How long do your leisure batteries last?

[dazmond]

I usually get 2 or 3 years out of mine but my latest (2 x numax 105ah batteries) only lasted 20 months. I've just fitted 2 new ones at a cost of £251 for a pair.

I bench charge them every night with a 20amp numax commercial charger

I have a smart b+b charger fitted to my van

The problem is i don't know how long the batteries had been sitting on the shelf. I'm sure they were not as good as the last pair!

 

[Mattymarske]

I usually get 2 or 3 years out of mine but my latest (2 x numax 105ah batteries) only lasted 20 months. I've just fitted 2 new ones at a cost of £251 for a pair.

I bench charge them every night with a 20amp numax commercial charger

I have a smart b+b charger fitted to my van

The problem is i don't know how long the batteries had been sitting on the shelf. I'm sure they were not as good as the last pair!

Think I'm onto my 3rd/4th in 8 years. Never thought to charge the 1st 2 just relied on split charge relay to do it.

Now I plug in the victron charger cable whilst I fill up nearly every night.

Currently using this one from the caravan and swapped the dead one in its place.

 

[Jango]

My last battery lasted 7 years. Even the supplier was shocked. It was a Bison 120ahI did bench charge it every night. I do have a split charge relay but do not do enough miles for it to kick in.

 

[Prehistoric]

When I buy a new battery I fully charge it before i use it, surprising how much charge it will take. As Daz says, you don't know how long it has been sitting on the shelf.

 

[Mattymarske]

Split charge really are lifesavers on occasion when battery drops to 11.7 or lower I jump in van for 5 mins engine running and goes to 13.1/12.9. got me through a few last houses when I've forgotten to plug in charger

 

[sleepyfolk]

I usually get 2 or 3 years out of mine but my latest (2 x numax 105ah batteries) only lasted 20 months. I've just fitted 2 new ones at a cost of £251 for a pair.

I bench charge them every night with a 20amp numax commercial charger

I have a smart b+b charger fitted to my van

The problem is i don't know how long the batteries had been sitting on the shelf. I'm sure they were not as good as the last pair!

Have you considered upgrading to lithium next time, the Numax 105’s have a suggested 200 deep charge cycle lifespan, although if you have a BtoB charger in the van you’d assume they weren’t being heavily discharged each day but maybe they are so that’s why you bench charge?
As the 3 year warranty only applies to light usage - in our sort of application they would only offer a 6 month warranty the 200 cycles doesn’t sound too out of kilter with your 20 months.

Although the 230ah Fogstar drift I bought cost £451 - allegedly the battery is fit for 4000 cycles with a 10 year warranty, I also have a Victron Smart 18a BtoB charger fitted and they are never not at 100%, even running constantly all day without moving only knocks about 25-35% off, normal usage on the round with two pumps and electric reels during the day the voltage never dips below 12.7 which would be fully charged for a normal lead acid so the pumps and reels run better as well. I fitted a mains lithium charger just in case I needed to top up but have never had to use it so far!

 

[spruce]

Have you considered upgrading to lithium next time, the Numax 105’s have a suggested 200 deep charge cycle lifespan, although if you have a BtoB charger in the van you’d assume they weren’t being heavily discharged each day but maybe they are so that’s why you bench charge?
As the 3 year warranty only applies to light usage - in our sort of application they would only offer a 6 month warranty the 200 cycles doesn’t sound too out of kilter with your 20 months.

Although the 230ah Fogstar drift I bought cost £451 - allegedly the battery is fit for 4000 cycles with a 10 year warranty, I also have a Victron Smart 18a BtoB charger fitted and they are never not at 100%, even running constantly all day without moving only knocks about 25-35% off, normal usage on the round with two pumps and electric reels during the day the voltage never dips below 12.7 which would be fully charged for a normal lead acid so the pumps and reels run better as well. I fitted a mains lithium charger just in case I needed to top up but have never had to use it so far!

I don't know what sort of mileage daz is doing now his living arrangements have changed. If he is still doing a low daily mileage, it could well be that he might have to top up a lithium battery's charge every now and again, especially in winter. He runs a diesel heater and electric reel as well as his pump. However, he tells us that he parks up for lunch with his engine running and heated seat on, then this may just be enough to fully charge the lithium battery every day.
Either way, he doesn't need to recharge the battery to 100% every night. He can let the charge drop to 40 - 50% before having to take action.

 

[dazmond]

I'm still only a 15-20 min drive from my work so yes low mileage.

First day working yesterday with new batteries and EVERYTHING was improved!

Hotter water
Better water flow
Faster reeling in

I couldn't put my hand under my brush jets by the afternoon with coiled hose and it was a fairly cold day here!

 

[sleepyfolk]

I'm still only a 15-20 min drive from my work so yes low mileage.

First day working yesterday with new batteries and EVERYTHING was improved!

Hotter water
Better water flow
Faster reeling in

I couldn't put my hand under my brush jets by the afternoon with coiled hose and it was a fairly cold day here!

Admittedly I tend to do a few miles but nonetheless I’d reckon after you’ve worn these ones out lithium might be a good move

 

[spruce]

I'm still only a 15-20 min drive from my work so yes low mileage.

First day working yesterday with new batteries and EVERYTHING was improved!

Hotter water
Better water flow
Faster reeling in

I couldn't put my hand under my brush jets by the afternoon with coiled hose and it was a fairly cold day here!

Heating water for 2 operators does mean the water at the brush head isn't that hot.

 

[dazmond]

Admittedly I tend to do a few miles but nonetheless I’d reckon after you’ve worn these ones out lithium might be a good move

How big are the lithium batteries and do you need a specific charger?Will it work with my battery to battery charger that's wired up to my van battery?

