Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: richard groves on April 27, 2016, 09:43:31 am
-
I've a 110 Ah battery that's no longer holding a good charge and giving me issues (5+ years old now though)
I use a split charge relay.
Have brought it in routinely overnight to bench charge when needed but its a heavy brute to lug up into a flat from a street parked van.
My longest day on the glass is 8 hours work without moving vehicle ( yesterday had to keep engine running a couple of hours to finish the work due to the leisure battery being knackered )
Considering going with a smaller battery this time around.
Would a 55 Ah be sufficient for my needs ? driving on average 30 mile a day and stay topped up from the relay ?
-
Maybe this would do if you’re going to put it on charge every night. Myself I would probably buy a couple so have one as a spare as a backup in the van fully charged. http://www.purefreedom.co.uk/pumps-controllers/batteries/yuasa-12v-24ah-golf-battery.html
That is the same battery I've used in my old pf trolley static in the van for the last several years and is still working ok all be it takes a lot longer now to charge but still does the job.
As I do mainly exterior property deep cleans I can spend a few hours on site so have the option to charge it up whilst there or run it directly through customers power should the bat light on the controller come on. All I do is just plug in the battery charger into the pf trolley battery charging port and run an extension lead to either and outside power socket or convenient inside socket with the customers permission.
Works well for me ;D
-
Maybe this would do if you’re going to put it on charge every night. Myself I would probably buy a couple so have one as a spare as a backup in the van fully charged. http://www.purefreedom.co.uk/pumps-controllers/batteries/yuasa-12v-24ah-golf-battery.html
That is the same battery I've used in my old pf trolley static in the van for the last several years and is still working ok all be it takes a lot longer now to charge but still does the job...
Works well for me ;D
Must admit I've often wondered why one or two of my mates use such big batteries on their vans when these 24ah batteries keep our trollies with the same Sureflo pumps in them running for up to three days on a full charge. If you're a two man team I get the need for bigger batteries but even then I would have thought a 50ah battery would suffice. Must admit though I've never had one last more than a year and a half with daily use and 100% wfp.
-
if you are going to use a small battery like that then you can't charge it via the split charge relay from your van's alternator.
The only solution would be a small pure sine wave inverter and then pluging the battery's designed charger into that.
-
Hi Spruce,
I take it you are meaning the 24 Ah battery in smurfs post ?
I just ordered this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201425470325?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649
-
Hi Spruce,
I take it you are meaning the 24 Ah battery in smurfs post ?
I just ordered this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201425470325?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649
Yes. I was referring to that 24 amph battery. I should have made my post more clear. Sorry.
-
if you are going to use a small battery like that then you can't charge it via the split charge relay from your van's alternator.
The only solution would be a small pure sine wave inverter and then pluging the battery's designed charger into that.
Question answered.
Thankyou Spruce :)
-
Vi don't use a split relay as don't do enough miles.always used a 110amp battery. But thought I would try 180amp this time.brilliant I find I get a good 10 days without charging.
-
mine started to flash BAT after 5 hours wfp yesterday.ive only had the battery 14 months.it cost me £70 from local caravan spares shop.(75ah).luckily i bought another one a few months ago with a new pump box so ill be taking it with me today in case it dies on me while out and about.
the best battery i ever had was the pure freedom golf battery that comes with their trolleys.it lasted 2 years.most leisure batteries are knackered after 12-18 months IME.i charge them overnight every day too.
ive had 3 leisure batteries in 4 years. ::)roll
-
Alot of people that come on here say my battery lasts ten days without a charge (not having a go )and some say I have had this battery eight years but probably only do a few hours a day or few days a week hence the reason they get so long out off a battery what info we need is people that work around eight hours a day to roughly six days a week to find out what best battery is,
-
Well, like I said above I've taken a punt and ordered this one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201425470325?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649
TBH I'm pretty clueless when it comes to electrical matters :-[
I'm sure it will see me through the day, whether or not my scr will keep it topped up ??? I'll find out soon enough.
But at £35 may be worth me buying another and alternating between them ( one always charged up and in the van as spare )
-
The SCR and battery you've bought will get you through the day, it wont keep it topped up though; you'll still have to bench charge it
You might find it wont last as long as your previous though, as you'll drain it and then charge it, it'll use its cycles up quicker
-
Different options
I have a voltage sensing split charge relay. Its connected to my vans 2x 80 amp batteries. I use a Halfords 110 amp battery. Quite impressed so far.
