Deep cycle 12v 'leisure' batteries

Latest Articles

Deep cycle 12v 'leisure' batteries

Downsizer Forum Index -> Energy Efficiency and Construction/Major Projects

Author

Message

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri May 11, 07 7:39 am Post subject: Deep cycle 12v 'leisure' batteries

Following on from the electric fencing thread, https://forum.downsizer.net/viewtopic.php?p=347710 , I need to buy a 12v battery for my fencer. As the price is going to be £40 to £50 I'd like to get a decent one.

Is there anything to look out for or any recommendations? The ones I've seen don't seem to be guaranteed and I know some car batteries are guaranteed for at least 3 years so I assume I can track down a long life leisure battery.

crofter

Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 2252

Posted: Sat May 12, 07 7:27 pm Post subject:
car battery faq here: https://uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq.htm

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 44460
Location: yes

Posted: Sun May 13, 07 10:55 pm Post subject:
halfords may be worth a look

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Mon May 14, 07 6:59 am Post subject:
Why not try and get a cheap car battery from the scrappy and use the money you save to buy one of those solar trickle chargers?

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Mon May 14, 07 7:18 am Post subject:

Many thanks for the info Crofter, there's more there than I could ever want.

I'll take a look in Halfords the next time I pass one.

I could pick-up a second hand car battery but some people I know who've done that also suggested I don't have a battery energiser as the batteries only last a few months. A deep-cycle battery should outlast several car batteries and be more reliable I gather and at £40 I don't think it's worth trying something else.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Mon May 14, 07 8:37 am Post subject:
Ok, How do they cope with really cold weather?

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 44460
Location: yes

Posted: Mon May 14, 07 6:44 pm Post subject:
they are ok in benders , 3 trickle charge things (laptop sized )will power a battery to charge up batteries to :run mobile phone ,led lights.head torch ,small cd player , local cb radio old car batteries should be recycled

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed May 16, 07 1:19 pm Post subject:
I had a look in Halfords and their premium car batteries have a 4 year warranty and their standard batteries have a 3 year warranty but their leisure batteries only have a 2 year warranty. I expect the car battery warranties would be invalidated if used for electric-fencing. So it seems they expect leisure batteries to no last that long.

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Wed May 16, 07 1:54 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

So it seems they expect leisure batteries to no last that long.

Ideally, you'd be after a "traction" battery rather than a "leisure" battery.
Check out the number of full discharges expected... https://www.solar-power-answers.co.uk/battery.html
My guess is that a battery intended for a stairlift might be excellent for an electric fence... though a caravan battery should last much longer than a car battery.

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Wed May 16, 07 2:18 pm Post subject:
So I poked around and you could have a mobility scooter 'AGV" battery for like £25 but if you were spending £50 you could have a Gel one... (inc vat & delivery... Gel is better if only for reduced self-discharge... https://www.mobilityscooterbatteries.co.uk/choosing-your-battery.html then click the button at top of page for Gel... !

Northern_Lad

Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 14210
Location: Somewhere

Posted: Wed May 16, 07 2:18 pm Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

Ok, How do they cope with really cold weather?

He lives in the South East; really cold for them is balmy for us.

And I think the warranty levels might suggest not as well.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed May 16, 07 2:39 pm Post subject:

dougal wrote:

Thanks for the link although this is getting a bit confusing. The link says marine batteries fall into the traction battery category but one of the leisure batteries I've seen are also referred to as marine.

Looking at fencing, the battery should last about 6 weeks. So even if the plain leisure battery only lasts for 200 charges that's well over 20 years.

Looking at the other link the prices start at £130 = VAT for a 80 amp/hr battery and I can get an 85amp/hr leisure battery for a little over £40 inc VAT.

Another thing to remember, if the fence is used in a remote location there's a chance the energiser and battery will be stolen so that's a good reason to keep the costs down.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed May 16, 07 2:52 pm Post subject:
Actually, I've just had a look and I'm not sure what Amp/hr battery I need although ones around the 85Amp/hr batteries tend to be the ones I've seen sold with the more powerful energisers.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 07 7:33 am Post subject:
Bump and an update. I did get the Halfords leisure battery in the end. I only use the electric fencing at night and it's only in a garden but after a few months use the battery still seems virtually fully charged. Certainly for me it seems the best choice.

FiddlesticksTim

Joined: 28 Dec 2004
Posts: 104
Location: West Oxfordshire

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 07 12:33 pm Post subject:
Interesting. FWIW, I've been given some old Fire Alarm (12v 24Ah) batteries which I'm trickle charging with a Solar Panel and that's working out really well. Better still, they were free

	Downsizer Forum Index -> Energy Efficiency and Construction/Major Projects	All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

View Latest Posts