Campervan Battery

Hi Howard

Thanks for the info. But could you please expand on the following:

What is a 3 stage charger?
Where do I get them from and approx how much are they?
Can they be installed by a novice?

GeorgieGirl

Hi Georgiegirl,
As mentioned in other replies to your question, give Derek a call at ABR for technical info on chargers etc. I purchased mine from him, and he is very helpful with the sort of information you will require to set your 12v system up.

Howard

Why a 3-stage charger - it's the fastest way to safely charge a battery without the need to disconnect the charger when charge is complete. It automatically changes the current or voltage to suit teh stage of charging.

The best value charger around is the 12 amp charger from Jaycar for $99. This is a 3-stage charger for any battery over 50 amphours.

The LED colour changes from Red to Orange to Green through the three stages.

Site Link

These chargers just have a 240 volt plug and a red and a black wire that you connect to the battery.

GeorgieGirl
Forgot to add though. are you prepared to outlay approx' $375 but get a product that won't let you down

Doug,
Optima batteries are only 55 AH and at $375 that's an expensive battery, when you can get a 110 AH Deep Cycle AGM battery for less than $375

That works out at more than double the price for an Optima on a $$ per AH basis :-))

"P.S. if anybody has a different option for me to put in the car I would be happy to hear it. Always open to opinions...... I am now lead to believe that a deep cycle AGM battery is the best to go for. 3 different companies recommended the AMPTECH without any prompting so I figure that one seems to be the best"

GeorgieGirl

Are you 'positive' the Amptech 120 ah battery is an AGM battery ??? :-))

It only has a 6 month warranty, which is a bit unusual as most reasonable quality batteries have at least 12 months.

Look at a Delkor Deep Cycle battery, DC27 or DC30 (it's not agm either) or a genuine AGM battery, budget priced 100 ah Fullriver agm battery.

Mainey,

Thanks for the reply.

On the ABR website is says that it is an AGM

www.sidewinder.com.au/page130a.html

But I will look into a Delkor and Fullriver anyway - thanks.

GeorgieGirl.

GeorgieGirl
Amptech batteries are imported by Supercharge batteries and nowhere on the Supercharge web site are Amptech batteries referred to as AGM batteries in any way, shape or form, being an AGM is a big selling point, so I would think the actual Importer would state this battery is an AGM very clearly on their web site – if it is ??

The ABR technical specifications for the Amptech battery are basicly “identical” to a Wetcell battery, so it’s either a common Wetcell battery or a very badly specified AGM and with specifications no better than a Wetcell battery why would you spend the extra money to gain absolutely no technical or measurable advantage.

The ABR Amptech battery website quotes the internal resistance as 3.2Ω which is the same specifications as a Wetcell battery, an AGM is much much much lower ~0.005Ω so no advantage here, just a big loss !!

The “self discharge” rate is stated as a very, did I say very very lousy 64% for 1 year whereby an agm is only a miniscule % number, this again is a Wetcell battery specification so no benefit here either.

The nominated charging rates are also relevant specification numbers to a Wetcell battery.

There is no technical specification stated anywhere on the ABR website to indicate the Amptech battery is not a Wetcell battery or is an AGM battery, maybe the wrong specs are posted lol

In short its technical specifications appear to indicate a Wetcell battery, not AGM and therefore no technical advantage, except the high price tag of a quality AGM battery which will give you the weird idea that you have a good battery.

Fullriver are the 'entry point' budget priced AGM batteries and as such are the most common because most ppl want a 'bargain' not the best available battery, there are various brands available at only a few $$ more that have superior technical specifications, if it's a long term purchase then look at various brands, look at the "numbers" and the battery terminals, not how nice the (black) colour case looks lol.

Mainey,

Thanks for the reply. All those numbers are numbers to me, so I didn't understand what any of them meant. I have order the amp tech but will again look into another battery now that I know what you have just said.

I am over this whole battery thing. Everything isn't very easy to understand and everyone has something different to say, which is good but I just get more and more confused.

So, thanks again.

GeorgieGirl

GeorgieGirl,
I’m most remorseful I made it so technical :-))
Simply stated, those numbers prove the Amptech is not an AGM battery.

I've checked with the importers today and they assure me their Amptech battery is definitely NOT an AGM battery, as claimed above and in other threads on this forum.
Some people are in for a rude awakening, believing they have paid out big $$$ and are getting AGM technology when in fact they only have an expensive wet battery...

As to why Derek's ABR website would incorrectly state it's an AGM battery is really beyond me, either he is innocently uninformed or a bit mischievous?

However if you want a decent quality wet Deep Cycle battery forget Amptech and get a Delkor DC27 or DC30, mine is well over five years old now and has recently been relegated to be my Cranking battery, after running the fridge and accessories for over four years with-out problems, and yes there are other reputable brands out there, the technical specifications tell the story, not nice pictures available on websites, lol.

As you say, "everyone has something different to say" yes and unfortunately it's you who has to sort out the rubbish from the truth or the fact from the fiction!

As they say, the (technical specification) numbers don't lie !!!

Mainey

Thanks again for your help.

We decided against the amptech and my husband has gone to pick up a Fullriver DC AGM.

Price was a big issue for us. It has cost a lot more than I budgeted for to set up the van.

My biggest issue is that after this 5 month trip we don't know if we will keep the van or sell it. We originally were going to sell it to pay more off the mortgage but time will tell. I don't know how much use we will get out of it when we get back as I work weekends. That is why I was looking for a good cheaper battery (if it exists).

All that technical specifications - I don't understand. I have looked into this battery for a week, plus work full time, plus work 3 nights a week, plus run a family and a house and try and pack for our trip which we leave for in 10 days.

Anyway all sorted now. I can now focus on other things.

Thanks again. This forum is full of very help people like yourself who teach people like myself invaluable information/lessons.

GeorgieGirl