Lead Crystal Batteries in Australia

[Davo1404]

Originally Posted by swampbush

There has been a lot of discussion about lead crystal batteries in Australia on the wikicamps forum. From my recollection the supplier revised the minimum charge rate to c/3 for at least occasional recharges. I can't link as the forum requires an app to view. Worth joining as there is more Australia specific discussion of batteries, although obviously aimed at campers and caravanners.
They did sound promising with the ability to do very low discharge without damage. Testing was done by one wikicamps member and showed promise. But how do you charge a 900ah bank at 300amps on solar? The bank would have to be split in three even to use a honda generator at its max 100amps.

Thanks swampbush I will check it out. I only have 200 amps of house & rely on solar.

[Alberto]

Originally Posted by Davo1404

Hi
Is there anyone out there cruising with lead crystal 12v batteries that are only relying on solar power for charging?

Please check the attached technical bulletin.


They are amazing batteries, BTW, I use them as traction batteries in my electric propulsion system and I cannot be happier with them.

[Davo1404]

Originally Posted by Alberto

Please check the attached technical bulletin.


They are amazing batteries, BTW, I use them as traction batteries in my electric propulsion system and I cannot be happier with them.

Thanks Alberto. I have read the article & have decided against them. If I regularly had access to shore power, then yes they would be suitable. Out on the anchor & relying on the solar panels, the necessary input voltage is unattainable.
Also thanks to Swampbush I have read the wiki camp forums & yes a few failures due to not being able to supply enough voltage for the recommended recharge.

[john61ct]

Voltages are **not** the problem

Current (amps) is the issue.

Small bank, lots of panels, problem goes away.

[Davo1404]

Originally Posted by john61ct

Voltages are **not** the problem

Current (amps) is the issue.

Small bank, lots of panels, problem goes away.

True should have said amps!

[SV.Louna]

Just to add to this as I haven’t read all the posts since I started it, I believe the company who is supplying them here in Australia have been taking to court for their products and I believe it is in the millions they are being pursued for. Buyer beware

[sv Libby]

Hi all,
I'll re-awaken the thread as we just had the same experience, so this wasn't an isolated incident. These things are fragile on charging.

I just cooked 3x120Ah units by running them for a day at 13.8-14.04V on a long motoring run. I had set my regulator to 13.8 float but it doesn't have a temp sensor and the voltage crept up during the day.

Re Solar, I have been charging at lower amps via solar at 5-15A for 18months and they seemed fine until now. I don't know if this contributed to making them more sensitive to overcharging when they finally got full, which doesn't really often to us often as we are never on shore power and don't have a genset.

Anyway, IMHO we are not worthy of their stringent charging requirements, depending as we do on solar. I can't see how many cruisers can be.

I did ask the supplier if the min 0.1C was required and they said no, but not in writing.

So now I have learnt an $1800 lesson and have just ordered some local AGMs that handle a float voltage over 14V. I couldn't get trojans at a good price here or I'd go back to that.
From now on I'll leave the bleeding edge to others. Maybe next set I need LIFEPO4 will be cheap - please go buy them so prices come down.

Cheers,
John
SV Libby
Australia
Bound around the world, now in Malaysia.