What Leisure Battery Have You Got?

[Dellmassive]

What Leisure battery/batteries have you got?

I'm looking to beef up the AUX 12v side of things, say up To 400Ah or more. Which will need a few extra batteries.

So the question is, what have you got and where?

Make, model, type and size.

And most importantly post some pics.


I'm planning on fitting 2 factory battery trays under the double bench, and 2 extras In The back somewhere. Looks like the under bench ones are limited to 75Ah due To The size? But The ones in the back can be 110Ah or larger Etc.

I'm looking for inspiration.

Lithium, Gel, AGM, Victron, 6v golf cart batteries, forklift cells whatever.

So let's see em. =]

 

[Chris Joyce]

I’d also be interested in this, I’ve been looking at the LPS Lithium battery setups as sold by three bridge campers among others.

Pricey but looks like a good setup.

 

[craigblues]

I have one 110 under each seat in the front.

 

[Dellmassive]

I have one 110 under each seat in the front.

Awsome. What type ie AGM? and make? Post a couple of pics if you can.

 

[craigblues]

Awsome. What type ie AGM? and make? Post a couple of pics if you can.

No they are not AGM. They are standard DC leisure batteries. Hancook Deep Cycle.

BatteryMegastore, Online Battery Retailer With Next Day Delivery

 

[t0mb0]

400ah!? Blimey, what are you running in there?

 

[Dellmassive]

400ah!? Blimey, what are you running in there?

1500w inverter running work stuff when mobile.


And need a long 12v runtime when out and about or camping.

Last year we was running a 110ah flat during a day.

So we've added various solar options, but still looking to up the battery count.

 

[Fish]

Upgrading to XR4000 / underslung.
Also doing background work into Lithium to work out what's involved to add to current set up.

 

[rover220]

4 trojan t105 will get you around 450ah

 

[Salty Spuds]

What Leisure battery/batteries have you got?

I'm looking to beef up the AUX 12v side of things, say up To 400Ah or more. Which will need a few extra batteries.

So the question is, what have you got and where?

Make, model, type and size.

And most importantly post some pics.


I'm planning on fitting 2 factory battery trays under the double bench, and 2 extras In The back somewhere. Looks like the under bench ones are limited to 75Ah due To The size? But The ones in the back can be 110Ah or larger Etc.

I'm looking for inspiration.

Lithium, Gel, AGM, Victron, 6v golf cart batteries, forklift cells whatever.

So let's see em. =]

If you’re looking for that amount of capacity, then lithium is the way to go. You’ll do it with half the bulk & a quarter of the weight of lead acid. I’m looking to go down the lithium route soon. Prices are dropping pretty rapidly. Look at the offerings from SuperB & Mastervolt

 

[Loz]

Or a generator.......

 

[Dellmassive]

If you’re looking for that amount of capacity, then lithium is the way to go. You’ll do it with half the bulk & a quarter of the weight of lead acid. I’m looking to go down the lithium route soon. Prices are dropping pretty rapidly. Look at the offerings from SuperB & Mastervolt

Sweet. Got a link?

 

[Dellmassive]

Or a generator.......

We got a EUi10 1000w Honda Genny and love it.

But it's dirty, smelly, runs out of fuel and a lot of places don't allow them. An too noisy for night.

But totally agree that for that kind of Power a EHU or Genny is the cost effective solution.

 

[t0mb0]

This all puts my 75ah factory leisure battery to shame! Mind you, we’ve done many multi-week trips where it’s barely ever been down past halfway (and we rarely touch hookup) so maybe our electrical needs are somewhat modest!

 

[t0mb0]

If you’re looking for that amount of capacity, then lithium is the way to go. You’ll do it with half the bulk & a quarter of the weight of lead acid. I’m looking to go down the lithium route soon. Prices are dropping pretty rapidly. Look at the offerings from SuperB & Mastervolt

Every time I look at lithium, I’m surprised by how little bulk they save. They barely seem any smaller than AGM in practice. They claim you can get away with half the capacity as you can safely run them down more but I don’t buy this argument - surely you want some in reserve above and beyond day to day usage no matter what the battery type is.

They’re definitely lighter though, if saving weight is critical but I’m not sure this is worth the 5-10 times cost multiple.

 

[Salty Spuds]

Every time I look at lithium, I’m surprised by how little bulk they save. They barely seem any smaller than AGM in practice. They claim you can get away with half the capacity as you can safely run them down more but I don’t buy this argument - surely you want some in reserve above and beyond day to day usage no matter what the battery type is.

