Job done.........

 

[PeteH]

There is a very interesting article on the aandncaravanservices site which casts some doubt on the NCC rating system. The whole site is interesting and worth a read.

As for batteries. For many years I ran a pusher R-V using only cheap 110Ah lead acids. The argument being that if I got 2 or 3 years they where cheap enough! Seeing that we had 6 in total along with 300w of solar. I was happy. A bit of maintenance was involved. Current we have 2 new gels in the Rapido. ( Installed by the dealer, before purchase) But I don't think the charging regime is correct the alternator output is in my view too low?

 

[Blue Knight]

I considered the Yuasa’s too but the lack of real peoples experience of using them put me off.
I did read A&N’s review but couldn’t find any owners reviews

Allan, I bought my two Yusas L36-EFB batteries for £228 (delivered) the other day but I've just discovered that Halfords sell them for £105 under their own battery designator of HLB700.

If you have a Halfords trade card then you can buy them for £84.

All the best,

Andrew

 

[DL42846]

I have one of these which works very well. https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/12v-110ah-leoch-powabloc-tubular-gel-battery/
We are of grid nearly all the time. I have just the one battery. I also had the same on our previous van which also worked very well. You will have to check your solar controller and battery charger to make sure they have Acid, AGM and GEL settings On my previous van it didn't have GEL settings so I had to change both the charger and solar controller which I did myself. cost me about £200. Depends what you have in your van at the moment. Our second van which is a 2011 has the settings for GEL
Lead acid batteries can be discharged down to around 55% a GEL can be discharged down to 20% Plus a GEL will do 2000 recycles where as a acid does about 200 to 300 before going off. The above battery is guaranteed six years, not many batteries will offer that.

 

[DL42846]

There is a very interesting article on the aandncaravanservices site which casts some doubt on the NCC rating system. The whole site is interesting and worth a read.

As for batteries. For many years I ran a pusher R-V using only cheap 110Ah lead acids. The argument being that if I got 2 or 3 years they where cheap enough! Seeing that we had 6 in total along with 300w of solar. I was happy. A bit of maintenance was involved. Current we have 2 new gels in the Rapido. ( Installed by the dealer, before purchase) But I don't think the charging regime is correct the alternator output is in my view too low?

I don't profess to be an expert here but working from memory when I switched from Acid to GEL batteries I recall reading somewhere that Acid batteries charged at 14.8 amps and GEL at 14.4. Gel do take a little longer to fully charge.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}