For people not versed in physics and chemistry I find this comparison is (perhaps unintentionally) a little mis-informative about Lead Acid technology. It's important to make sure the people making the buying decision actually understand the gases being vented. For example, VLA batteries vent Oxygen, which is not a hazardous gas in a habitation environment. The only other exhaust gas is Hydrogen - which also is not hazardous to health if inhaled, but carries obvious flammability risk. Educate on the risk and benefit of each type.
Good video...but you have forgot to mention an important part of any leisure battery...how far can it be discharged....in camper vanning terms ..that is of utmost importance....for the health of all batteries...
There is one application where a starter battery is the best option as an auxiliary battery, and that's when operating an electric winch. These draw circa 350-500A under full load, but only for about 30 seconds because the motor will get too hot. In fact, US manufacturer Warn (probably the biggest manufacturer of winches) recommend a battery with a minimum of 550CCA for this reason. A leisure battery won't like that very much, and will have a similar effect to running a starter battery in a leisure application. Although a I understand that this is a non-issue for most camper conversions, but those who do globe trotting in their 4WD's, it a major issue, because often there's only space for one battery, and the demands of operating a winch from the second battery is often in direct competition of powering your fridge, etc. I'm going through this dilemma right now!
Regarding the gases coming from the lead-acid batteries - lot of vans have the starter battery under the driver's seat, why is that not a problem? Thanks!
Great informative video on what best battery to use in a campervan. Is it possible to show a video on how to use the internal electric system from leisure battery to electric hook up please ;-)
Really enjoying your videos ! Well done ! I just have a question! About the split screen behind you! I’m loving the colours! Would it be possible to please tell me the colour and codes ? Cheers
thanks, James very interesting as I am researching everything to go van life full time. Out of interest how long do these batteries take to charge, either from solar or running the van? would one be enough for a medium-sized van/2 berth rv. Any info much appreciated. Paul
I don't know how much of these gasses it gives off but considering that flammable/explosive gasses can ignite with as little as a static shock from clothing/carpets etc, probably wise to get ventilation installed
Lithium Ion can. That's what's in your phone. These are LiFePO4, which is a much more stable chemistry that doesn't fail catastrophically like lithium ion does
Brilliant video!! Thanks very much for the detailed information. We’re always running short on power when wild camping even with solar power. We’ve now ordered a AGM 120 amp hour battery with a 5 year guarantee that will replace our 100 amp hour lead acid deep cycling battery, hopefully that will be the fix for us. Thanks again. Andy
After much Googling and thought, I went to eBay and bought the cheapest 135AH 12V LiFePO4 battery I could find. I could have spent the same money buying a 100AH 12V AGM battery locally. So far as I can tell, I could go to Alibaba or similar and buy a shipping container of these, they will apply my branding to the sides, package them for me and have them delivered to my yard. Basically that's what I bought. Perhaps it won't have the electronics on it that your Victron has, but probably I don't actually need that extra..
Great video I left my fridge on the other day and leisure batter voltage went down to 11.7. Apparently anything less than that (repeatedly) is bad for the battery (mines an AGM) Looking online you can get voltage protectors that shut off the supply from the battery at a preset (low) voltage to avoid damaging it Any thoughts?
Great video 🤓 I'm in the process of researching this very topic. I have 40 x 18650 lithium ion batteries and I know that it is possible to make a 12.6v lithium ion leisure battery 🔋.. Is this allowed and has anybody achieved it?
Leisure Batteries are dependent on an electric hook. Fuĺl charge 12.5 volts. When at 12 volts claimed battery discharged and needs charging. Are Lithium Batteries prone to setting on fire. Not a nice way to lose your RV. Cant we have a leisure battery that is good for off grid use??
A lot of this is just not true. Sorry but upgrading a £260 yuasa leisure battery for an agm is just throwing money down the roilet unless its seriously old and not holding a charge. Victron batteries are about £1400 and work great, except when the BMS board breaks or it gets a bit cold, or too hot, or wet, or cracked case and then explodes due to exothermic reaction and torches your van. Oh and you need a special charger as well otherwise it fries it or shuts down. As in off competely. Which is probably not great out in the boonies. Victrons amazing. Lithium however is basically an experimental firework waiting to go off.
@kjaques1 I think you have mistaken Lithium Phosphate Batteries (LiFePO4) with Lithium Ion Batteries (LiIon). LifePO4 Batteries DO NOT have the same Thermal characteristics (i.e. Thermal Runoff and Exothermic Reactions) as LiIon. They don't have the same Combustion Level and are a MUCH safer option.
For people not versed in physics and chemistry I find this comparison is (perhaps unintentionally) a little mis-informative about Lead Acid technology. It's important to make sure the people making the buying decision actually understand the gases being vented. For example, VLA batteries vent Oxygen, which is not a hazardous gas in a habitation environment. The only other exhaust gas is Hydrogen - which also is not hazardous to health if inhaled, but carries obvious flammability risk. Educate on the risk and benefit of each type.
WOW Thankyou so much, I now have a better understanding of leisure batteries now, this you tube by Combe Valley is so cool, learning so much
Good video...but you have forgot to mention an important part of any leisure battery...how far can it be discharged....in camper vanning terms ..that is of utmost importance....for the health of all batteries...