They’re definitely lighter though, if saving weight is critical but I’m not sure this is worth the 5-10 times cost multiple.

You’re missing the point, a like for like size of lithium v Lead Acid will have around 70% more “useable” capacity. The discharge curve of a lithium battery is more or less linear, I.E it will give you 12v until it’s almost discharged & then the voltage drops off a cliff. A lead acid by comparison will give you 12v for around the first 25% if it’s capacity & then the voltage starts to drop off. By the time you’ve discharged it by 50% you’re down to 10V or thereabouts. The upshot of this means that a 90ah lithium battery will have as much “useable” capacity as a 150ah lead acid. Or to flip that on its head, if you have a Lithium battery that’s the same size as a standard 110ah lead acid, the lithium will give around 70% more useable capacity than the PB.

 

[t0mb0]

You’re missing the point, a like for like size of lithium v Lead Acid will have around 70% more “useable” capacity. The discharge curve of a lithium battery is more or less linear, I.E it will give you 12v until it’s almost discharged & then the voltage drops off a cliff. A lead acid by comparison will give you 12v for around the first 25% if it’s capacity & then the voltage starts to drop off. By the time you’ve discharged it by 50% you’re down to 10V or thereabouts. The upshot of this means that a 90ah lithium battery will have as much “useable” capacity as a 150ah lead acid. Or to flip that on its head, if you have a Lithium battery that’s the same size as a standard 110ah lead acid, the lithium will give around 70% more useable capacity than the PB.

I'm not sure what lead acid batteries you've used, but I'm not aware of any that will drop anywhere near 10v at 50% SOC. An AGM will start at around 12.8v and at 50% will be somewhere in the region of 12.3v. All 12v nominal electronics are designed for the full range of voltages that come from lead acid batteries so the flatter voltage profile of lithium batteries, whilst neat, isn't in itself a significant advantage in current automotive applications.

Of course, lithium batteries can be regularly run down to a lower SOC than AGM without affecting the lifespan. The point I was making in my original post was that, given people don't usually buy batteries sized such that they intend to flatten them daily (they generally want some contingency for extra draw, irrespective of battery chemistry), then they might be happy with AGM and live with the occasional greater-than-ideal (in terms of lifespan) discharge.

Clearly, lithium is a superior technology and, if offered a choice of a free lithium battery and free AGM one, you'd take the lithium. However, given the huge initial cost multiple, you need to carefully assess the lifespan/capacity/weight/size/etc to decide on the best approach in any given scenario.

 

[Salty Spuds]

I'm not sure what lead acid batteries you've used, but I'm not aware of any that will drop anywhere near 10v at 50% SOC. An AGM will start at around 12.8v and at 50% will be somewhere in the region of 12.3v. All 12v nominal electronics are designed for the full range of voltages that come from lead acid batteries so the flatter voltage profile of lithium batteries, whilst neat, isn't in itself a significant advantage in current automotive applications.

Of course, lithium batteries can be regularly run down to a lower SOC than AGM without affecting the lifespan. The point I was making in my original post was that, given people don't usually buy batteries sized such that they intend to flatten them daily (they generally want some contingency for extra draw, irrespective of battery chemistry), then they might be happy with AGM and live with the occasional greater-than-ideal (in terms of lifespan) discharge.

Clearly, lithium is a superior technology and, if offered a choice of a free lithium battery and free AGM one, you'd take the lithium. However, given the huge initial cost multiple, you need to carefully assess the lifespan/capacity/weight/size/etc to decide on the best approach in any given scenario.

So basically you’re saying that apart from cost, lithium has weight & capacity advantages over lead acid. Which is what I said half a page ago. So your point is ???

 

[Davenjo]

I'm not sure what lead acid batteries you've used, but I'm not aware of any that will drop anywhere near 10v at 50% SOC. An AGM will start at around 12.8v and at 50% will be somewhere in the region of 12.3v. All 12v nominal electronics are designed for the full range of voltages that come from lead acid batteries so the flatter voltage profile of lithium batteries, whilst neat, isn't in itself a significant advantage in current automotive applications.

My main use of 12v is running my fridge but, by design, the compressor will not cut-in unless there is at least 11.7v available, consequently, allowing for a bit of voltage drop in the cables, etc, only around 50-60% of the battery's capacity is available to me for my primary application - lithium would give me closer to 100%

 

[t0mb0]

So basically you’re saying that apart from cost, lithium has weight & capacity advantages over lead acid. Which is what I said half a page ago. So your point is ???

I’ve explained myself as carefully as I’m able to. I’m afraid I can’t really spell it out clearer than I have already.