Batteries - yet again!

Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006 at 15:45

ThreadID: 32551 Views:5546 Replies:8 FollowUps:7

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AdlelaideGeorge

Anybody ever used a Sunlyte by Exide? This is the spec:

12-5000X
6 Cell, 12 Volt Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid Battery
100 Ah at 100 Hour Rate
INNOVATIVE FEATURES
Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid Design
• Never requires watering
• Spillproof and leak proof
• Explosion resistant
• Horizontal or vertical operation
• No gases escape under normal charging
• Operates at low internal pressure
• Increased operating safety
Immobilized Electrolyte
• Extended partial state of charge operation
(at reduced capacities)
• Freezing tolerant
• Minimized need for equalization
Proprietary MFX Alloy
• Deep cycle capability
• Long life
• Low self-discharge rate
SPECIFICATIONS
Container and Cover - Reinforced polypropylene Charge Voltage - 2.25-2.35 VPC @ 25°C (77°F)
Separators - Spun glass, microporous matrix (30 amp max. current)
Safety Vent - 5 PSI nominal, self resealing Positive Plate — Patented MFX alloy
Self-Discharge - 0.5-1.0% per week Negative Plate — Lead calcium
Terminals - Heavy duty copper alloy Estimated Cycle Life —
{8 hour rate to 1.75 VPC @ 25°C (77°F)}
300 cycles @ 80% DOD
600 cycles @ 50% DOD
1,000 cycles @ 20% DOD

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx
About $280:00 it sounds like a good alternative to the AGM's.

R
George

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Reply By: rooster1070 - Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006 at 17:03

Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006 at 17:03

George,

I have recently bought a 100ah (20hr rate ) lead calcium battery delkor deep cycle which comes with a 12 month warranty most others 6 months, and have found it to be excellent. Cost $200. It would be equivalent to 120hr at (100hr rate). Do you understand how deep cycle batteries should be charged?

Chris

AnswerID: 165025

Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006 at 17:09

Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006 at 17:09

George,

There just isn't a good alternative to an AGM battery.
If you can aford $280 for a battery, buy an AGM type.

FullRiver
Lifeline
Absorbed Power
And Others

All in the price range you have stated.

Bill

I'm diagonally parked in a parallel Universe!

Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

AnswerID: 165027

Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006 at 17:19

Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006 at 17:19

Sand Man , reread the specifications , plates are separated by glass matt, would seem Exide is producing an AGM ,, $280 for 100amp is rather over priced however.

FollowupID: 419902

Follow Up By: AdlelaideGeorge - Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006 at 17:24

Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006 at 17:24

Hi

Rooster:sadly i don't know how that should be charged - most outlets seem to want $150-$200 for a charger to use with them though. The lead calcium battery delkor deep cycle sounds interesting. I wonder who sells them here.

Sand Man: I think the prices in Adelaide are the problem - outlets here seem to quote exhorbitant prices for Remco (Battery World) etc. Queensland chums appear to get them for a lot less - perhaps the AH ratings are different but 100AH Remco here is $380 from memory and Lifeline must be gold plated for SA judging by the price tag!

The outlet for these Exide Sunlyte batteries told me that they are selling them for Winnebagos (?) and 5th wheelers etc etc and have proved ideal.

FollowupID: 419903

Follow Up By: Member - Mike DID - Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006 at 23:28

Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006 at 23:28

If it were AGM, then Exide would market it as AGM.

Exide even cheekily promote their WETcell deepcycle as having absorbENT glass separators - on the verge of misleading advertising.

I think this one may be Gel - for vehicle use, just not as good as an AGM.

Mike

FollowupID: 420002

Follow Up By: Stuart - Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 01:57

Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 01:57

George, Ive just been quoted $240 for a Remco AGM 100a/h from Brissy. Best I can get in Canberra is $265 100a/h AGM but was Apollo I think. Thought about getting the Remco frieghted down but will probably buy locally because a lot less hassles if I have a warranty problem. Your paying a lot more in SA. Cheers Stuart.

FollowupID: 420008

Follow Up By: Gu_Patrol - Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 09:20

Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 09:20

I buy all my batteries from Independant batteries, 94 research rd pooraka.
I paid about $190 for a 90 amphr SLA battery , anderson plugs are cheaper there.

I can get the XS7000 Ctek battery charger for $175 from a place in Wingfield, most places want $260 + .
It pays to shop around

FollowupID: 420034

Reply By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006 at 20:46

Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006 at 20:46

I would stick to the AGM as that discharge per week is a bit high and the cycles are down compared to AGM's.

The price is also the same price as an AGM 100a/h.

Regards Derek

AnswerID: 165084

Reply By: Wok - Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 07:30

Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 07:30

The Sunlyte quotes 100Ah@C100, not C20; @C10 its 64Ah[ from website]
The C20 rate would be less then 100Ah, so comparison of value c.f other brands is difficult?

eng

AnswerID: 165150

Follow Up By: Member - Mike DID - Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 08:34

Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 08:34

If you use the same cutoff voltage (1.70 per cell) that they used fpr the 100hr calculation, then the C/10 capacity is 87 amphours (64amphour is for 1.96 v giving 70 amphour at C/100)

Mike

FollowupID: 420025

Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 08:38

Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 08:38

This battery is designed for remote-area power supplies and they don't state any Cranking Current ability, they advertise it's 100hour rate, so I would have to assume it is Gel rather than AGM.

This provides no benefits for use by a traveller - you will be better off sticking to a well-known brand of AGM.

AnswerID: 165166

Reply By: Mainey (WA) - Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 13:49

Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 13:49

George
do as advised by others and buy a genuine AGM battery that's capable of lasting 3 to 4 days without being recharged, maybe about 220a/h (600 x 320 x 340 from memory) if you can fit it in, if not then get whatever fits the space available, remember the bigger the battery capacity the less % you use of it in any day/night and AGM's recharge (almost) while you look at them.
The Exide specs you are quoting are misleading and you have been advised of that in the posts above, so I will not mention it again, being that generally Deep Cycle batteries are rated at 20 hour NOT 100 hour, that's only done to make them look better in the add's :-(

There is _NO_ better alternative to an AGM battery :-)

AnswerID: 165265

Reply By: TerraFirma - Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 13:58

Thursday, Apr 06, 2006 at 13:58

Be careful with batteries rated at 100 hours or batteries only showing that rating. Most AH ratings should be at 20Hrs, this is a misleading way of upping the AH capacity. Anyhow you can buy a 100AH AGM battery for around $220 to $265.00 no problems. I recently bought a Remco 100AH (20Hr rate) for $260.00 but you might be able to buy better than that depending on where you are.

AnswerID: 165274