Batteries

Roachie,
Couldn't help but notice your SL 240's on your vehicle.They are a terrific light; but the one I use is for spotlighting and is hand held. The point of my question is, how do you manage with the law with your lights protruding past the height of your bonnet. Wouldn't the lights also be a pain in the a-se with your forward vision. No offence, but was just wondering.

G'day Chris,
I know what you mean about the lights being a bit of a pain, but only because of the small amount of glare I get from the lense covers. I have previously put black tape around the edge and this worked real well, but looked real cheap and nasty. I'm now thinking I'll get hold of an old inner tube (say 31/10R 15) and cut 2 "donuts" about 40mm wide and see if they'll fit neatly and do the same job.
They are not a pain as far as restricting vision on open roads or in town, but occasionally get in the way when I'm trying to pick my best line through a rocky area etc.
As for the law enforcers.....touch wood, nobody has said anything to me yet. I live in country SA & I think we can get away with a few things that city-based drivers tend not to be able to.
I used to have the 240s in the "right spot" on the bullbar and only moved them when i was experiencing "over-warming issues". These have since been cured by the replacement of the fan clutch, so I guess I should move the lights back down and see if the old girl stays cool.
No offence taken mate.

I gotta say that those powercrank bat's are great, I have a 750cca starter (I bought for $79) and it's just brilliant.

Hope the word ... rubbish.. does not offend you

I drive a forklift and have a decent Deep Cycle battery system, comparing the two is rediculous as a small forklift battery system is about 600 A/H and has to be lifted by a small crane :)
I think the guy was trying to sell you what he had in stock, did he use the system he was sugesting you buy?????

As to the cheap genny idea you are not permitted to use them in any National Park in Australia and neighbouring campers will also be a bit miffed if you run them at nite, killing the tranquility and the ambiance of the bush.

Read any battery manufacturers specifications sheet that makes BOTH Deep Cycle and also Cranking batteries and you will see that the Deep Cycle is heaps heavier than the equivelently sized Cranking battery, solely due to the extra size (not numbers) of the lead plates used in the DC batteries.
Cranking batteries are not suitable to be constantly cycled, they are only made for starting the 4x4 not running the fridge.

When did you last read a post here from someone stating how good their battery system is, they don't, the reason is simple, they don't have the hassle of turning their fridge off each nite to save battery power, they think it is normal to have a battery system that works.

Ive never heard you can't use a genny in a national park , cheap or not.

Very interesting reading Mr Dog. I particulary liked their views on using deep cycles as a starting Battery.
"There is generally no problem with this, providing that allowance is made for the lower cranking amps compared to a similar size starting battery. As a general rule, if you are going to use a true deep cycle battery also as a starting battery, it should be oversized about 20% compared to the existing or recommended starting battery group size to get the same cranking amps." Also their comments on expected life span of starting batteries if regulary deep discharged. (12 months!)
A great site that squashes many battery myths. Craig................

Further information re Rubish...

I checked some of our forklift batteries at work last nite and here are some interesting FACTS...

Weight: eight hundred and sixty kilo's (860 Kg) each
They are 48 Volts
Recharged by a 50 Amp battery charger
Rated as 640 Amp Hour

They are referred to as a Traction battery, not Deep Cycle battery,
I was advised by my forman that all forklifts are powered by Traction batteries.

mungunya: noticed the petrol battery charger he recommends...but isn't this getting back to the noise problem with gennies? What's the db count on the charger running off fuel? Surely the NP Ranger'd be just as tough on these as gennies?I'm trying out my Waeco FF70, which they claim draws 3.5 amps on a 25 degree day.That's running on the minimum setting which doesn't quite keep the beer at an optimum drinking temperature. They also claim that it only runs @ 33% of the time due to the compressor. I'm trying mine out now as I type and keep sticking my head into the car and the bloody things humming away every time, so I don't know about 30%. Whether that's just the fan I dunno