Van battery suggestion

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Van battery suggestion

Postby garriew » 09 Nov 2015, 19:56

I have a 2005 Town & Country Braun EnterVan and when I put a new battery on its great for a few months and then start dying quicker and quicker. I know I need to charge it to keep it topped off but I am some sort of lazy. Plus, I can't do it myself.

So, any suggestions for a really good battery?

Also I read somewhere about a solar panel to install on the van battery. Would this be hard to do?

MTIA

Garrie
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Re: Van battery suggestion

Postby Burgerman » 09 Nov 2015, 22:43

Best battery for that van is a PC1500 Odyssey. It doesn't matter what battery you fit. If the van discharges it while parked, and they do, then the battery will rapidly get discharged and die.

10 to 20 watt solar panel, with charge controller, sat outside of the van on the screen, not inside, works in summer. If its aimed south. But in winter you need a bigger panel. And the ones claimed to do 8watts, that sit on your dashboard are hopeless...
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Re: Van battery suggestion

Postby garriew » 09 Nov 2015, 22:59

Burgerman wrote:Best battery for that van is a PC1500 Odyssey. It doesn't matter what battery you fit. If the van discharges it while parked, and they do, then the battery will rapidly get discharged and die.

10 to 20 watt solar panel, with charge controller, sat outside of the van on the screen, not inside, works in summer. If its aimed south. But in winter you need a bigger panel. And the ones claimed to do 8watts, that sit on your dashboard are hopeless...

What do you mean outside on the screen? On the hood or roof?
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Re: Van battery suggestion

Postby Burgerman » 09 Nov 2015, 23:08

Anywhere at all as long as its aimed at the sun... And no glass to go through. Once behind the windscreen power drops off by about 1/2 or more.
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Re: Van battery suggestion

Postby garriew » 09 Nov 2015, 23:17

Awesome!

That battery is expensive! Might have to wait a little on it. I am getting the rust removed from my undercarriage and having it rubber coated next week. That's $500 right there.

Plus my ramp stopped working again today. When I pressed the open/close button there is just a click.

Thanks, again!
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Re: Van battery suggestion

Postby Burgerman » 10 Nov 2015, 01:06

That battery is expensive! Might have to wait a little on it.

THE ADVANTAGE IS THAT:

Its a true deep cycle battery. So while leaving it discharged deeply will still damage it it will do so more slowly that a starter only battery.

And...

Its got the highest cranking amps of any battery that will fit in your van without modification. So even when it deteriorates a bit it ill still be more likely to start.

My van has had one of those fitted from new in 2006... And its still good. But in winter I have a Ctek charger hooked up most of the time.
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Re: Van battery suggestion

Postby garriew » 10 Nov 2015, 19:45

Well, I got the Odyssey PC 1500 and was only $150. The battery guy said he never thought of putting one on a van or car but liked the idea.

While I was there I also got the NOCO Genius G1100 Battery Charger. I have the eyelet connected to the battery but it's not quite long enough to hang out the grill or next to the fog lights. I want to make it easy to charge as possible. Any suggestions?
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Re: Van battery suggestion

Postby rover220 » 10 Nov 2015, 21:00

You could just extend the flying lead.
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Re: Van battery suggestion

Postby garriew » 10 Nov 2015, 21:18

I think I will. The cable is only $10 for 10'
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Re: Van battery suggestion

Postby Burgerman » 11 Nov 2015, 00:00

Well, I got the Odyssey PC 1500 and was only $150. The battery guy said he never thought of putting one on a van or car but liked the idea.


That's what they are for??
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Re: Van battery suggestion

Postby garriew » 11 Nov 2015, 00:03

I think they use them for boats and golf carts.
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Re: Van battery suggestion

Postby Burgerman » 12 Nov 2015, 11:43

If you always connect the charger, if leaving it more than a few days that battery will last 10 years+.

The damage is caused on all lead batteries, by allowing it to spend a lot of time less than full. Batteries love being full, and sulfate if less than full for long.

Every time you park your van it starts draning the battery slowly. Because of extra computers running in the rear, radio memories, alarms, remote key access recievers, engine management memory, van clock etc.
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