Dead battery ?

[centro]

Hello. I am a total novice when it come to anything to do with electrics, so forgive my ignorance.

I have a 115ah leisure battery in the van. It has become a bit unreliable lately so I took it out of the van and took a reading with a multimeter. It gives a reading of 7.47 Volts. Does this mean the battery has had it or can it be recovered?


I admit to running it low on a few occasions. I have one of those cheap Lidle chargers and will connect to the battery tonight to see if it helps – or am I wsting my time?

Cheers

[Oldiebut goodie]

Close to no chance whatsoever of resurrecting it I would have thought. Especially as it sounds as though you have abused it.

[centro]

Thought as much. I know i have given it a bit of abuse, but the previous owner might have hammered it as well. I'll put it on charge for a few days and see what happens.

[centro]

Any recommendations on a replacement battery of the same power ? Cheers

[kevtherev]

Wheres it kept?
How much do you want to spend?
do you rely on battery power a lot?
If you do you might want to consider a traction battery. 2 times the life and twice the power

not cheap mind.

[paulo999]

Out of interest kev, do you know of a traction battery that'll fit the standard battery box?

(I've done some searching here but drawn a blank so far)

[kevtherev]

Alas there isn't one...

[centro]

Wheres it kept?
How much do you want to spend?
do you rely on battery power a lot?
If you do you might want to consider a traction battery. 2 times the life and twice the power

not cheap mind.

Those traction batteries are too heavy. My needs are not great. – 2 lights, a 70w compressor fridge (I know that will drain the power!). If I need to replace my battery then I would like to replce like-for-like. Early in the year we use hook-up so we can use a heater, but we like the option of not using hook-up in the summer and at festivals. In the past I can can run the fridge for a good 3 days – this may be why the battery is playing up? I always put the battery on charge after a trip.

I have read that you shouldnt drain the bttary beyond 50% of its capacity - seems like its not really worth it?

[centro]

Should a leisure battery that is being charged from the mains be getting warm?

[centro]

Right - I've had battery on charge for 48hours, after which I get a reading of 12.8v. I have removed the charger and after an hour the reading has dropped 1 volt. Is this confirmation of a dead battery?

[paulo999]

Right - I've had battery on charge for 48hours, after which I get a reading of 12.8v. I have removed the charger and after an hour the reading has dropped 1 volt. Is this confirmation of a dead battery?

Mega dead, by the sounds of it.

[centro]

Thought so. Any recommendations for replacing a 115ah battery? Is it false economy to go with the cheapest ones?

[kevtherev]

Is it an aftermarket cool box or a proper electrolux fridge you use the battery for?

Buy cheap, buy twice is what I have found.
Oh and I don't understand why you think traction batteries are heavier because they are not.
A trojan 130 ah 12 volt
length 335mm
height 256mm
width 171mm
25amps @ 225mins reserve capacity

weight 30 kg (ok its 2kg more than a leisure)


Twice the price but lasts twice as long

[centro]

I had a quick google for traction batteries and the ones that came up were around 60kg ! I didnt look too hard I must admit.

I have a Weaco compressor fridge 70w. My battery is stored under the back seat so I am more flexible with size. My current (dead) batter is a 115ah Samson marine battery. I guess its 4-5 years old as it came with the van which I have owned for 2 years.

[centro]

What set up do you have Kev? Do you use a Traction battery? Do you run much off it?

I am tempted to get a traction battery now ive had a read up about them, but do I want to pay that much?