I tend to just replace my batteries with like for like because they fit in my battery boxes down the side of my tank and I'm not sure about lithium ones. I don't think they work in freezing conditions do they?or is this just a myth?

 

[ched999uk]

How big are the lithium batteries and do you need a specific charger?Will it work with my battery to battery charger that's wired up to my van battery?

I tend to just replace my batteries with like for like because they fit in my battery boxes down the side of my tank and I'm not sure about lithium ones. I don't think they work in freezing conditions do they?or is this just a myth?

A 100Ah Lithium is about the same size as a 100Ah lead acid (about half weight) but you can use most of the 100Ah whereas on lead acid you should only use 50% of the capacity.
You need a mains charger that has a Lithium setting same on your B2B.
They don't like charging below 5DegC (some have heating pads that pull power from charger to heat up to 5DegC before charging).

 

[Pjj]

How big are the lithium batteries and do you need a specific charger?Will it work with my battery to battery charger that's wired up to my van battery?

I tend to just replace my batteries with like for like because they fit in my battery boxes down the side of my tank and I'm not sure about lithium ones. I don't think they work in freezing conditions do they?or is this just a myth?

You will need a different charger , not sure about the b to b but think that might need to be changed as well but they are so much better and you can pick them up with your little finger , also you will only need one battery .

 

[Iron Giant]

A 100Ah Lithium is about the same size as a 100Ah lead acid (about half weight) but you can use most of the 100Ah whereas on lead acid you should only use 50% of the capacity.
You need a mains charger that has a Lithium setting same on your B2B.
They don't like charging below 5DegC (some have heating pads that pull power from charger to heat up to 5DegC before charging).

Interesting we have a Victron MPPT 100/30 solar charge controller on our van currently with x2 150ah batteries. I just had a look online and it's capable of charging a lithium battery, I'd have thought without a half or full discharge the solar panel should charge it and keep it topped it even in winter as it keeps the leisure batteries fully charged.

 

[ched999uk]

Interesting we have a Victron MPPT 100/30 solar charge controller on our van currently with x2 150ah batteries. I just had a look online and it's capable of charging a lithium battery, I'd have thought without a half or full discharge the solar panel should charge it and keep it topped it even in winter as it keeps the leisure batteries fully charged.

If the solar is keeping your current batteries topped up then converting to lithium it would do the same. The advantage is about half the weight plus you can use almost 100% of their rated capacity as opposed to 50%.
The thing to watch is if you have a split charge relay then that needs changing as lithium can pull huge currents from an alternator and destroy it! Also if you have a mains charger, then that needs to either have a lithium setting or output a max of 14.4v to charge lithium.
In theory if you replaced your 2 x 150Ah batteries (150Ah useable total) with 2 x 100Ah Lithiums (180Ah useable total) you would half the weight and have a bit more capacity. If you get a dc2dc charger that will also recharge lithiums much faster than you could charge lead acids.

 

[Pjj]

If the solar is keeping your current batteries topped up then converting to lithium it would do the same. The advantage is about half the weight plus you can use almost 100% of their rated capacity as opposed to 50%.
The thing to watch is if you have a split charge relay then that needs changing as lithium can pull huge currents from an alternator and destroy it! Also if you have a mains charger, then that needs to either have a lithium setting or output a max of 14.4v to charge lithium.
In theory if you replaced your 2 x 150Ah batteries (150Ah useable total) with 2 x 100Ah Lithiums (180Ah useable total) you would half the weight and have a bit more capacity. If you get a dc2dc charger that will also recharge lithiums much faster than you could charge lead acids.

They are considerably less than half the weight I had 2 x 180 amp AGM batteries I could hardly pick them up they were that heavy the new lithium one I can pick up with one finger , it also charges after a days work in around 2 hours the AGM ones took many times that . So far ime very pleased with it

 

[spruce]

You will need to contact Grippatank and see if the b2b charger they supplied can be reprogrammed for lithium. If not you would need a new b2b charger, such as a Sterling, Victron or Renogy.

But if you purchased a 230v lithium charger like I did from Fogstar @dazmond , then you don't need a b2b charger as you would just charge your battery at night at home. You do this anyway now.

 

[Iron Giant]

If the solar is keeping your current batteries topped up then converting to lithium it would do the same. The advantage is about half the weight plus you can use almost 100% of their rated capacity as opposed to 50%.
The thing to watch is if you have a split charge relay then that needs changing as lithium can pull huge currents from an alternator and destroy it! Also if you have a mains charger, then that needs to either have a lithium setting or output a max of 14.4v to charge lithium.
In theory if you replaced your 2 x 150Ah batteries (150Ah useable total) with 2 x 100Ah Lithiums (180Ah useable total) you would half the weight and have a bit more capacity. If you get a dc2dc charger that will also recharge lithiums much faster than you could charge lead acids.

Thanks for this mate and your dm, something to consider for the future at the point the batteries are on their way out, I can message the lad we bought the van off and ask about the batteries but the invoice didn't list new batteries with the solar panel and victron unit.

 

[spruce]

How big are the lithium batteries and do you need a specific charger?Will it work with my battery to battery charger that's wired up to my van battery?

I tend to just replace my batteries with like for like because they fit in my battery boxes down the side of my tank and I'm not sure about lithium ones. I don't think they work in freezing conditions do they?or is this just a myth?

I made a battery box to suit my 110 amph leisure battery. The 105 amp Fogstar lithium battery is 85mm shorter. It's also ever so slightly narrower.