battery Gurus - help needed

16 amp and at least 16 hrs

Have you got a volt meter. Let the battery rest for 24 hours and check the voltage, if it's not up around 12.8 volts or so then it's had it.

If it is around 12.8, put a load that draws 10 or 12 amps on it and check the voltage. It should hold 12.6 or so.

it's reading 12.61 now and I'm sure will drop further


not looking good?

hmmmm..........had a Remco 110 ah AGM for 5 yrs in the last tug and never had a hint of a problem. This time I had the Century HD put in with the Redarc isolator and it has not been very good at all.

What type do you prefer? Marine?

Steve,
It is well established and documented that AGM batteries suffer with elevated temperature. Not simply my opinion, although it has been my experience. Possibly the Remco was in a cooler location than most.


I have not had experience with 'marine' batteries but my reading suggest that they are more robust but I'm not so sure that they are more heat tolerant.


My solution was to fit a heat barrier with forced ventilation. It's too soon to determine if it is effective although I have measured a temperature depression of more than 10 degrees from the outside of the barrier so I'm hoping.


The second AGM, same model & installed at the same time is in the cab so relative lifespan may be interesting. Hope I don't get a result for several years. The previous AGM in the engine bay only lasted one year but it was bearing the whole auxiliary load which is now shared so less cycling.

Actually mate, I've misled you. My Remco was actually in the ute tray of my previous tug. You've convinced me re: AGM and heat. I have a newish Delco 100 ah deep cycle/marine in the van and I think i'll swap it with the new Remco. The blurb for the Delco does say it is made to withstand high temps. Might even wrap it with a bit of insulation.

cheers
Steve

Steve,
Simply wrapping the battery in insulation is unproductive. The space inside the insulation and around the battery needs to be also ventilated. Otherwise heat generated within the battery from charging and discharging will not escape and so raise the battery temperature. But if you are installing it in the tray then thermal insulation should be unnecessary.


Be wary of battery manufacturer's blurbs unless supported by engineering specifications. They often use generalised throw-away lines. And I would not think them to be highly motivated to ensuring that you achieve long battery life for obvious reasons.

Now I've had a little think about this, I had the Remco agm in the engine bay of a Landcruiser for two and a half years and four years in the ute tray of my Landrover 130 Defender. When I sold the car that battery was still performing like new.

The one I have just swapped from the van to put in the car is a Delco marine/high cycle (therein lies another can of worms of terminology) 97ah 680 cca 162 min rc. I gather would be handy as back up for cranking and the high cycle apparently refers to its ability to recharge quicker than a "deep cycle". I'll look into that some more. They do make a bit of a noise about its heat tolerance so I'm hopeful of better performance with this 'un.

Thinking back to the Defender, the cranking battery was under the passenger seat, so also away from heat sources and my Remco agm in the tray. Probably explains why I did so well with those.

Looking at your setup what sort of battery is the starter? (red caps?) Is that OEM? Looks a bit of a bruiser - wouldn't fancy dropping that on my toes.

Steve,
You did well with the Remco @ six and a half years. Batteries are a fickle lot....... no sooner do you pronounce a typical lifespan then someone describes a much superior (or worse) achieved performance!


The under-seat location of the Defender may be a little inconvenient (especially for jump-lead starts) but at least it was out of the heat.


My starter battery is an Exide Extreme. Not such a bruiser but maybe a wide-angle lens made it look longer. Not OEM.

yep, usually seems no rhyme or reason but there usually is.

Under the seat was handy other times and the thing is, I never once needed a jump start in that old Fred Flintstone-mobile. Very easy to work on. Just not up to high speed long distance/towing but fantastic for what is was made for: rumbling around a paddock and just an amazing 4wd. Lack of room in the back for two 6ft+ teen boys and the air-con never getting the better of the heat coming thru the floor due to lack of insulation on a warm day. Oh.....the memories LOL. I could write a book. The Prado seems like a Bentley after that lot but I wouldn't trade the experiences.

LOL about the Defender, but you should have experienced the Series 1 Landrover I pedalled around Woomera in 1954-8. It defies polite description, but I did have the time of my life.

Gee really? That must've been awesome in those days. I had a good look at some of those early Landrovers when I was in the LR club. The wife & kids were in despair but I had the time of my life. They eventually wore me down and now I drive a "normal car". Must tell them about your trip. A wonder you didn't bump into Len Beadell.

I did meet Lennie, several times. Everyone knew when he was in the Village. Quite a character.

that's amazing Allan - must have a few stories to tell.

hope we bump into you sometime on the track.

Don't misunderstand me Steve, I wasn't enjoying a beer or two with Lennie, for one thing he didn't drink, I was just there at the time with others, but did share a few words about his work and the country.


They were good and exciting times. What more could a young man wish for.......driving around the bush and setting off fireworks!
It would be great to bump into you. Keep a watch for the Troopy in the Deserts.

G'day Allan
What exactly is that stuff?
Thanks for posting the photo - I'm sure others will find it of benefit.

Hi Moose,
Guess you mean the heat barrier?
Its an insulation material from Clark Rubber. Foam with aluminium on one side. I folded it in half and used contact adhesive to double its thickness and have aluminium on both sides. The foam has low flammability and high heat durability. It is flexible enough to move if removing the oil filter or a battery. There is some electrical insulation applied to the heat shield adjacent to the battery terminals.
The same stuff is used under the bonnet to reduce noise as the original material had disappeared.
It can get pretty hot in that engine bay hauling across the Simpson Desert so time may tell if it improves battery life. Haven't had a good battery life before so here's hoping.

thanks Bill - after about 18 hrs rest it is reading 12.48 with the multi-meter, which is higher than I expected but if that is as high as it goes after a long charge I don't think there's much future. I'll pick up a hydrometer anyway. I never replaced my last one which smashed on a previous trip.

hi Bruce

The century HD is a flooded battery and is destined for the tip. As already stated, I originally had the Remco agm intended for the aux in the engine bay but now realise I have a decent marine/hybrid Delco in the van boot and have swapped them over. Never used a marine before, although these are a hybrid and specs are above. It has 680 cca so is a good back up for the car and they recharge better than a HD battery although not as well as an agm. Trawling around the 4x4 forums they appear to be pretty widely used and well regarded so we'll see.


cheers
Steve