| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| shadiya |
Cheap 85ah batteries from Go Outdoors.... Help me!!!!There is a special offer on these and they are going for £39.99 each.... I met someone recently who said that I should buy cheap ones as in his experience, most people didn't look after batteries properly and there was no point ruining decent ones.....Have picked up a couple for the chickens, as found a fox eying them up this morning but am now in full on dither mode as can't decide whether to get some more. Currently we have a mixed selection of batteries of various sizes and age, that get shunted about as necessary. We have three small solar panels plugged in which add up to 100w, and a Rutland 913 which isn't working at the moment. It's amazing how jobs sink back down to the bottom of the list when the sun comes out! We also have a Future Power wind turbine waiting to go up and six 80w panels that I bought from ebay. Theoretically, this should mean that I no longer have to search for things by candlelight, in practice, I am bogged down by the decision making involved in choosing and sourcing a battery bank. So, what do others think? Buying cheap batteries on the grounds that you may end up killing them seems morally irresponsible but then killing expensive batteries is hardly any better. What I really want is: a system that needs simple routine maintenance, preferably with a loud buzzer attached to relevant bits so I can't forget and bugger it up 
What I really don't want is: to fool myself into thinking that I will suddenly develop an interest in batteries and associated mechanical stuff and look after things properly - there are any number of dead things on the farm for that exact reason  (though they may still come in handy for something....  )
I don't mind spending money and I have some saved for this but I just don't know what to do and as my internet isn't working at home, I'm really struggling to find the time to do the research. The thing is, it's almost August so the big shiny thing will be going away soon and we'll be back to stumbling around with candles at teatime and THERE'S NO NEED! 
So if someone like Richard could tell me what to do I'd be very grateful
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| RichardW |
Are they sealed cells or can you top them up as needed?
Thats a good price. They tend to be about £1 per 1ah ish & get cheaper on the larger ones. One thing to remember is that cheaper ones tend to get rated at a 20c rating & better ones at 5c or 10c. To give you an idea an 85ah 20c would only be about 40ah at 5c ish. Still a dam good price if they are def traction / leisure type & not just engine start batts. Where from? Oh PS will they be added together to make one big bank or used individually? If the former dont forget that each extra bat needs another set of cables so adding to the cost per unit. |
| Treacodactyl |
I assume it's this one? http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/caravanning-equipment/electrical/leisure-batteries/quest-leisure-battery-85ah/HEROHUBA4298UKG |
| RichardW |
Looked for ages on that site. Ah its not available any more. |
| boisdevie1 |
Is fencing not cheaper? |
| shadiya |
Yes, those are the ones.... and despite what it says on the web site, they have a pile in the shop. I was planning on linking them together in that way that I don't quite remember how works, but would look up before connecting wires..... 
Just this afternoon I met another off gridder who sucked his teeth at the thought of cheap batteries.... dither dither, what to do? I have a feeling it's going to be another candlelit winter.... |
| Treacodactyl |
I don't know anything about off-grid set-ups, but I assume you can mix batteries? Could you not get a couple of cheapies and a couple of more expensive ones and see how the compare and last? |
| RichardW |
You could but it would still not be a fair test unless you ran two systems side by side under the same conditions. Having a mixed bank is ok but would tilt the results. They are cheap, my only concern is the pics on them showing them as engine bats. In which case avoid them.
Oh on teh wiring them up you need to follow the advise HERE |
| shadiya |
Well, the one I bought for the chickens fence had hardly any charge, as we discovered when we got it home and plugged the fence in. As I was desperate, I kept on to it and wacked it on charge with the genny but I wouldn't buy any more. Still, if something seems too good to be true, it often is....
Have found some people on ebay not too far away that do 2 volt ones so think I may go for some of those Ebay Batteries* Sorry, absolutely no ides how to do the clever green linky thing and what's really annoying is that I'm almost sure that somewhere there is post that tells you how but I'm too useless to find it. Still, no one's perfect!
Am now getting excited about the thought of actual power maybe really happening.... Can't find an exitedly dancing around little yellow person but I daresay you get the idea
*Visited by the link fairy 
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