Waeco RAPS36 - repack alternatives

G'day Tony

I'm not familiar with the codes, but I assume it's one of the std battery pack jobbies.
In that event you have confirmed my bias that they are very overpriced for what you get.

Are the cases weld sealed of screwed together? If wasily opened why not have a crack at repacking.

Hi Tony

Try giving Battery World a try.

They repacked my knackered GME TX 6000 from 700mAh to 1200 mAh for $80. New battery (700mAh was $120). Can't tell they have been opened

Cheers

Anthony

They will just be a pair of standard AGM / GEL cells. Either 2 x 6v in series or 2 x 12V in parallel. You should be able to source them from Jaycar, Altronic or RPG. But if they are larger Gel's they will be pricey. Personally, I use a 75AH NZ50 wet cell in a custom case I built out of marine ply. It's smaller than the RAPS, cost less, has twice the capacity and can recharge faster.

Sounds like I should give Battery World a call in the first instance.

As far as I know they're AGM not Gel.

And agree - very overpriced for what you get, particularly given the charging restrictions (12A max current and via the included cig plug is only about 2A - less than the pull of the Waeco I had connected to it!)

I have a 165 AGM in my fat arsed bus and a 70 Thumper in my wifes car. My thinking is just that I've spent the money and it would be handy at times to have a portable battery. Unless you're a body builder the 165 can't be considered "portable" and even the Thumper is pretty heavy to lug far.

If no go with BW I'll pull it apart myself.

I replaced 2 in an older 24ah waeco pack, was not to hard as Baz said. The originals were stuck to the base with silastic but was able to get them out with a bit of pulling and shaking. Got my batteries from Witworths from memory.

Just did my projector jumper pack as well with batteries from battery world, was a little more expensive, but hopfully there better quality (but really who knows)

Any way good luck with it

Just spoke to Battery World. $135 each for 2 x 21ahr deep cycle batteries. At this stage I'm thinking not worth it. Pity.

I just replaced mine recently. They are just stuck to the bottom with silly stick you can gat them off. 2 6 volts in series I bought mine off flea bay for about 30 - 40 bucks each.
They had spade terminals on them but I soldered mine.
Good as new.

I was hoping to be able to fit something like this:

http://www.aussiebatteriessolar.com.au/deep-cycle-batteries/12v-33ah-agm-deep-cycle-battery/

Same capacity and a heap cheaper but I don't think it will fit. Will have to pull the Waeco apart and see what can be done. Otherwise looks to be a bin job.

The car battery shops will not be the best place to buy small sealed lead acid batteries.

First thing to do is open the box up and see what is there.


Commercial type sealed lead acid batteries conform to a standard range of sizes, there should be no problem getting a battery to fit.

Do not rely on the AH capacity written on the side, the better batteries will be a higher capacity than older or cheaper ones.

look at the dimensions....anything the right voltage and the right size that will fit, will work.

Some times, there is a 12 volt package that is the same size as two 6 volt packages strapped side by side.....some times the single 12 volt will be slightly smaller.......it will almost always be cheaper to buy the single battery if it will fit

for example a 12AH 6 Volt at $30 is bucks is arround half the size as a 12AH 12 volt at arround $55.

Also be aware that some manufactuers in some sizes offer two batteries in the same form factor for example an 18AH 12 volt for $75 ish or a 20 AH 12V in exactly the same size for $100 ish

It pays to look arround, not all suppiers will have the full range of packages or may offer different ones.

While I have not had one of these open and I have not measured yours.....I recon a 38AH 12 volt like Jaycar SB1699..at $189 would fit.

If you shop arround you should be able to d better than that on price.

Don't be concerned by any claim or lack of it that the battery is AGM....the batteries fitted to these products are straight forward sealed lead acid batteries.....AGM is realy only a relativly recent marketing term.

cheers

tonydav

My Waeco battery pack is actually made by blue apple in South Australia. If you investigate your pack was probably like mine. A blue apple badeged waeco.

If that is the case you would be better deailing with blue apple direct.

I also had to replace my batteries. Bought them from battery world.


Steve