Leisure battery renewal (1 Viewer)

[felix1047]

Hi.I have a 2006 B614 Hymer. It is fitted with 2 G80 Exide gel batteries from new. I recently read a blog on the VARTA LFD90 battery which at around £80+each seems a much cheaper option. Does anyone have any experience of these.

 

[Langtoftlad]

Are your Exide's dying?
Is your Hymer's charger set to Gel

The Varta batteries you mention are "wet" batteries so a different beast to the Gel ones you have. Apples & Pears.

 

[Stealaway]

There should be a setting to change the charging for different types of batteries

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[JeanLuc]

I have had 2 x Varta LFD90s since April 2015. They replaced 2x110 Ah Elecsols (wet lead-acid) which lasted 6 years and they, in turn, replaced the original 2 x 80 Ah Exide gels that were the original equipment and also lasted 6 years.
So far, the Varta LFD90s seem very good - hopefully they will last as long as their predecessors. The van is a Hymer B630.

The gel batteries have the advantage of being able to withstand deeper discharge, but the disadvantage of taking much longer to recharge than wet lead-acid. They are also more expensive of course, but can be bought for around £150 or a bit less. Now called ES900 rather than G80.

If you decide to buy the Varta batteries, don't forget to change the setting on the EBL selector switch, from 'blei-gel' to 'blei-saure'.

 

[scotjimland]

When I replaced the two Gels on my B644 .. as far as I could determine, they were original Hymer fit ..

I was never a Gel fan.. but these were now 14 years old.. and still working.. I was impressed..

so, I decide to replace like for like with ES900 Exide G80 from Tanya ..

When I removed the old ones, I bench tested them.. one was goosed, not holding a charge .. the other was ok, so I kept it for bench testing 12v kit

I paid..

£149.90 each
P&P £15.19
TOTAL £315.00

they have come down in price ..

now £134.91

https://www.tayna.co.uk/ES900-Exide-G80-Marine-and-Multifit-Gel-Leisure-Battery-P7693.html

I am more than happy with the performance.. we seldom use EHU, I have 2 x 80w solar panels which keep them charged..

just to ensure they are properly maintained.. I put them on charge at home.

 

[funflair]

I would also ask "is there anything wrong with the G80's" that Hymer originally fitted to your van, we are still using ours from 2006.

Your Hymer should be set for Gel batteries as it was built to use them (not all vans are) if you are going to change why would you not fit batteries that have lasted 10 years as not many do.

Martin

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[Wagoneer]

If you replace with Varta LFD90, remember they should be vented if located in a confined space.

The batteries in my previous Hymer were located beneath the two front seats. If yours is the same, then it would be wise to vent them.

Earlier this year I fitted 2 x Varta LFD90 and they seem to be performing very well. They were installed in the double floor area so needed to be vented.

 

[felix1047]

Many thanks for all the replies on this. Am I correct in saying that if I opted for the Varta Battery I would have to reset the nominal capacity in the control panel as the Varta ah is different to the Exide.