simple battery question

[Alan1]

Can you use a leisure deep cycle battery as a starter battery ? I currently have two one of which I isolate for starting and now need to relace one ,they are 85ah . any general advice on what makes are good would be appreciated.

 

[andygc]

There must be thousands of small yachts that use two 85Ah leisure batteries, usually on an off-1-both-2 switch. I do. The new one is the starting battery and the older one is the domestic. When the domestic fades away, the replacement takes over as the starting battery. Cheap and cheerful, and a battery should give you 5 years' reliable service.

I am, though, thinking of buying a VSR/switch panel so that I don't have to remember to fiddle with the switch to make sure both batteries get charged.

 

[pvb]

Can you use a leisure deep cycle battery as a starter battery ? I currently have two one of which I isolate for starting and now need to relace one ,they are 85ah . any general advice on what makes are good would be appreciated.

Proper deep cycle batteries aren't really intended for use as starter batteries, although they will work that way. If you isolate one battery for starting purposes, why not just get an ordinary car battery? It would probably be cheaper and would probably perform better for engine starting.

 

[Amulet]

I think it depends on how much oomph it takes to start your engine. My piddling wee engine only draws about 170 amps to start. It is within the cold cranking limit of my of my general purpose batteries. Some starters will demand much more current than mine can give.

 

[VicS]

There seems to be some variation in what constitutes a "leisure battery".
Some are advertised as deep cycle + cranking while others only as deep cycle.

if you intend using a leisure battery for engine starting then make sure you buy one that is specified as suitable for that use.

Andgc's scheme of doing things sound sounds pretty sensible although he may be paying more than he would for starter batteries with very little overall gain.

 

[rob2]

As said, it depends what oomph your starter requires. Just looking at the current Lucas Leisure range, their 86 ah offering give 850 CCA - probably enough to start a tractor! OK, so that's an exaggeration but it'll start any normal yacht auxiliary.

Older batteries were differently rated and may have a little less performance and some were cheap rubbish imported and labelled to sell to caravan owners without a care for the fact that they were not, in fact, deep cycle batteries at all. Even so, it should do the job and its not a good plan to put the deep cycle capability to the test. Where they're more likely to let you down is trying to run your lights all evening, so keep one reserved for engine starting.

My current thoughts are that the 500 cycle, Lucas "Ultra Deep Cycle" looks like a good balance of performance against price. There are many new technologies which give significantly greater performance, but at a far greater price and you may not need it!

example:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LUCAS-ULTRA-D...ervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item3ca7b3635d

Rob.

 

[nimbusgb]

...... I am, though, thinking of buying a VSR/switch panel so that I don't have to remember to fiddle with the switch to make sure both batteries get charged.

BEP Dual sensing 120a VSR around £65 to £70. I just purchased a Durite 140a dual sensing VSR for £44 including PandP. ( google is thy friend )

The unit is completely sealed, potted in a silicon compound and watertight, comes with fitting screws and backing cover. It works exactly as stated on the box. Tested with a variable power supply.

Lots of beer for 20 odd tokens!