Leisure Batteries

[Moisha]

Dear All,

 

Can anyone recommend a good brand of 110 amp leisure battery? We got our original set from Phoenix batteries and they have been very good. But they were abused by folks who didn't know how to treat them and need replacing.

 

Can anyone suggest a) how to find Phoenix batteries (I can't find their contact details on the web) or what brand of battery they'd recommend?

 

Thanks,

 

Jon

[classicstove]

I've had some success with Halfords Leisure batteries - could be said to be a tat expensive at £139 but have two year guarantee and mine have last over 3 years with heavy use

[Keeping Up]

I had the opposite experience with Halfords leisure batteries. They performed so badly that after 3 weeks of use I took them back and got a full refund.

 

I've used Varta batteries since then and have found them to be very good. Their new "Hobby" range looks good on paper, and claims much longer life; only time will tell if the claims are true!

[Naughty Cal]

I had the opposite experience with Halfords leisure batteries. They performed so badly that after 3 weeks of use I took them back and got a full refund.

 

I've used Varta batteries since then and have found them to be very good. Their new "Hobby" range looks good on paper, and claims much longer life; only time will tell if the claims are true!

 

Just before christmas we changed our battery bank and installed a couple of 105ah Varta Hobby batteries and so far they seem to be very good although we have not had too much chance to try them out properly we have certainly improved our spare capacity greatly.

[alan_fincher]

I've had some success with Halfords Leisure batteries - could be said to be a tat expensive at £139 but have two year guarantee and mine have last over 3 years with heavy use

Eye wateringly expensive if they are just a bog standard vented lead-acid battery though.

 

£70 - £80 is more of a target price for this type of battery.

 

Nearly everybody seems to offer at least 2 years warranty - doesn't seem to be a lot of use in many cases, as often they last that long, but maybe not a lot longer!

 

Based on recent experiences by us, avoid "Multicell" leisure batteries.

[bottle]

Jon (Moisha)

As you can see you will get as many different answers as there are boaters and/or batteries.

 

We have Numax (lead acid sealed) the labels says 113 amp.hrs. cost nearly in the range that Alan gave (£80 - £90)

 

They have been run for 19 months in an all electric boat with all 240v appliances.

 

They appear to be OK still.

Edited March 22, 2011 by bottle

[larkshall]

I'd ask Gibbo, he has been testing some different brands / types He would know

[Jim Batty]

Jon (Moisha)

As you can see you will get as many different answers as there are boaters and/or batteries.

 

We have Numax (lead acid sealed) the labels says 113 amp.hrs. cost nearly in the range that Alan gave (£80 - £90)

 

They have been run for 19 months in an all electric boat with all 240v appliances.

 

They appear to be OK still.

 

Ah, that's good to hear! Just installed a pair of 170Ah Numax sealed and one of the 113Ah a few weeks ago ... So, that's what the interior looks like ...