Leisure batteries

[chiz]

I have a transporter that was converted into a sort of weekend van, with the reduced height due to the swivel seat base I am struggling for space to put in a leisure battery for these long weekends away. I was told about gel batteries and the fact that they are totally sealed. Could I put one on its side under the seat? Does anybody out there have any experience javascript:emoticon(':?')
Confused

[andysimpson]

have never seen or tried a gel battery on its side but i would'nt recomend it, is there room any where else in van to mount the battery.

[Cruz]

use a starter battery. See the wiki

[Cate]

Are there not some that fit under the swivel? several people have them, I know they are not cheap though.

[Dan Wood]

Sealed lead-acid gel batteries can be used on their side without leaking BUT they require special charging, and probably won't like being connected across the main battey for charging.

You need a constant voltage charging circuit in between. If you want to go really posh, there are special SLA chargers you can get that start off with a constant current charge, and switch to a constant voltage charge later on.

My experience of SLA batteries is that they are quite good at occasional use, and good if they are kept on a float charge, but that they don't seem to like deep discharge cycles to well. Having said that, I've always got mine cheap and second hand from old alarm systems and the like!

[Cruz]

Are there not some that fit under the swivel? several people have them, I know they are not cheap though.

Generally to be small enough to fit under the swivel means the ampage isn't that big......or they cost over £100 notes

[Mocki]

DO NOT PUT A GEL BATTERY ON ITS SIDE!
it will kill it, the plates will bend, and the battery will die.

you cannot charge a gel battery safely with an split charge either.

[ghost123uk]

I was told about gel batteries and the fact that they are totally sealed. Could I put one on its side under the seat? Does anybody out there have any experience

In my experience Gel Cell batteries can be used on their side no probs.

With regard to deep discharge, there are 2 types, those that are designed to stand it and those that won't.

Generally refered to as "float charge" and "deep cycle"

Float charge types are generally used in alarm systems, backup power supplies etc.

There was a guy doing the shows last year that was selling deep discharge types as used for electric wheelchairs, these are ideal as lesuire batteries, and his were brand name (forget which), new and a good price.

As for charging check the manufacturers max charge rate, generally you will only exceed this if you have completly flattened your lesiure battery ( btw, not a good idea even for the deep discharge types )

You can limit the charge current quite easily by putting an indicator bulb in series with the gell cell's positive charging lead ( note not the wire that supplies the equipment ).

It is not hard to design a simple little box that will cut off the battery when it is say half discharged, to avoid the "I went to bed and left the TV on and completely flattened the battery" syndrome. If anyone wants the details let me know.

Take note that with a normal 12V battery, the first time you flatten it completely, you have 25% kn@ckered it, the second time you have 50% kn@ckered it etc - it wrecks them in no time, even big lorry batteries etc.

here endeth the lesson

[ghost123uk]

Hey Steve, your post

DO NOT PUT A GEL BATTERY ON ITS SIDE!
it will kill it, the plates will bend, and the battery will die.

went on whilst I was writting my reply.
Sorry to be contradicting you

What info do you have on this ?

I only ask cause in years of using gell cells for various uses I have often had them on their sides and experienced no probs.

Many computer back-up power supplies are designed with batteries on their sides and decent make ones at that ( Compaq, APC etc ) - ( this where I get mine from as I work in that industry )

[Mocki]

it depends what battery i guess, but i mounted one on its side a few years ago, and it killed it, and it was a yeasu (sp) gel battery, when we took it back inder warrenty they replaced it then a few weeks later sent us a report saying it had been used on its side, and the warrenty was void, we agued it didnt say anything about that and won. maybe recent ones are ok with it, but that was a few years ago......

[Dan Wood]

Too much wireless mocki....

Yaesu make radios..

Yuasa make batteries...

[ghost123uk]

Ah yes the lovely FT-747

QSL

[Dan Wood]

That was made of Lego. I'm sure of it!

[stuckin88]

To fit a battery under the seat & close the metal flap, the battery must be no higher than 7inches--unfortunately all 'leisure batterys'(that I can find) as supplied by caravan shops-that would otherwise fit the underseat compartment are just over 8 inches high---I fitted a cheapo £20 vehicle battery to use as a leisure battery less than 4 yrs ago & Ive just had to replace it--so not too bad I suppose---

[ghost123uk]

Just a note to folks re those with metal covers over the battery ( mine are O.E. fibre glass )

I cannot emphsise enough the care you must take to make sure this cover NEVER can short to the + positive terminal.

I have seen a bettery blow up ( on a GPO van ) and it is really uncool.

The van AND the mechanic got covered in Sulphuric Acid and he was luck not to lose his eyesight.

They make a horrid cooking cracking noise with smoke and steam, then go off with a big bang.

I had one spill over in a car boot and it caused lots of corrosion that never really went away even after washing with gallons of water.

Take care folks.