Vetus Marine Batteries

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rudolph_hart

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We have 3x Vetus sealed (not AGM) batteries - 2x 165AH domestic and 1x 55AH engine. I don't know their age, but the boat is 18yrs old and these are not the original Sonnscheinn as fitted by Dehler, so I'm guessing at 9 years.

We arrived on the boat yesterday to flat domestics (i.e. low enough for the compressor fridge's low voltage sensor to say 'no').

I've taken one home (all 40+ kg of it :eek:) and the mains charger on 'fast' said 'it's charged' after less than 2hrs. Multimeter said 13.2 V at that point. I clipped a pulser onto it, and after 30 mins voltage is down to 11.2.

Edit: the 'magic eye' indicator, which has options of Green = Charged, Black = less than 65% charged and Yellow = discharged, showed Black after the charger said 'charged'

Is it donald (ducked)?

If so, it's replacement is an eye-watering £440, and my guess is that it's also flattenned the other domestic thereby ruining it as well :mad:

BTW, the battery has the following specs on its label:

12V, 165 AH, 900A (is this CCA?), 450LT (what's this?)

All advice gratefully received.
 
Last edited:
rudolph_hart said:
We have 3x Vetus sealed (not AGM) batteries - 2x 165AH domestic and 1x 55AH engine. I don't know their age, but the boat is 18yrs old and these are not the original Sonnscheinn as fitted by Dehler, so I'm guessing at 9 years.

We arrived on the boat yesterday to flat domestics (i.e. low enough for the compressor fridge's low voltage sensor to say 'no').

I've taken one home (all 40+ kg of it :eek:) and the mains charger on 'fast' said 'it's charged' after less than 2hrs. Multimeter said 13.2 V at that point. I clipped a pulser onto it, and after 30 mins voltage is down to 11.2.

Edit: the 'magic eye' indicator, which has options of Green = Charged, Black = less than 65% charged and Yellow = discharged, showed Black after the charger said 'charged'

Is it donald (ducked)?

If so, it's replacement is an eye-watering £440, and my guess is that it's also flattenned the other domestic thereby ruining it as well :mad:

BTW, the battery has the following specs on its label:

12V, 165 AH, 900A (is this CCA?), 450LT (what's this?)

All advice gratefully received.
Click to expand...

order some new ones
http://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/products/group/?c=Battery&a=Boat
for nxt day delivery

9 yrs is very good service :confused:
 
Another vote for buying new ones. You'll have to replace both the domestics even if the other is not as bad, as it'll be bad enough to drag a single new battery down anyway.

I used www.barden-uk.com when I replaced mine. (It was just cheaper at the time when delivery was included.)
 
Four Years Ago

I had to change our batteries and found Tayna Batteries a very good source of advice, good prices and range. I suggest you use them at least for a check against any other. The batteries are still fine (as they should be)
 
Another very satisfied Battery Megastore customer.

AFAIK, when a flat battery supposedly gets charged in a short period of time it's a sign that it's dead. But I have seen posts where the problem is low electrolyte. I know you say they're sealed but my "sealed" batteries actually have a lift off panel that reveals screw out plugs to check and top up the electrolyte.
 
The Lazy Kipper said:
Another very satisfied Battery Megastore customer.

AFAIK, when a flat battery supposedly gets charged in a short period of time it's a sign that it's dead. But I have seen posts where the problem is low electrolyte. I know you say they're sealed but my "sealed" batteries actually have a lift off panel that reveals screw out plugs to check and top up the electrolyte.
Click to expand...

True. Access often concealed under a label.
9 years is good service though.
Do you mean £440 for one battery? Ludicrous.
Compare http://www.tayna.co.uk/LFD140-Varta-Professional-DC-Leisure-Battery-930140080-P8722.html or http://www.tayna.co.uk/LFD180-Varta-Professional-DC-Leisure-Battery-180-930180100-P8723.html
You'll find others cheaper but Varta are good.
 
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