Age between batteries

Paul and Kate

Paul and Kate

LIFE MEMBER
Joined
May 1, 2016
Posts
2,092
Likes collected
11,082
Location
Stoke on trent
Funster No
42,821
MH
Auto sleeper Warwick
Exp
Since 2015
Going to add a second battery.
Original wet lead acid 18 months old.
No performance issues.
Will I be ok to add a second or wait till it starts to fail and replace both.
 
At 18 months should be OK, recommend to be within 12 months but if it's a good batteries should be fine.
 
I wouldn't risk it after having the older battery of a an otherwise matched pair boil and spray acid out during a sunny summer with solar panels working overtime.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
I'd always go along with the recommendation to match a pair of batteries. But in all honesty nobody has ever convinced me that it is necessary, especially if they are properly used and maintained. The most likely scenario is that you will notice a gradual reduction in battery capacity as the older battery reduces the amount of work it's contributing. At that stage, although the newer battery is still probably serviceable, it may make more sense to replace both.

As Geo says, they never both fail at the same time.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
I had old fashioned "wet" L-A batteries in age ranging from new to 3 or more years old in the Last (UK) R-V. Just monitored them with a Hydrometer. If I got signs of a "bad" cell, then I would replace the failing battery. The R-V had a 180ah Alternator, with external control module, and a 40W "smart" charger, on EHU, with 400W of controlled solar.
 
Lenny HB said:
Can't remember the last time I saw a battery you could remove caps on to check the electrolyte, got to be at least 25 years ago. :ROFLMAO:
Click to expand...

Up to at least 2012, (when the R-V was sold) you could still get them, they where (relatively) cheap and did the job I wanted them to do. BUT what you have to remember is that I had the payload (2tonne!) and space Under the front hood (Pusher) to make mounting for them. I still think a hydrometer to be the most reliable way of checking L-A batteries. I still have at least 2 (L-A Batteries with caps) for my Classic Cars.
 
Last edited:
Do you know how the battery has been used and abused during it's 18 month life ? It's the remaining capacity that will determine how long it will last and just measuring the voltage alone will not tell you how much capacity is left. Adding a second battery will equalise both when connected together, so you need to make a judgement call on the basis of usage on the first.
 
Lenny HB said:
Can't remember the last time I saw a battery you could remove caps on to check the electrolyte, got to be at least 25 years ago. :ROFLMAO:
Click to expand...
My last 3 sets of Lead Acid batteries have had removable tops, otherwise there would not be a way of topping them up. My last set fitted last year and newly designed and manufactured Exide batteries. The 48 AH Lead Acid on my car 2.1/2 years old also has removable tops. I would have thought it common on all Lead Acid batteries or at the very least the vast majority.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
I
PhilandMena said:
Do you know how the battery has been used and abused during it's 18 month life ? It's the remaining capacity that will determine how long it will last and just measuring the voltage alone will not tell you how much capacity is left. Adding a second battery will equalise both when connected together, so you need to make a judgement call on the basis of usage on the first.
Click to expand...
I've owned the mh from new 18 months old.
Not really abused.
Possibly 15 nights off grid never fully discharged.
Also have 100 watts solar.
Just wanting to go longer off grid really.
We have Leds,run the fridge and heating/hot water off gas so only the pump (alde system)
Maybe 30 mins of tv while having breakfast.
 
Paul and Kate said:
I
I've owned the mh from new 18 months old.
Not really abused.
Possibly 15 nights off grid never fully discharged.
Also have 100 watts solar.
Just wanting to go longer off grid really.
We have Leds,run the fridge and heating/hot water off gas so only the pump (alde system)
Maybe 30 mins of tv while having breakfast.
Click to expand...
You say never fully discharged and I wonder just how low you allowed them to go ? Lead Acid batteries should not be discharged below 50% of there total capacity and ideally no more than 20% (Lower discharge = more cycles. Higher Discharge = Less cycles and possible harm to the plates). Your call. If your going to replace both, consider the Exide ET650 Leisure battery. 360 cycles @50% D.O.D.
 
