Charging lithium from the Alternator

[barryd]

We do tend to drive most of the day, less so in the UK though.

Not found a single battery so far labelled as Lead Carbon.

Alpha do a few Kev. We get a discount I believe as members

Not cheap some of them. If I were you I would just get one of those 120ah expedition batteries I got and see how you get on. Sounds like yours is knackered.

https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/leisure-batteries/?filter_ab_application=d9-leisure&filter_ab_construction=5b-leadcarbonagm

I think this is the one I got. Well two now.

https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/12v-expedition-plus-120ah-semi-traction-leisure-battery/

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Lead carbon are way too expensive, I've popped this me basket for now, UK outfit with good feedback.

ECO-WORTHY 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery Up to 15000 Cycles Solar RV Marine | eBay UK

Solar Panel Kit. Solar Panel System. Do not wrap the wires directly around the positive and negative bolts of the lithium battery. Lithium Battery. The service life can reach 10 years under ideal conditions.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[barryd]

Lead carbon are way too expensive, I've popped this me basket for now, UK outfit with good feedback.

ECO-WORTHY 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery Up to 15000 Cycles Solar RV Marine | eBay UK

Solar Panel Kit. Solar Panel System. Do not wrap the wires directly around the positive and negative bolts of the lithium battery. Lithium Battery. The service life can reach 10 years under ideal conditions.

www.ebay.co.uk

I would agree. Seems crazy prices for yesterdays technology. You just need to make sure you get the right chargers though with that one so it will add up. If your MPPT is up to the job its just the 240v EHU charger and B2B you need I reckon. I still reckon you dont need one.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Possibly not, and I may just go LA in the end, I'm still exploring options, but I'm not keen on buying a B2B or anything else, as a very low user of energy with no plans to increase the inverter from 300w so no air fryers or hair dryers (that rhymes make a song out of it) hence I am very much fence bound.

 

[barryd]

Possibly not, and I may just go LA in the end, I'm still exploring options, but I'm not keen on buying a B2B or anything else, as a very low user of energy with no plans to increase the inverter from 300w so no air fryers or hair dryers (that rhymes make a song out of it) hence I am very much fence bound.

Your power needs are very similar to ours Kev then but the only difference is you move around a lot more. It drove me nuts last summer though having to be stingy with power and it sounds to me like your not far off just like I wasn't but it also sounds like you got a knackered battery.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

It was knackered 4 years ago when we bought this van, it's the Yorkshire in us that has kept it going.

 

[wildebus]

It was knackered 4 years ago when we bought this van, it's the Yorkshire in us that has kept it going.

If you have survived that long with a knackered Lead Acid Battery and you don't see your future usage changing, then going Lithium will be a waste of money, as would a high-end Lead Carbon.
Just get a basic Leisure Battery from somewhere like Halfords.

 

[trevskoda]

If you have survived that long with a knackered Lead Acid Battery and you don't see your future usage changing, then going Lithium will be a waste of money, as would a high-end Lead Carbon.
Just get a basic Leisure Battery from somewhere like Halfords.

Go to a trade battery dept, they are miles cheaper than halfrods, my 90ah units cost me £45 each, i bought 2.

 

[Nabsim]

Go to a trade battery dept, they are miles cheaper than halfrods, my 90ah units cost me £45 each, i bought 2.

They have gone up a bit in the last 10 years though Trev

 

[Pudsey Bear]

If you have survived that long with a knackered Lead Acid Battery and you don't see your future usage changing, then going Lithium will be a waste of money, as would a high-end Lead Carbon.
Just get a basic Leisure Battery from somewhere like Halfords.

That's the way I'm leaning David, it just makes more sense.

Alpha batteries:-

 

[barryd]

That's the way I'm leaning David, it just makes more sense.

Alpha batteries:-
View attachment 145121

Perhaps the experts will chip in Kev but the Alpha Expedition plus range which are more designed for off grid use (according to them) are only a few quid more. I would have thought 120ah is 120ah though. Maybe you get more cycles.

https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/12v-expedition-plus-120ah-semi-traction-leisure-battery/

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Yeah, I'm pretty much there now, pointless getting Lithium unless I need the facility they bring, LC is out on cost, a pointless option for me, LA is enough I think, always has been for most people who don't run electric fridges etc.

