Batteries.Buy expensive or cheap?

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knewboater

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Not for the engine but to run the electrical equipment on board, do I buy a halfords type deep cycle battery or other more expensive types, do not want to be mean just get value for money, at present use 2 x100ah Fiamm for domestic use which need changing
Any help appreciated.RGH
 
Local Scrap Yard .... they take GOOD batterys of wrecked cars and then sell on at £5 ... £10 etc. They have load-testers and will check till you are happy with one ... pays yer money ... offs' yer go.

Go armed with sizes / A/hr needed etc. - they'll find one ...

If you are against that - then find your local Truck Tail-lift supplier and buy a battery for that ... I have a tail-lift truck and the batterys not only supply power to lift 1.5T on the tail lift but also supply starting duty for 6ltr Merc Diesel.

You will normally buy per A/hr from the truck dealer ... saving quite a lot of dosh against usual outlets ...

There is another supply - but some on here would be really upset if I was say that quite a few batterys get thrown out because of "Fancy" gadgets on-board saying battery is US ... when in fact its not. But Shoosh - don't want to upset the natives.(My Domestic battery 1 yr later still going strong after such a case ..... OOPs !!)
 
[ QUOTE ]
There is another supply - but some on here would be really upset if I was say that quite a few batterys get thrown out because of "Fancy" gadgets on-board saying battery is US ... when in fact its not. But Shoosh - don't want to upset the natives.(My Domestic battery 1 yr later still going strong after such a case ..... OOPs !!)

[/ QUOTE ]

sbc AKA Uncle Bulgaria. Like your style. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
For our first 5-6 years of living aboard, we went the 'cheap & cheerfull' route every time. That included scrap yards many times. Often the likes of B&Q too.

18 years later..... and with much time and experience onboard, we now buy the best we can afford that will do the job (that bit is very important). We also never now use a cranking battery for domestic use.

With a little attention, instead of just ignoring them, I can definately say that we've saved money in the long run by going that route. What's more.... not just money.... worry too!
 
Yes agreed .... BUT the tail-lift batterys are not your ordinary cranking jobs .... these are designed to power a hydraulifc system lifting loads of gear .... and then still start the engine. Note that it is normal for the truck to have an over-ride switch in the cab that stops you running the engine while using the lift, similarly stops you starting the engine while lift is in operation. Safety ....
They are more alike Heavy Duty Leisure Batterys ... can take deep discharge and charge back up again ... repeatedly.
 
Agree with Stevebirch. Always last at least five years even though I don't have the luxury of shore-power to keep them at their best.

Also, along sbc's lines, whenever I see a likely looking battery by a marina skip I take it home and give it a good charge. About half have plenty of life left.

Vic
 
I bought two TowSure caravan batteries 2 x 110 amp years ago and they are fine... About £40 each from Southampton shop. The engine battery is a proper job - not taking any risk there....
 
Not quite that far .... but

"Also, along sbc's lines, whenever I see a likely looking battery by a marina skip I take it home and give it a good charge. About half have plenty of life left."

Whenever I see anyone changing a battery - I always ask ... and as Vic says ... given a good charge many are actually good. I think the problem often is boaters problems in keeping batterys charged regularly and well. Unfortunately we are not like cars that constantly top them up. We expect them to be charged up in the marina / by windy / solar etc. then give 'em a hell of a working over by using them to power all-sorts with little support ... then stuff 'em back onto chargers and expect them to take it all.
My Domestic is a 80A/hr cadged ... actually I paid him for it !! and year later excellent ... my other (starter) is a 8yr old HD Diesel Van battery and that's still going well. Reckon it's about 70 - 75% capacity compared to new - but after 8yrs ?

Because I now have the two boats side by side out here ... I will likely change out the start battery and consign it to domestic duty on the weekender ... replacing it on SA with a Truck lift battery ........ or a good larger 2nd-hand if found.
 
Thank you Alan (alrob) I have ordered 2 from Batman as you suggested sounds good.
Thank you to all who replied never thought of obtaining batteries from scrap yards etc sensible tho.
Again forum came up with enough info.
RGH
 
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