extra battery vent?

Rodeo

Im at the point of buying an extra battery to run the leisure stuff, pumps etc. Im going to get an ordinary car battery, about 85ah.Will I need to find one ( or will I find one ) with a vent tube? I intend to position the battery behind the drivers seat.
Thanks
 

Rodeo

Ive looked at that site previously , prices are way too much for me! I decided I could get away with a 'wet' type ordinary car battery, as I wont be discharging it a great deal, I move every day, so able to top it up regularly, and I can get them at discount! Never bothered with vent tubes in the past when putting batteries under campervan seats, but wondered if I really should now?
 

steco1958

Rodeo said:
Ive looked at that site previously , prices are way too much for me! I decided I could get away with a 'wet' type ordinary car battery, as I wont be discharging it a great deal, I move every day, so able to top it up regularly, and I can get them at discount! Never bothered with vent tubes in the past when putting batteries under campervan seats, but wondered if I really should now?
Click to expand...


£83 delivered inc VAT 100Ah,,,,Too expensive !!!!
 

Rodeo

Well Im sorry that you think it a good price, we're not all loaded you know!
 

Tbear

If its a cheap leisure battery then its an ordinary car battery.

No need to worry about a vent tube unless there is a chance you are going to boil the battery. In which case, you do not want it inside at all.

Richard
 

Alf

Battery

To be on the safe side go for a sealed battery with no vent tube.

Alf



Rodeo said:
Im at the point of buying an extra battery to run the leisure stuff, pumps etc. Im going to get an ordinary car battery, about 85ah.Will I need to find one ( or will I find one ) with a vent tube? I intend to position the battery behind the drivers seat.
Thanks
Click to expand...
 

ivecotrucker

True leisure batteries are expensive & not normally stocked nor sold by your average battery dealer or "Leisure" shop. What they sell are almost always starter batteries with a Campervan, Caravan or Boat picture stuck on the side at a premium price.
Ask the salesman what is the standard test time for the CCA calculation & what was the test time for whatever model they are flogging; no answer = don't buy. (it's 20 hours by the way but watch out for those based on 100 hours, you'll find they are fairly cr*p).
Use the cheapest unbadged open topped* starter battery, flog it hard but maintain it properly, you should get about 3 years depending on amount of use, maybe more; then buy another.

* with screw tops to the cells so you can top it up; avoid low/no maintenance if you want minimum price AND maximum life.
 

GRWXJR

Can you still get em with screw tops? Ive not seen a 12v starter or pseudo leisure battery with those for ages!

FWIW the CCA period that Ivecotrucker mentions is why in work we use proper deep cycle traction 2v cells in packs for off grid power systems and not even the momobloc 6v traction cells, as they are rated at 5 hrs.

So for a given AH cell rating a 5hr CCA rated battery is far superior.

Its also why I also have a standard starter battery in the role of the habitat battery jnstead of a "leisure" as well (a 100AH rated 019 type).

G.
 

Rodeo

Ivecotrucker..I remembered that you gave me that advice on another thread, thats why I was just asking about the venting on this thread.
So with screw tops will I have venting probs into the van guys?
 
Last edited:

ivecotrucker

Rodeo said:
Ivecotrucker..I remembered that you gave me that advice on another thread, thats why I was just asking about the venting on this thread.
So with screw tops will I have venting probs into the van guys?
Click to expand...

It really depends on what will be your maximum charging VOLTAGE.
Under 14.4V charging rate & the gassing will be negligible (unless a battery is faulty in which case it can 'gas' at < 14.4V.
Over 14.4V charge rate, as with a good intelligent charger set to "wet lead acid" it will gas.
Therefore it is always safest to vent a battery compartment to external atmosphere.

Battery gas is HIGHLY explosive so always play safe & vent it.
 

shortcircuit

For those label scynics just take your 'identical" but differently badged batteries and just weigh them. The difference is not in the lable??????
 

Rodeo

So after lots of searching locally, Ive found 85ah leisure battery, sealed/maint free, for about £60.I explained my wants to the guy behind the counter(car battery roughly 60ah, not maint free, with a vent.) He searched his suppliers , but none are vented or top up-able.He reckoned the leis batt would be ok. I havent looked on line as I dont want the hassle of sending it back if its a duff etc.I really dunno what to do now as going round in circles choosing such a simple thing! aaarrrggghhh!
 
Wooie1958

Wooie1958

Forum Member
There`s a lot to be said for buying items local.

If there is a problem ( seems a lot more common these days than it used to be ) then it`s easy to return / sort out.

So, in the long run even if it`s a few pounds more it could work out cheaper and a lot less hassle if a problem arises.
 

hextal

shortcircuit said:
For those label scynics just take your 'identical" but differently badged batteries and just weigh them. The difference is not in the lable??????
Click to expand...

I would be tempted to not rely on the weight as conclusive - one of the magazines did some tests on a selection of 'leisure batteries' a while back and found some had a layer of concrete in the base to add weight.

At the end of the day it depends on how much ya wanna spend and how you'll use it. I went for traction batteries as I think they work out cheaper (depending whether you agree with the my logic though).

Starter/leisure batteries should generally not be discharged below 50% (or not regularly at least) whereas traction batteries can usually be discharged more deeply (80% with the ones i've got). So for example - in terms of available charge

2 No. 100ah tractions batteries = 160ah available whereas:-
3 No. 100ah leisure/starter batteries = 150ah available.

As such, you're getting the same charge with 1 less battery - saving 25Kg and storage space. From memory it actually worked out cheaper too.


Swings and roundabouts at the end of the day
 
Last edited by a moderator:

shortcircuit

hextal said:
I would be tempted to not rely on the weight as conclusive - one of the magazines did some tests on a selection of 'leisure batteries' a while back and found some had a layer of concrete in the base to add weight.
Click to expand...

I assume that was so they could sell a leisure battery as a starter battery?????????
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Top