Aux Batteries

[geoffjy]

Hi all, i am currently running a Super Charge 105AH MRV70L Deep Cycle as my auxillary. This is the original battery that came with the vehicle want to get a new one when i am in cairns next. What batteries do you use and which do you think are the better ones and why.

I have heard a bit about these ones. http://www.eastpenn-deka.com/assets/base/0909.pdf

I have heard a lot of good things about the Optimas providing you insulate them from the heat. I dont want one of these as the battery will be going back under the bonnet.

[Nedly]

Hi Geoff,

I use Full River deep cycle gel cell batteries, at least I think that's the brand, as main cranking and aux.
Cranking is 100AH with a 100 & 120AH as aux.
100's under the under the bonnet and the 120 in the back.
I've had them in for 3 years and have had no problems at all.

I selected the brand purely on recommendation from a 12 volt 'expert'.
They are an American battery (apparently) though I'm not sure if that is a good thing or not.

BTW, I am definately NOT an expert on the subject.

[geoffjy]

Can you remember what the price tag on these were?

[loxsmith]

We had one of the star employees from the local Battery World outlet install a new Aux battery and he proceeded to tighten the clamp down that hard that it cracked the battery casing. To cut a long story short the leaking acid found it's way onto the bottom of the fuel filter of the V8 diesel and ate it away. A complete new filter assembly from our robbing mates in Japan is about $2500 we are currently waiting 2 - 3 weeks on delivery for just the base bit. Hopefully this will come in a little cheaper.

Another battle looms!

Glen

[geoffjy]

Hopefully it is being replaced at their cost. Is this the new car you only just bought?

[Nedly]

Can you remember what the price tag on these were?

I think it was something like $350 ea for the 100AH and $420 for the 120AH, around that anyway.

[Nedly]

We had one of the star employees from the local Battery World outlet install a new Aux battery and he proceeded to tighten the clamp down that hard that it cracked the battery casing. To cut a long story short the leaking acid found it's way onto the bottom of the fuel filter of the V8 diesel and ate it away. A complete new filter assembly from our robbing mates in Japan is about $2500 we are currently waiting 2 - 3 weeks on delivery for just the base bit. Hopefully this will come in a little cheaper.

Another battle looms!

Glen

Someone, at sometime, told me that Gel Cell batteries were better for 4WD's, gel doesn't leak when you get the truck at odd angles.
Makes sense to me.

[loxsmith]

Someone, at sometime, told me that Gel Cell batteries were better for 4WD's, gel doesn't leak when you get the truck at odd angles.
Makes sense to me.
I think that gels do not like heat, so anywhere but the engine bay would be OK

[geoff.hardiker]

Hi Geoff,

I have heard good things about Fullriver AGM batteries. Apparently they charge quickly from a vehicle alternator.

I see them on e-bay at $269 for 85A/h up to $335 for 120 A/h, however the postage is $60 to Qld Country, maybe not overnight though.

Regards
Geoff

[loxsmith]

Hopefully it is being replaced at their cost. Is this the new car you only just bought?

Geoff this has got the TJM saga written all over it again. You only find out how good it is when you go to claim on it!

That are side stepping like true professionals. Lets see what Battery World come up with? I hold little hope that we will be reimbursed.

We bought 2 new V8 troopys, 1 poverty pack (my rig), and a GXL (my business partners) when K Rudd had the buy 1 get 1 free deal last year. It is the GXL that had the dramas.
It started starving for fuel and we presumed dirty fuel load from a recent bush trip. We went to drain the screw in tap at the base of the fuel filter to get rid of what we thought would be water and the tap was already loose. Little did we know that all the plastic had been eaten away by the acid.

The saga continues

As always, if you can't fit it yourself don't trust anyone, check over it straight away.

[yetti]

geez loxsmith your havin' a bad run! seems like the standard these days, you pay good money for crap service. we should start a thread on te good businesses out there, might save us all time and money.

good luck with it all,

cheers mate,
BAT

[plucker]

They say gels dont like heat, but I have one under the bonnet as an aux battery and it seems to be fine 2 years on.
You can shield them with steel or al plates which might help reduce the heat.
I dont know how hot it would really be under the bonnet when you are travelling as the fresh air must make its way under there.

As for the acid batteries, I have had personal bad experiences with them in the Cape. Corrugations shook the acid out and they normally failed not long after I would return home, even though I would do the daily top up.
They also caused corrosion to everything that the acid leaked on.
Additionally I have gone for gel styles in the boat for the same reason, and while they cost more, they last a lot longer.

[geoffjy]

I have dual batteries in the boat too a will be replacing them with Gel batteries.

What do use in your boat Bat?

[ant]

We had one of the star employees from the local Battery World outlet install a new Aux battery and he proceeded to tighten the clamp down that hard that it cracked the battery casing. To cut a long story short the leaking acid found it's way onto the bottom of the fuel filter of the V8 diesel and ate it away. A complete new filter assembly from our robbing mates in Japan is about $2500 we are currently waiting 2 - 3 weeks on delivery for just the base bit. Hopefully this will come in a little cheaper.

Another battle looms!

Glen

Glen,
I made the same mistake myself when I tightened down my clamps down too hard. I guess I was over anxious trying to make sure the battery wouldn't come loose. Once I realised the problem I was pretty quick to clean it all up properly. I now make it part of my regular checkup to go over the battery connections and check to make sure that the battery doesn't, or hasn't leak/ed. I guess the gel cell batteries do have a certain appeal.

I am not too sure, but isn't there a 'computer' part near where the aux battery goes on those cruisers? Might pay to check over that as well.

Mate, with the 'luck' you are having you are going to run out of preferred suppliers.

[plucker]

I remember when we first started using gels at my old work, each was tightened with a torqe wrench. I think it was only 10lb torque. Car batteries have a bit different make up to that now, so it shouldn't be too much of a worry.