Elecsol carbon fibre batteries - anyone had problems with them?

Chris_Robb

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I have just purchased a very expensive replacement for my 220AH domestic batteries, and replaced with the exact same battery. My Instinct was to follow Charles Sterlings advice and get the cheapest Lead acid available. - Well I didn't because it meant rebuilding the battery box.

Anyway - I have the battery on board, and it won't start the engine, so check resting voltage - 12.45V. So I charge using a generator and Mr Sterlings 70amp charger for 2 hours, then motor sail for 3 hours - and guest what - resting voltage is only 12.6 volts. The alternator only gets the voltage to 13.45V as opposed to the engine batteries which reach 14.2V. So clearly something is wrong. Fridge wont work, lights go dim whenever the freshwater pump cycles, etc.

This morning I rang Elecsol for help. I am told that the battery at 12.45 V is 80% charged. I disput this with figures from the 12volt bible. - he is most unhelpful, and refuses to accept that there may be a problem with the battery. He will not even suggest what steps I should take to confirm or solve the problem.

Anyone else have a similar experience with them?
 

andy_wilson

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Lead acid batteries have a voltage rage of about 11.8 to 12.8V empty to full so I would agree that a resting voltage of 12.5 is 80% give or tqke a bit.

It begs the question whether you have a problem with the battery connections, either for charging or supplying power.
If the engine battery is geting 14.2V which is a charging voltage, there is clearly a v.bad connection or failing component in the charge distribution system, be it wiring, diodes, VSR or 1,2 Both, off switch.
 

Chris_Robb

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The batteries are connected by a 1, 2 or both switch. Visual inspection of the cables looks fine - no sign of corrosion, and the cable runs to that swicth are very short. Sterling charger brings the battery volts up to 15V equalisation then down to 14.7 on absorbtion. Even after 3 hours charging by this method - the volts did not get above 12.6 having left the battery to stand for a few hours. That charging circuit clearly works.

Next thing to try is to put the engine battery in its place and see what happens, I think.
 

graham42

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i used these batterys on my prout snowgoose in 2000.
i kept going back too.
i dont think their worth the money.
im using ordinary lead acid bought in ireland 3 years ago, rated at 170 amps
i charge 3x170 with 9amps of solar power and see 14.1v daily. it runs my laptop all day.

dump them and regain your sanity
 

Andrew_Fanner

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Yes.

They are too flippin expensive for what they are. I'd get some decent lead acid ones from a decent dealer, with a decent warranty.
Ferneaux Riddel in Portsmouth are very good, the time I had a problem they paid up like gentlemen and even sold me another at the same, 18 month old, price.
 

Chris_Robb

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I also get conflicting details of their spec voltages.

Before I bought I was told you could charge to 14.8 - now I am told 14.4. Flaot voltage - only 13.3 - that will be a problem even for my underperforming alternator. Even at Elecsol - one guy says one thing and the other guy says something else - and it seems to be a 2 man band. so - back to the drawing board, and change the battery box layout and return battery.

But I still have to make sure that I don't have a wiring fault...
 

moodymadness

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Hi,
I had 2 X 110amp/h Elecsol batteries that were failing to hold their charge and were 3 years old.
Had a lot of problems with elecsol and broken promises. They insisted I obtain an engineers report regarding the batteries which I did after having them independently charged and also a £25 per battery transportation and insurance costs etc before they would consider replacement under the warranty. Although living only 60 miles from their factory they would not entertain direct contact.
I kept getting fobbed off by a guy called Stephen with a load of different excuses and strangley not answering calls from my home or mobile but did from another phone or when 141 was prefixed.
I really persevered and it took about 3 months for them to realise I was not going to let it drop as a matter of principle.
Eventually got 2 replacement batteries which at the moment are fine but after the service received would not buy one of these ever again.

Pete
 

Chris_Robb

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We have already had a row - they woudl not entertain that there was a problem - and would make no suggestions as to what I should do to move forward. In the heat of the moment he said "we don't want customers like you, return the battery - but pay the transport " I think I will take him up on that, I want to be able to use the boat this year!
 
