Batteries

[Jcee]

My 95AH batteries are on their last legs. Does anyone have any suggestions on which type/make offer the best all-round value and performance? Also where is a good place to buy them preferably in Glos or online..!

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[ccscott49]

Try caravan accessoriy dealers, must be some around you. Always cheaper than "marine" also truch battery suppliers.

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[paulrossall]

Just got local prices as one 100ah battery has lost a cell.
From Wholesale auto spares distributor, exide batteries
85ah £40
100ah £50

From caravan shop (reputable) don't know make but will be OK
85ah £35
110ah £65

Will but 100ah at £50 as it will match one bought last year + they have a 3 year guarentee.

Not worth me trying to save another £5 by shopping around as I know I am buying a good product with a guarentee that will be honoured and it will fit in my battery box. I am at Newark.
Hope this helps.
Paul

<hr width=100% size=1>" there is nothing-absolutely nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats".

 

[john_morris_uk]

Depends what sort of Batteries the Exide are. Lots of argument about what sort are best - but the only thing that everyone ought to agree on is that a standard motor battery is definitely not going to last very long at all as a domestic battery on a boat. A car battery design is destroyed by repeated discharging to any great degree.

Therefore choice seems to be

Caravan/Leisure Batteries (Reasonably priced and I've used these very successfully in the past)

Traction Batteries (Wet - quite expensive but allegedly very good)

Marine gell, maintainance free, etc Batteries (Prices that you need to sit down for sometimes)

Have I missed any out?

Nigel Calder suggests that batteries should never be discharged more than 50% and they rarely get charged more than 85% - bit of a shock when you realise how many useable Amp-Hourage you really have.

If the Exide is a traction or leisure battery it would seem a good buy. Halfords and Camping/Caravan shops stock leisure batteries.

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by john_morris_uk on 13/02/2004 09:41 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[paulrossall]

I should have stated, all the prices are for leisure batteries.
Not interested in paying daft money for hi-tech products, these will do me.

<hr width=100% size=1>" there is nothing-absolutely nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats".

 

[ianwright]

Go to Part Co, there will be a branch near you, tell 'em you want a couple of heavy duty semi-traction sealed 90AH batteries. You'll get a good price and a three year warranty.
As long as you have Amp hours to equal 4 times your maximum 24 hour useage you'll be fine.

IanW

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[DanTribe]

I bought mine from County Batteries [www.countybattery.co.uk] following a recommendation on this forum.
Delivery was next day & very good price [110amp, £49.99] They also do gel & other leisure batteries.
Dan

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[Trevethan]

200 amp hour semi traction 2 feet long by a foot wide and about the same high, £70 to £75 from local auto battery specialists -- found this price both in London and Devon.

They weigh about 50 kgs though.

Warranty on them is 2 or 3 years I think but they are not sealed so might need the odd top up.

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[Stemar]

As I understand it, sealed, so-called maitenance free batteries aren't significantly different from ordinary lead-acid jobs. Neither should need significant topping up unless they're overcharged, when every cell will go down, or have a duff cell, in which case only the duff cell will go down.

In the first case, you charging system needs looking at, fairly urgently, in the second, it's then time to start looking for a replacement battery.

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[Trevethan]

The batteries are a couple of years old and over that time some water has been lost during charging as hydrogen/oxygen -- its the way of these things as I understand.

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[ex-Gladys]

In hot weather water will evaporate from battery acid like from anything else....

<hr width=100% size=1>Larry Botheras

Anderson 26 "Amber"

 

[VicMallows]

110Ah 'Leisure' ones from TOWSURE are £39.99.

I bet they last the typical 5-6 years just like all the rest.

Vic

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[halcyon]

Our local LSUK ( ex Lucas ) were doing them a bit cheaper last year, may be worth having a look in, cost now't.
The one problem with ' hi-tech' batteries is that a number of them have odd charging requirements, so you end up spending more money on smart regulators to charge them, than your saving in longer replacement time.

Brian

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[Anthony]

Re: Batteries - Partco?

Hi,

Just called my local Partco, they said they dont have semi traction / leisure batts, but their sister company Browns did. Called browns and they reffered me back to Partco! Given teh previos mention of Partco on here, has anyone actually bought one from them, if so what, and was it from partco or Browns branded outlet?

Any other suggestions of good dealers?

Thanks,
Anthony

OLLI - Fastnet 34

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[ianwright]

Yes,,,,,,,,,,,.

"has anyone actually bought one from them, if so what, and was it from partco or Browns branded outlet?"

Yes, I have. From Partco in Maldon. They had to send to 'the Depot' (?) for the last one.
Mine are sealed heavy duty truck batteries, 110ah with a three year warranty. I don't need deep cycle , I have enough amps to never, or hardly ever, run either down to nearly flat.

IanW.


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