PhilandMena said:
You say never fully discharged and I wonder just how low you allowed them to go ? Lead Acid batteries should not be discharged below 50% of there total capacity and ideally no more than 20% (Lower discharge = more cycles. Higher Discharge = Less cycles and possible harm to the plates). Your call. If your going to replace both, consider the Exide ET650 Leisure battery. 360 cycles @50% D.O.D.
Click to expand...
The battery alarm went off once saying the battery was down at 12.3v dont really know much about batteries ?.
But have read that Varta are quite decent.
So was think 2 varta Lfd 90
 
This may help improve your knowledge about leisure batteries.
www.ukcampsite.co.uk

Leisure Battery Care and Charging

A UKCampsite.co.uk member has compiled a fantastic article giving information, hints and tips on keeping your caravan or motorhome leisure battery in tip top condition. Includes choosing a charger, solar panels, generators and more
www.ukcampsite.co.uk

Quite a few members have the Varta lfd90 leisure battery fitted but too early yet to find out how they have performed over time. Varta's own website state these are for low to moderate use.

Professional Dual Purpose EFB

www.varta-automotive.com www.varta-automotive.com

If looking for a decent Lead Acid Leisure battery look for weight (the more lead the better performance and life, as a rule of thumb). Also look for the number of cycles and discharge figure, usually 50% . (This is an indication of capacity and battery life). Finaly, look for a batteery that has been produced by a known manufacturer and not a Chinese import that has been re-labeld. Good manufactures are Varta, Bosh, Exide and Yuasa.
 
Yuasa not a Chinese import then? :D Just asking, website doesn't make it very clear.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
TerryL said:
Yuasa not a Chinese import then? :D Just asking, website doesn't make it very clear.
Click to expand...
It may be Terry, I've never looked to see where they are produced. Just read the reviews and recommendations and informed they are up there with the rest of them. I'll see if I can dig out the review and post it on here.
 
OK That did not take long. You may recal A&NCaravan services and the owner Andy who took on the NCC about there flawed scheme and basically tore them to peices with facts. He did this by independently testing batteries that the NCC had rated and showed the NCC ratings were false. (Sadly he passed away in August of this year).
The long and full version of what he did is here.

Campaign For Clearer Leisure Battery Standard Changes - NCC verified battery scheme is a fraud

Campaign For Clearer Leisure Battery Standards. The NCC Verified battery scheme is a fraud - So called 'verified' batteries that can't possibly perform that well. Test reports that don't exist, 'verified' Batteries that break their own rules, Trading Standards breaches, etc. We request the...
www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk

Anyway, getting back to the Yuasa battery. This is what he said when he tested one at the independent test house he used .
For example, the Yuasa L36-EFB was part of a 'secret' group test, that we saw the results of, that made the outstanding Varta LFD/Bosch L series batteries look the poor relation, the L36-EFB was that good.





PLEASE NOTE : The YUASA L36-100 is no where near as capable as the L36-EFB. The technology of the moment is Enhanced Flooded Batteries, the '100' version is a conventional battery.




Thanks to the high Carbon, etc. technology inside the Yuasa L36-EFB battery it is also higher capacity, 100Ah versus the Varta LFD's 90Ah. Yuasa claim a charging rate that is 1.7 times faster, which proves this has some major efficiency improvements over an old fashioned, conventional battery range.

We already have the Yuasa L36-EFB test data results to BS EN 50342, so it has laboratory data to back up it's 230 cycle capability, even though Yuasa understate it's capability at just 200 cycles. While it's resting voltage isn't as high as the Varta LFD90's 12.97v, it is still higher than a conventional batteries at about 12.8v, with a 50% discharged SOC of about 12.3v.

So it falls about half way between the VRLA column and the Yuasa YX Micron column in the battery SOC chart.



Battery%20Yuasa%20state%20of%20Charge%20Chart.jpg




The Yuasa L36-EFB at around £120 is our new Mid Range Best Buy. While gassing is exceptionally low for this type of wet Acid battery, almost to Gel standards, Yuasa say a vent pipe to the outside is advised.

If you need a battery that is safe inside the vehicle without a vent, then we think the Varta LFD90 is the only option, safer even than Gel or AGM.



We need to find out more about all these new EFB batteries coming on to the market in 2019, until then please bear the above in mind when you read the page below, as it will take me a long time to rewrite the whole page.

Most of the technology comments below also apply to the Yuasa EFB which has achieved 230 cycles in testing versus the Bosch L series and Varta LFD's 200 cycles. So you can see the Yuasa EFB is special, but when you also consider it is a 100Ah battery, that raises it above the Varta LFD90's 90Ah as well.

He goes on to discuss other batteries and if interested just digest the first link.
 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top