A

Anonymous

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I checked them out in Jan 2005 and decided against. Bad smell. I reported it here but it has timed out and don't have the full details - maybe someone has a record of those forum messages in disc? I think I posted the full facts but I have purged my Outlook folder since then.
 

cliff

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This thread perchance?
--------------------
hammer.thumb.gif
"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>
 
A

Anonymous

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That was the one. It seems that I didn't report back - funny how the mind plays tricks! They became very odd and unhelpful when I said that I would like to visit their factory and when I did some digging it all looked odder still. I would want to see the factory - or at least know the location and ownership of the factory and be permitted to visit before buying. There is a lot of badging in the battery market and there are some really cheap and nasty manufacturers out there. How do you know what is inside the case???
 

Chris_Robb

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Looks like I have made my bed now, but really their attitude from the moment I said that I was short of bits delivered was so agressive, that it turned me right off. If I had a second chance, I wouldn't go down this route even if the batteries are good.

As it turns out, I have found a wiring problem on the boat and have got a lecky rewiring the batteries with proper heavy cables - ready to take a much larger alternator when I get round to that.
 

celandine

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I was persuaded to buy three of the dam things. They turned out to be the shortest lasting of any batteries I have ever had - all three failed completely during second season. My attmpts to contact the company have so far lead me to believe that I am dealing with a couple of spivs operating from a lock-up garage somewhere. They obviously don't manufacture and are merely knocking out rubbish with effective means of not honouring any guarrantees, they are extremely rude and agressive on the phone as has already been reported here - that's if you manage to speak to anyone at all.
I think they need investigating.
 
A

Anonymous

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When I was looking back in Nov 2004 I am fairly sure that Barden - or one of the other well-known names - had them in stock. Did you buy them from a distributor or direct? I believe that under English law you have a claim against the person who actually sold them to you so if the distributor is still in business you might be able to get this settled.
 

Chris_Robb

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Couple of Spivs - it was unbelievable - we got off to a bad start, because I rang up for a guarantee form, and also I had not been sent the breathers for the battery. Also the battery had been delivered at 12.45 volts - which I was pissed off about as I had to charge on my gerenator for ages to bring them up. He said that was 80% charged - I said that 12.4 was 50% discharged - accoording to his own literature therefore he was talking bollocks - that's how quickly he got my heckles up!

Anyway - am stuck with it now. However the Electsol replaced was 5 years old, and the 5 year old engine batteries ( 2x100AH) are still good, so I won't pass judgement yet on the goods - however I have passed judgement on them. When I have problems - I will replace with another product. Trying to persue the gurantee would only be possible over a LONG LONG winter.

Any way - looking forward to a weekend of really crappy weather!
 

lazwal

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I too have experinec the same problem with two new Elecsol batteries that were less than a year old. The chandlers where i purchased them from has since changed hands and I have rang Elecsol numerous time left messages no reply, e mailed them no reply. I do not know a about a five year gaurantee they do not honour less than 12 months. I finally got to speak to the rudest person that I have ever spoken to on the planet with regard to customer service. I also was told to get an independant report which I have now done. Today I am posting it off but a thought has just occured to me as this company is based in Scotland does English law apply re sales of goods act.
 

ShipsWoofy

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Just to clear a few things up, with regards the original thread. I now have two 140Ah tail lift batteries fitted.

I don't think the elecsols liked my wind generator very much as they drank a lot of water. I now do not think this was so much a fault as a compatibility issue, no wind-gen no problem.

I have two 125Ah elecsols looking for a good home, AFAIK they are ok but for the above issue.
 

ShipsWoofy

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[ QUOTE ]
as this company is based in Scotland does English law apply re sales of goods act.

[/ QUOTE ]

er, North Wales

ELECSOL EUROPE LIMITED
47 FIRST AVENUE
DEESIDE INDUSTRIAL PARK
FLINTSHIRE
CH5 2LG
UNITED KINGDOM
 
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