I'll put in an order with Alpha and pay in three with Paypal, I'm skint now after buying the wheelchair, and have not managed to sell the scooter yet.

 

[mark61]

The expedition weighs 3 kg more than the Xplorer @ 120ah, so there may well be something in it, being better for off grid?

 

[Fisherman]

Yeah, I'm pretty much there now, pointless getting Lithium unless I need the facility they bring, LC is out on cost, a pointless option for me, LA is enough I think, always has been for most people who don't run electric fridges etc.

I'll put in an order with Alpha and pay in three with Paypal, I'm skint now after buying the wheelchair, and have not managed to sell the scooter yet.

Make sure that the fittings match your existing battery Kev to avoid having to use different connectors.

 

[Fisherman]

Perhaps the experts will chip in Kev but the Alpha Expedition plus range which are more designed for off grid use (according to them) are only a few quid more. I would have thought 120ah is 120ah though. Maybe you get more cycles.

https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/12v-expedition-plus-120ah-semi-traction-leisure-battery/

These batteries have a 150 cycle at 50% DOD.
If you discharge them less than this you would get far more cycles.
But 120ah indicates a max discharge of 60ah which is normal for a lead battery.

 

[Mick H]

Very interesting, i have recorted the vidio as brotherinlaws van has a smart alt and some assh-le converter has made a bo--ox of setup.
Strange thing is my vans on l acids which are now over 10 years old and still working a treat, mind you the only thing apart from a few led lights running would be the fridge which draws very litle juce and rated at tripple star, so my solar almost keeps things in order except maybe nov/ dec short days and low sun if the van is idle at home, but then again i dont use the fridge in winter.

I don't consider lead acid batteries lasting over 10 years to be unusual. I've had several last this long, over the years that I have been motorhoming.
Our biggest power drain is using the tv, for several hours per day, but our two leisure batteries still work well, although they must be at a reduced capacity, by now.
IMO, people who have their lead acids fail prematurely, are either unlucky, or let them drop too low, too often. Sensible use, and regularly checking, is the key, to long life.

 

[trevskoda]

Yeah, I'm pretty much there now, pointless getting Lithium unless I need the facility they bring, LC is out on cost, a pointless option for me, LA is enough I think, always has been for most people who don't run electric fridges etc.

I'll put in an order with Alpha and pay in three with Paypal, I'm skint now after buying the wheelchair, and have not managed to sell the scooter yet.

Electric fridge in my van, battery lasts 24 hrs on one easy bench test, i have 2 linked & 200w solar so nay prob.

 

[Okta]

Perhaps the experts will chip in Kev but the Alpha Expedition plus range which are more designed for off grid use (according to them) are only a few quid more. I would have thought 120ah is 120ah though. Maybe you get more cycles.

https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/12v-expedition-plus-120ah-semi-traction-leisure-battery/

There should be design differences between engine and leisure batteries because they have very different purposes. Unfortunately some leisure batteries are simply relabelled engine batteries. As pointed out by @mark61 the leisure battery should be heavier.

An engine starter battery needs to supply big amps for a very short time but is then immediately recharged when the engine starts. A leisure battery needs to provide lower amps over a longer period of time and may well not get recharged until much later. To withstand the deeper and longer discharge the plates need to be thicker and heavier.

This difference is also the reason why leisure battery should never be tested with traditional voltage drop testers found in most garages. The voltage drop tester demands far too many amps for a leisure battery and can damage it.

 

[trevskoda]

There should be design differences between engine and leisure batteries because they have very different purposes. Unfortunately some leisure batteries are simply relabelled engine batteries. As pointed out by @mark61 the leisure battery should be heavier.

An engine starter battery needs to supply big amps for a very short time but is then immediately recharged when the engine starts. A leisure battery needs to provide lower amps over a longer period of time and may well not get recharged until much later. To withstand the deeper and longer discharge the plates need to be thicker and heavier.

This difference is also the reason why leisure battery should never be tested with traditional voltage drop testers found in most garages. The voltage drop tester demands far too many amps for a leisure battery and can damage it.

My van just uses starter batteries for les use, i dont hammer them and have been going over 10 years.

 

[colinm]

This difference is also the reason why leisure battery should never be tested with traditional voltage drop testers found in most garages. The voltage drop tester demands far too many amps for a leisure battery and can damage it.

Are there any garages still using old style drop testers? All the ones I know use electronic testers and have for years.