The problem is, It kicks in at 12.6 or 12.8 volts. So its always connected really. If you charge the leisure battery then put in back in van, it will charge the van battery up as it will be above 12.6 volts. It works both ways. If you could isolate from van until van alternator was on, it would be ok
Ideally have a battery same amp as van battery.
You can get a massive marine battery or large leisure battery. Should last you much longer, but more to lift about.
You can get a better alternator.
What van is it
-
Ford Ranger with 70 Ah engine battery.
-
I get 10 days from 180 amp battery work 9 to 5,five and a half days a week around the 10 day mark usually around 12 v in battery then it is charged over night .takes a good 14 hours th charge..I run power cable to van so don't have to lift it out it is heavy
-
Thanks for replies, ok by my reckoning then I should easily get at least 2 days use from a 55 ah battery, not sure I am understanding why a scr will not keep it topped up though ??? Its managed to with my 110 the last 5 years, only occasionally being bench charged.
-
Matthew what make of battery you using and what did you pay for it cheers kev
-
Thanks for replies, ok by my reckoning then I should easily get at least 2 days use from a 55 ah battery, not sure I am understanding why a scr will not keep it topped up though ??? Its managed to with my 110 the last 5 years, only occasionally being bench charged.
My son had a Honda 125 with a self starter. Battery was flat so he took my 8 amp car battery charger to charge it up. Fried his motorcycle battery.
Numax advised me that a leisure battery should only be charged at about 10% of it's capacity. So max charger for 110 amph battery would be 10 amps.
-
Thanks for replies, ok by my reckoning then I should easily get at least 2 days use from a 55 ah battery, not sure I am understanding why a scr will not keep it topped up though ??? Its managed to with my 110 the last 5 years, only occasionally being bench charged.
My son had a Honda 125 with a self starter. Battery was flat so he took my 8 amp car battery charger to charge it up. Fried his motorcycle battery.
Numax advised me that a leisure battery should only be charged at about 10% of it's capacity. So max charger for 110 amph battery would be 10 amps.
They all advice 10%, just to make the battery last longer. Its bull mate. I use a 30amp charger. It will never charge at 30 amp unless flat anyway. It will start at 20 and rapidly go down. There is 2 stages of charge. First one needs power. The second slow and low
-
Ford Ranger with 70 Ah engine battery.
2006 on did 115 amp and 130 amp alternators. Not massive. They do a 200 amp alternator for them MASSIVE POWER, but you have to do an upgrade to earth wire, fuse and another wire. Its called the big 3 I think. Go on ranger forum mate.
A VSR should keep a battery topped up most of the time.
Don't buy a unbranded named brand battery. Buy Varta, Halfords, banner
Make sure its EN50342 standard. Thicker plates. Some are just bigger car batteries, sold as leisure batteries
-
Ford Ranger with 70 Ah engine battery.
2006 on did 115 amp and 130 amp alternators. Not massive. They do a 200 amp alternator for them MASSIVE POWER, but you have to do an upgrade to earth wire, fuse and another wire. Its called the big 3 I think. Go on ranger forum mate.
A VSR should keep a battery topped up most of the time.
Don't buy a unbranded named brand battery. Buy Varta, Halfords, banner
Make sure its EN50342 standard. Thicker plates. Some are just bigger car batteries, sold as leisure batteries
OK thanks Duncan,
unfortunately/fortunately that ordered battery has arrived.
I will see how it goes next week.
But for its weight and size tbh it's not such a big deal for me to do away with the scr and bring it in of a night to charge unlike its monster predecessor. Time will tell if the 55 ah / scr combo will get me by, if not then I'll buy a second one and switch them with one always recharged ;)
-
Got it from Alpha battery's.It's a leoch160amp agm battery was £199 now £169.just to make sure I was right 6 days since I charged it at 5 tonight reads 12.4.
-
What volt reading do you have reading when you decide when to charge matthew
-
11.9/12 v
-
Thats not bad at all I might consider one of those next time, sorry for all questions how long you had it
-
11.9/12 v
11.9/12v is a dead battery. If it was a car battery, it would be screwed in 6 months. Leisure battery do it much better, but still, keep them charged and they will last 6 years
-
I got told if you charge every day the battery s have a memory of this that's y I like to get as many days out of one charge. Because battery s only have so many charges in them.
-
Believe controller isset at 11.7 before it cuts out to save battery.I use leisure battery .
-
How long you had the battery matt
-
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1462039784_image.jpeg)
-
8 months or so
-
Cheers bud
-
I trickle charge my battery with a smart charger, last min 2-3 years. 110 ah
Fast charge (higher amperage) chargers shorten the life of batteries much quicker than slow charging.