Buying Leisure Battery.....

Post by **toolsntat** » 17 Jun 2008, 16:33

Looks like I`m going to have to bite the bullet and buy one of these tomorrow

http://www.multicell.co.uk/products/12

Its only 85 amp but needs to fit under me seat without swivel base......

Any alternatives????

Cheers

Post by **R0B** » 17 Jun 2008, 16:44

https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Ca ... s_that_fit

Post by **Mocki** » 17 Jun 2008, 16:47

ohhh, not a good time to be buying things that contain lead, or are carried by road..........

Post by **bigherb** » 17 Jun 2008, 19:47

No it won't fit;
175mm is the max height to go under the seat. Currently there is no true leisure battery that height although Banner batteries may be making an AGM battery of that height. The only option at the moment is to use a normal starter battery.
Choose a standard battery rather than a Calcium/Calcium or Silver/Silver battery these are designed for modern vehicles which charge at 14.8 volts, used in an older vehicle they will never fully charge and are not tolerant of deep discharge. As long as a standard battery does not go less than 75% discharge (12.1v) it will work as a leisure battery ok although water consumption will be higher.

Post by **daschmoo** » 17 Jun 2008, 20:28

I went throught the whole LB buying nightmare about 6 months ago. Mine also has to go under the seat under a swivel base. In the end I bit the bullet and went with the Elecsol 100aH and it literally "just" fits. I read mixed reviews about this battery and the first one I had delivered was a duffer - would not power even the LED on the Zig for more than a few minutes. At this point I was a little annoyed with my decision to go with the Elecsol... but as soon as the new one arrived I completely changed my opinion.

My situation is that I live in the van "wild" camping for 4-5 days and nights when away at work and during this time I have no problem powering TV, taps, shower, fan for gas heating, lighting with no re-charge required. I let the split charger charge it in transit but every other week I take it out and stick it on a multi-stage charger which I think is the real trick of keeping these batteries alive. I can whole-heartedly recommend this battery - even with the problems of the first one that arrived - it completely changed my life in the van during the winter months!

Post by **toolsntat** » 17 Jun 2008, 22:21

Bigherb
Thanks for the heads up on my mistake there

Read it the other way round

Daschmoo
Thats just the sort of testimony to make me want to spend the extra £££

So would the answer to faq Q9 mean with careful monitoring you could use just the one battery??
http://www.elecsolbatteries.com/faqs/#09

Is there a local supplier to COV / LEIC`S \area ???

Post by **toolsntat** » 17 Jun 2008, 23:03

mmmm...
Not sure now

http://www.caravantalk.org.uk/index.php ... =9882&st=0

Post by **daschmoo** » 17 Jun 2008, 23:12

toolsntat wrote:
Is there a local supplier to COV / LEIC`S \area ???

I got mine from www tayna.co.uk which is also where I bought a Ctek multi-stage charger (well worth the money investing in one of these)

Post by **lhd** » 18 Jun 2008, 14:44

Things to be aware of if you do go the Elecsol route.

A Westy battery flap will not close over it.
If you have removed your seat swivel base for one reason or another the battery will foul the base of the seat and will over time ruin the fabric.....

Warning the Ctek charger for this is not the £50 one this is no better at charging the Elecsol than a halfords charger......
you must opt for the one that has a green code for 100amh or your wasting your money.