Thanks James, hopefully I ll be putting a bit of business in your direction
Bit late to the party, but I was looming for exactly this information. Thank you
There is one application where a starter battery is the best option as an auxiliary battery, and that's when operating an electric winch. These draw circa 350-500A under full load, but only for about 30 seconds because the motor will get too hot. In fact, US manufacturer Warn (probably the biggest manufacturer of winches) recommend a battery with a minimum of 550CCA for this reason. A leisure battery won't like that very much, and will have a similar effect to running a starter battery in a leisure application.
Although a I understand that this is a non-issue for most camper conversions, but those who do globe trotting in their 4WD's, it a major issue, because often there's only space for one battery, and the demands of operating a winch from the second battery is often in direct competition of powering your fridge, etc. I'm going through this dilemma right now!
Thank you for your comment. I will certainly take this into account when recommending battery types in the future. Leigh
Regarding the gases coming from the lead-acid batteries - lot of vans have the starter battery under the driver's seat, why is that not a problem? Thanks!
Hi! Factory fitted internal batteries often have breather pipes that lead directly to atmosphere out the bottom of the vehicle.
@@CombeValleyCampers Thanks, gotta check how it looks under my seat :)
Most cars have un vented lead acid batteries next to the engine ( especially vw air cooled ) - is this dangerous then ?
Informative! Well done.
Great informative video on what best battery to use in a campervan.
Is it possible to show a video on how to use the internal electric system from leisure battery to electric hook up please ;-)
I’d love this too.
Thanks for a great video! What do you guys think of the new Yuasa L36-AGM is this therefore a lot better than the one you LFB you have here?
Fantastic! Thanks! 🎸🎶🚐
Dosent mention what the charging system voltages need to be ? My coachman charges at 14.2 is that high enough for agm ?
Really enjoying your videos ! Well done !
I just have a question! About the split screen behind you! I’m loving the colours! Would it be possible to please tell me the colour and codes ? Cheers
Carnt find the calculator on the website?
thanks, James very interesting as I am researching everything to go van life full time. Out of interest how long do these batteries take to charge, either from solar or running the van? would one be enough for a medium-sized van/2 berth rv. Any info much appreciated. Paul
Great information, thanks.
Review of what could be described as a commercial lith batt......!
What is the danger of those gasses released by the lead acid battery? I have one inside of my van...
Fire hazard, as hydrogen (given off when charging) is very explosive. Whether it would ever explode, who knows… but it can
I don't know how much of these gasses it gives off but considering that flammable/explosive gasses can ignite with as little as a static shock from clothing/carpets etc, probably wise to get ventilation installed
They smell a bit. If you air it every few days should be fine. Don't forget lithium batteries can explode lol
Lithium Ion can. That's what's in your phone.
These are LiFePO4, which is a much more stable chemistry that doesn't fail catastrophically like lithium ion does
Can lifepo4 be in hot car all the time?
Brilliant video!! Thanks very much for the detailed information. We’re always running short on power when wild camping even with solar power.
We’ve now ordered a AGM 120 amp hour battery with a 5 year guarantee that will replace our 100 amp hour lead acid deep cycling battery, hopefully that will be the fix for us.
Thanks again.
Andy
I heard you can't discharge these less than 50 percent
Really helpfull, thanks guys
Another great vid 👍
After much Googling and thought, I went to eBay and bought the cheapest 135AH 12V LiFePO4 battery I could find. I could have spent the same money buying a 100AH 12V AGM battery locally.
So far as I can tell, I could go to Alibaba or similar and buy a shipping container of these, they will apply my branding to the sides, package them for me and have them delivered to my yard. Basically that's what I bought.
Perhaps it won't have the electronics on it that your Victron has, but probably I don't actually need that extra..
Diamond battery technologies last 28 years
Great video I left my fridge on the other day and leisure batter voltage went down to 11.7. Apparently anything less than that (repeatedly) is bad for the battery (mines an AGM) Looking online you can get voltage protectors that shut off the supply from the battery at a preset (low) voltage to avoid damaging it
Any thoughts?
What type of fridge was it?
A Victron Battery Protect unit is a good investment; set it to disconnect the drain at your preferred voltage.
Great video 🤓
I'm in the process of researching this very topic.
I have 40 x 18650 lithium ion batteries and I know that it is possible to make a 12.6v lithium ion leisure battery 🔋..
Is this allowed and has anybody achieved it?
Check out Will Prouse on UA-cam, he’s built a few lithium batteries from cells and knows his peanuts.
Leisure Batteries are dependent on an electric hook. Fuĺl charge 12.5 volts. When at 12 volts claimed battery discharged and needs charging.
Are Lithium Batteries prone to setting on fire. Not a nice way to lose your RV.
Cant we have a leisure battery that is good for off grid use??
Lol that's 6x what I spent on my Citroën relay
This was a hard watch and only 2 mins in.
A lot of this is just not true. Sorry but upgrading a £260 yuasa leisure battery for an agm is just throwing money down the roilet unless its seriously old and not holding a charge. Victron batteries are about £1400 and work great, except when the BMS board breaks or it gets a bit cold, or too hot, or wet, or cracked case and then explodes due to exothermic reaction and torches your van. Oh and you need a special charger as well otherwise it fries it or shuts down. As in off competely. Which is probably not great out in the boonies. Victrons amazing. Lithium however is basically an experimental firework waiting to go off.
@kjaques1 I think you have mistaken Lithium Phosphate Batteries (LiFePO4) with Lithium Ion Batteries (LiIon). LifePO4 Batteries DO NOT have the same Thermal characteristics (i.e. Thermal Runoff and Exothermic Reactions) as LiIon. They don't have the same Combustion Level and are a MUCH safer option.
Please buy a tripod 🙏