Leisure Battery choice - Alpha Batteries

[Cruz]

The Numax 096 starter battery I have been using as a leisure battery is goosed so I'm looking for a replacement.

The 096 I have is listed a 190mm high and fits under my seat and allows my battery cover to fit and the seat to be swivelled.

So the question I am asking has anyone fitted of the 90amp leisure batteries sold by Alpha batteries?

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

All the dimensions are at the maximum as listed in the wiki but it's £17 cheaper than the less tall 175mm high 80ah battery they sell http://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/leisur ... e-battery/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and in the technical details the 90ah is listed as being deep cycle whereas the smaller 80ah battery isn't.

90ah H190 W175 L310 = £62.99
80ah H175 W175 L278 = £79.99

[scottbott]

I bought my leisure battery from them,80amp,had no problems apart from flattening it by mistake myself,came back up to charge ok

[Cruz]

I'm more asking if anyone has fitted the larger 90amp battery which is £17 cheaper. Being a skinflint

Then again aon 2nd thoughts the 90ah one is 310 long which is the max size that fits so when you take into account the wiring that enters the box area it would be a squeeze.

80ah one it is....if only they were still £59.99 like they were two years ago

[KylieKamper87]

I have it, it's a tight fit bit it goes in, my swivel chair can go round. Just need to careful of wires.

Cheers

Jon

[kevtherev]

As our company buy and sell leisure batteries we visited the alpha battery factory recently, it was not what we expected in terms of quality and continuity, it was in stark contrast to the Lucas battery factory... and needless to say we don't use Alpha any more.

Jus' sayin!

[windysurfer]

As our company buy and sell leisure batteries we visited the alpha battery factory recently, it was not what we expected in terms of quality and continuity, it was in stark contrast to the Lucas battery factory... and needless to say we don't use Alpha any more.

Jus' sayin!

It that Alphaline battery's Kev?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALPHALINE-12V ... 3a7ad5e4ae

[AdrianC]

As our company buy and sell leisure batteries we visited the alpha battery factory recently, it was not what we expected in terms of quality and continuity, it was in stark contrast to the Lucas battery factory... and needless to say we don't use Alpha any more.

Jus' sayin!

It says "Made in UK - no" on that product page. D'you think the problems you/they saw would affect a battery they were just warehousing through there?

Their sales & service don't appear to be great, either - I'd have ordered one of those 90Ah (at £90) before Xmas if they'd bothered to tell me where on their site that battery was, instead of just telling me to phone them.

[kevtherev]

No mate
nor is it Alfa batteries.

Alpha batteries in Rochdale

[kevtherev]

I must stress here that it was a trust issue here not a performance and price
For the price they are very good, but as a supplier, the lucas battery was chosen on consistency of product

[AdrianC]

<shrug> I've got one on order now. Should be here Weds, so I'll report back then.

Also ordered an 075 (Bosch for £55 from CarParts4Less - £20 cheaper than Alpha) for the starter, which after a couple of weeks lack of use is SOOOO flat that the oil pressure light won't even come on, despite stereo/int lights being off the leisure...

Flamin' 'eck, does it EVER end? I've just lobbed brake pads and a back box on the Pug this morning, the driveshaft for that is waiting fitting once I decide whether to just do the clutch or swap a 5spd in at the same time... then there's the bits already bought and waiting fitting - stainless coolant pipes and PS pipes, amongst other stuff - and a few other odds and sods, like oil and filter for both. On top of that, a text message from our tenant the other day - the heated towel rail in the bathroom went pop-sploosh (£700 list for the same again! Should still be in warranty, though)...

[Cruz]

My low height 80ah Alpha battery arrived today and it's in the van behind the seat with no fitment troubles.

Replaces my dead Numax 096 battery

[AdrianC]

OK, my 90AH 190 x 175 x 310 arrived at about 6pm yesterday, and I've just fitted it.

Yes, it does fit. But JUST. ONLY just.

The 175 x 310 base dimensions aren't an issue - it's snug, but comfortable. To get it in and out requires a bit of a jiggle, but it does drop comfortably in. There's maybe 5-10mm extra front-rear with it in, but I don't think you'd actually manage to insert a bigger battery. The width is bob-on.

The 190 height... I dunno who measured it for the Wiki, but I make the maximum over which the lid will actually close to be about 187mm or so. This battery really is 190mm high. The lid does "close", but only with a bit of judicious flexing. It seems to sit _slightly_ lower on the outer, wheel, edge than the inner, vehicle centre line, edge. The bottom of our tray is solid, clean, un-rusted/repaired original metal. To initially get the seat swivel around the lid, you have to hold the lid down. With the (oem Westy) swivel right way round, it's just held in place shut. Yes, there's a cover over the +ve terminal. It'd be van-suicide not to have.

The bottom line :- If I was trying it out at the battery place, I might decide to go for a smaller one. But since it was mail order, it's not so bad that I can be arsed to try and return and exchange it. Especially since, at £63, it's a bloody bargain.

[bootie3367]

On this subject, I ordered a Varta battery from Tayna, they had one advertised as a 175mm height which is the one I wanted and asked for.

As I live out in spain and there were no local battery suppliers that could provide me with a deep discharge unit the size I required I bit the bullet and ordered from them, came to just under the 100 quid mark including postage.
Took a while to get here and when I opened it up I thought it looked big so I measured at and it was a 190mm! I did try and fit and yes it did fit but I couldn't close the lid which would have meant the flap was open against the back of the seat all the time (not ideal).

Anyhoo, I contacted them and told them which then produced a host of emails back and forth about getting it sent back and a replacement being sent out. This went on for about 2 weeks, with me finding out about how, as a person who pays for a service is then liable for any problems with regard to transport of dangerous goods should anything go wrong! I tried asking Tayna if they would send me a pre-paid return slip so that they as a company would be liable for the dangerous goods in transit (something they do all the time) they mentioned I should try P2G and list it as a car part *snorts with derision*.
When I said I was not prepared to do that as it could be construed as fraud, they came back with a replacement battery offer, FOC (the right 175mm size) an admission of fault in the first place and I was to keep the original battery and sell on if I wished, all they asked was a 30 quid fee for sending the new one out.

The end result is brand new 80AHC deep discharge battery at 190mm high and a brand new 80AHC deep discharge battery at 175mm!

I just want to say that I think Tayna customer services were helpful and understood very well the problems I was having trying to get a courier to take that battery back to the UK.
It may not mean much but I would recommend them to anyone needing a leisure battery (just make sure they understand fully tht you need the 175mm height)

Jon

[Cruz]

Maybe a link to the battery would finish that tale off

[California Dreamin]

Yes, it does fit. But JUST. ONLY just
The 190 height... I dunno who measured it for the Wiki, but I make the maximum over which the lid will actually close to be about 187mm or so. This battery really is 190mm high
The bottom line :- If I was trying it out at the battery place, I might decide to go for a smaller one.

Copied directly from WIKI without alteration and as I wrote it.....your comment implies the WIKI is inaccurate? but it looks alright to me...and has all the cautionary notes to inform, as it should.

Under seat battery box dimensions:
310 wide x 175 deep (front to back) x 185 high.
These are absolute maximum a shade less would be better - I have measured to the bottom of a swivel seat on a camper. Just be aware that some battery box lids won't shut properly with the common 190mm battery height..ideally go for one with a slightly lower profile (175mm seems to be the ideal alternative)

Martin