Alpha Batteries leisure batteries any good?

[Cruz]

The 096 starter battery I have been using has had some hammer down the years since i bought it and it now refuses to charge so I'm going to replace it and remember hearing about alpha batteries selling leisure batteries that fit.

Has anyone used their batteries and are they just starter batteries renamed leisure batteries purely because you can use them as such and are not true deep cycle leisure batteries?

http://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/leisur ... e-battery/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

E D I T: Actually just noticed on the specs for the above battery that it says Deep Cycle: No

So why the hell are they being labelled as leisure batteries?????

[keith]

Because they can be used for the supply of 12 v to lights, heating.....ie leisure purposes....exactly as you say.

Loads of info that says leisure battery and starter battery are basically the same.....deep cycle traction battery is different by design.

[Cruz]

Ah, thanks for that.

I have a vw swivel so I could just about fit a 190mm high battery in there so maybe I should just get the 90ah one for £62.99....seems cheap...10ah more and £17 cheaper

http://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/leisur ... e-battery/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also from using the search facility it seems the 175mm high 80am battery has gone up £20 in 2 years

[Cruz]

http://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/leisur ... e-battery/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is a more expensive 90ah gell battery. What's the difference between that and a lead acid?

It says it can do 1000 charge cycles as opposed to 150 for the acid battery

[keith]

More discharges....and gel means that it can be used in applications where is get roughed up...like on a speedboat.

[Cruz]

Not really worth the extra £25 then?

Hmm.

So it's either an 80ah for £79.99 that will fit under the seat and the battery cover

or a 90ah for £62.99 that will need the cover removing and the positive terminal protecting from shorting on the swivel base

.........decisions decisions

[ghost123uk]

I was chatting to the tech folk at Alpha (on line chat) the other day. He told me that all their normal Leisure Batteries need to be treated the same as a normal starter battery, as in not be allowed to drop below 11.9 volts. Even the ones labelled "deep cycle" etc. I think (imho) this is misleading. "Deep cycle" apparently just means they can be taken down to 11.9 and then re-charged more often. I always thought it meant they could stand being run down more than a "starter" battery.

I bet we have all done it = gone to sleep with the lights on etc and flattened the leisure battery
They must sell a lot more batteries to folks (like me in the past) that did not realise this kills so called "deep cycle" batteries.

Batteries that can be run flat are much dearer.

TIP = I have fitted a "low voltage cut off" unit. @ ~£20 it is well worth the money if it means your leisure battery lasts 6 years instead of one This isolates the battery from any loads when the voltage falls below a pre-set value, I have mine set to 11.9 volts. Info here By the way, if anyone reading this buys one of those, the instructions re-wiring up are NOT GOOD. I have a background in electronics, so I figured it out. If anyone needs to know how, ask me.

[Cruz]

DId you buy the one from reuk?

[AdrianC]

TIP = I have fitted a "low voltage cut off" unit. @ ~£20 it is well worth the money if it means your leisure battery lasts 6 years instead of one This isolates the battery from any loads when the voltage falls below a pre-set value, I have mine set to 11.9 volts.

The downside to this, of course, is that if you're wild camping for a while and use more electricity than you expect (cold, so the Eber's on more than usual, f'rexample), you run the risk of having no power at all, instead of just running the battery a bit lower than ideal.

[lloydy]

I have 2 of the alpha 80AH batteries, one in the space behind each front seat (both used as leisures) I've had one of them around a year, had no issues at all. I then doubled the capacity as I got a compressor fridge.
You can't really rave about batteries, these just do what they are meant to. Kinda forget they are there.
I'd happily buy them again

[ghost123uk]

DId you buy the one from reuk?

Yes I did, it was via Ebay, but they have none on there at present, but you can buy them direct

TIP = I have fitted a "low voltage cut off" unit. @ ~£20 it is well worth the money if it means your leisure battery lasts 6 years instead of one This isolates the battery from any loads when the voltage falls below a pre-set value, I have mine set to 11.9 volts.

The downside to this, of course, is that if you're wild camping for a while and use more electricity than you expect (cold, so the Eber's on more than usual, f'rexample), you run the risk of having no power at all, instead of just running the battery a bit lower than ideal.

There is a way round this = fit a by-pass switch, which is what I used and accidentally left it on and flattened my battery

[Cruz]

I have 2 of the alpha 80AH batteries, one in the space behind each front seat (both used as leisures) I've had one of them around a year, had no issues at all. I then doubled the capacity as I got a compressor fridge.
You can't really rave about batteries, these just do what they are meant to. Kinda forget they are there.
I'd happily buy them again

Cheers Lloydy

Sadly the 80ah batteries are now £20 dearer at £79.99 whereas a (190mm high) 90amp can be had for £62.99 but this would require some messing on my part as it would sit proud of the battery tray. and would need a new cover or the terminals insulating. Why could the 80ah have not gone up by 33% when I want one

Think I'll just bit the bullet and get the 80am as I'm lazy

[lloydy]

I got mine for £59 I think? Always the way isn't it

[Cruz]

Probably cashing in on all the vw owners

[ringo]

This is one reason why I leave my batteries isolated and not in parallel. I found that I would have to change both my leisures around the same time.
Now, I only risk running one battery flat at a time.

The low cutoff switch might be something that I would consider for the battery that runs the lights and water pump ect. It would be interesting to know how often this occurs.

Ringo