Auto elite batteries any good? Seem very cheap

[real_vibes]

Hello all

 

Im looking for a low height 110 battery and these look very cheap but ideal.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110AH-Leisure-Battery-Low-Height-maintenance-free-sealed-for-life-NEW-AUTOELITE-/301156183711?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

 

The seller has pretty decent feedback but is it too good to be true?

 

Cheers

[mrsmelly]

Hello all

 

Im looking for a low height 110 battery and these look very cheap but ideal.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110AH-Leisure-Battery-Low-Height-maintenance-free-sealed-for-life-NEW-AUTOELITE-/301156183711?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

 

The seller has pretty decent feedback but is it too good to be true?

 

Cheers

 

They are probably fine. Probably last a couple of years then bin em like the usual fla batteries.

 

Tim

[Taslim]

I have an Auto whatsit starter bat in the van. I guess that with a different label it could be a leasure battery too?

 

Makes the van go broom & cheap enough to buy twice if it knackers up.

[Alan Saunders]

Who knows where batteries are manufactured? If I go to e.g. Bristol Batteries they have unlabelled 110Ah 'leisure' and 90Ah 'starter' batteries by the pallet load. When I buy some (negotiate a discount for >two) they stick their pretty 'own brand' (Avon) and rating labels on and stamp a date code. They may change their supplier from time-to-time and I might buy exactly the same batteries with different 'branding' elsewhere.

 

Few non-specialist suppliers maintain (recharge) their old battery stock - the last ones I bought from a boatyard were at 12.55V o/c. After four hours charge (to 14.3V) and overnight rest, 12.7V o/c. It is probably better to buy fresh, cheap batteries than 'old stock' expensive known names.

 

This battery may be 'YUASA MANUFACTERED' [sic] but I doubt it, see http://www.yuasa.co.uk/batteries/leisure-marine-garden/leisure-batteries.html. The package looks similar to 'own brand' batteries available elsewhere. The Ebay ad does not quote the weight of the battery, typically ~25kG for 110Ah, the 110Ah rating does not state the rate (should be at 20hr) and the small dimensions further suggests that the 110Ah rating may be for a lower discharge rate.

 

"The great thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from." - Anon.

 

BTW, make sure that the terminal configuration suits your installation.i.e. Positive terminal can be bottom left or right.

 

HTH, Alan

[MtB]

BTW, make sure that the terminal configuration suits your installation.i.e. Positive terminal can be bottom left or right.

 

 

I find it staggering there is no convention for this!

[motorhomer]

Hi all

I'm not a boat owner any more I'm afraid - just a common old motorhome owner (at least I keep my feet dry).

 

I picked up this thread about Auto Elite batteries from Google and thought I'd give you my experience of these batteries and the Ebay seller named by the O/P (autocarpartrus)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111513953238?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

I bought a 120a/h leisure battery (see link above) from this sellerer in March, it appeared good VFM, however during a long continental trip from which we just returned the battery proved to give very poor performance.

I have sent messages and texts to autocarpartrus but have had no replies so decided to test the battery against the old battery it replaced (which is badly sulphated).

The results of my slow discharge tests show that the battery performs very badly after 6 months use, the old battery performs much better even though it has had 4 years of heavy useage.

 

It may be that the battery I have is an isolated case but as the seller refuses to answer any of my enquiries I have to conclude that he has something to hide. posssibly all the batteries he sells are to a poor standard?

 

So I advise anyone here not to buy these batteries or to deal with the Ebay seller.

[jonathanA]

Clearly too good to be true 56 quid including postage......

[motorhomer]

Clearly too good to be true 56 quid including postage......

You're quite right, too good to be true. Although to be fair I paid £66 for the one I bought, still cheap enough to be suspicious though - but we do all like a bargain don't we?

 

I use Ebay a lot and usually find Ebay sellers to be reliable and honest - especially the Chinese ones strangely enough.

It's disapponting to discover a UK seller that tries to shun his responsibilities by just "deffing" complaints.

 

Not to worry, he's picked on the wrong one this time - PayPal dispute is now in progress. ; )

[ditchcrawler]

You're quite right, too good to be true. Although to be fair I paid £66 for the one I bought, still cheap enough to be suspicious though - but we do all like a bargain don't we?

 

I use Ebay a lot and usually find Ebay sellers to be reliable and honest - especially the Chinese ones strangely enough.

It's disapponting to discover a UK seller that tries to shun his responsibilities by just "deffing" complaints.

 

Not to worry, he's picked on the wrong one this time - PayPal dispute is now in progress. ; )

have you tried ringing the number given

[jonathanA]

I think you will find there is 3 month time limit on eBay/PayPal disputes in my experience eBay/ PayPal dispute resolution is not very good putting it politely.....

[Chewbacka]

I have had a couple of disputes raised through paypal and find them to be very much on the side of the buyer, so if within time, I suggest you go for it - nothing to loose.

[motorhomer]

have you tried ringing the number given

Yes, answering machine, texts ignored.

 

I think you will find there is 3 month time limit on eBay/PayPal disputes in my experience eBay/ PayPal dispute resolution is not very good putting it politely.....

That's what I thought but it's 6 months with PayPal.

 

I have had a couple of disputes raised through paypal and find them to be very much on the side of the buyer, so if within time, I suggest you go for it - nothing to loose.

Never had to raise one with PayPal before but Ebay usually sort them out OK. I'm giving it a few days and then I'll escalate it if no result. I'll probably get nowhere but at least I'll be a thorn in his side for a while.