Affordable deep cycle gel batteries

[Tector]

Hi everyone, was wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction. Where in the Western Cape will I be able to find affordable deep cycle gel batteries. I need two 12v 100+ah batteries for my Eskom project. Budget is roughly R4500. I have the UPS and will be doing the build myself. Any help would be appreciated?

 

[The_Mowgs]

Hi everyone, was wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction. Where in the Western Cape will I be able to find affordable deep cycle gel batteries. I need two 12v 100+ah batteries for my Eskom project. Budget is roughly R4500. I have the UPS and will be doing the build myself. Any help would be appreciated?

Have you checked Geewiz?

 

[Tector]

Have you checked Geewiz?

Just checked. R4700 for one 100ah battery. Seems very expensive. Thanks for the refferal anyways

 

[Genisys]

Supply an demand, you'll likely pay more than expected now that Load Shedding is a thing again.

 

[Tector]

Supply an demand, you'll likely pay more than expected now that Load Shedding is a thing again.

Can understand that but double the normal price?? So maybe have to wait till this round of loadshedding dies down (which defeats the point of it all) or just fork out more then. Oh how unfair life is...

 

[The_Mowgs]

Just checked. R4700 for one 100ah battery. Seems very expensive. Thanks for the refferal anyways

Sustainable.co.za?

 

[Tector]

Sustainable.co.za?

Thanks for that refferal see they have 100ah gel batteries for R2700 excl. Might go with them

 

[Swa]

You'll just be paying more in the long run with these so-called "deep cycle" batteries. LiPO is the way to go.

 

[Fjorko]

You'll just be paying more in the long run with these so-called "deep cycle" batteries. LiPO is the way to go.

True, but they are VERY expensive to start out with... most people just need something to tie them over in the meantime, and LeadAcid is more affordable at the moment.

 

[Tector]

You'll just be paying more in the long run with these so-called "deep cycle" batteries. LiPO is the way to go.

Thanks for the suggestion but isn't it more expensive than the gel batteries? I just want something with 2-3 times the life cycle of a normal lead acid battery

 

[Swa]

Thanks for the suggestion but isn't it more expensive than the gel batteries? I just want something with 2-3 times the life cycle of a normal lead acid battery

Well that's the thing even a deep cycle battery can only be drained like 60% without severely affecting its lifespan. So you only have 2400Wh x 0.6 available. They're going to be run down in no time and in reserve. LiPO doesn't have that problem as you can use them to near full capacity. So you'll still run out but in 1 year's time they will still be in mint condition where in 5 year's time your lead acids would be unusable.

I can't find them this time unfortunately. My google-fu seems to have failed me.

 

[Steamy Tom]

Well that's the thing even a deep cycle battery can only be drained like 60% without severely affecting its lifespan. So you only have 2400Wh x 0.6 available. They're going to be run down in no time and in reserve. LiPO doesn't have that problem as you can use them to near full capacity. So you'll still run out but in 1 year's time they will still be in mint condition where in 5 year's time your lead acids would be unusable.

I can't find them this time unfortunately. My google-fu seems to have failed me.

1200 Watts is actually a decent amount imo and that's 50% DoD, he could have several lights and a tv on for more than 4 hours easily.

 

[Swa]

1200 Watts is actually a decent amount imo and that's 50% DoD, he could have several lights and a tv on for more than 4 hours easily.

Yes tv and lights only. Perhaps check something on the pc as well. Not really a realistic full solution.

I didn't ask and I see no mention but is this solar? Imo it doesn't make much sense not to go solar for such a spend as batteries make up the biggest cost. If it's just for load shedding then a single cheap battery will be enough for tv and lights for 4 hours. But going bigger might as well do it properly so to cancel out some aspect of Eskom and recoup the costs.

 

[Steamy Tom]

Yes tv and lights only. Perhaps check something on the pc as well. Not really a realistic full solution.

I didn't ask and I see no mention but is this solar? Imo it doesn't make much sense not to go solar for such a spend as batteries make up the biggest cost. If it's just for load shedding then a single cheap battery will be enough for tv and lights for 4 hours. But going bigger might as well do it properly so to cancel out some aspect of Eskom and recoup the costs.

he could likely even handle his pc to be honest unless it is a beast.

he doesnt mention panels no, on a small system like his i guess his intention is for load shedding back up only and in realtion to his system the solar would be expensive, yes in relation to SYSTEMS it is generally the cheaper part, but not so much in this case

 

[Swa]

he could likely even handle his pc to be honest unless it is a beast.

he doesnt mention panels no, on a small system like his i guess his intention is for load shedding back up only and in realtion to his system the solar would be expensive, yes in relation to SYSTEMS it is generally the cheaper part, but not so much in this case

Yes but even for a R5k system adding a panel is a minimal cost. Then you use it at night and charge during the day to pay it off rather than still paying Eskom above it all. If you don't add a charging solution then it doesn't make much sense to go above R2k.

That's just how I see it. He might not really care much about costs but then why ask where he can get it cheaply?

 

[Steamy Tom]

Yes but even for a R5k system adding a panel is a minimal cost. Then you use it at night and charge during the day to pay it off rather than still paying Eskom above it all. If you don't add a charging solution then it doesn't make much sense to go above R2k.

That's just how I see it. He might not really care much about costs but then why ask where he can get it cheaply?

even more reason if he wants it cheap now

 

[Tector]

Thanks Steamy Tom and Swa for your input. Costs are a bit of an issue for me as I got the UPS for free without its original batteries. It is 24v though and I have R4500 to spend to make a viable system. Solar not really an option for me because of cost and also I am renting an appartment and there is units above me so no tile roof for the panels. If the gel batteries are not much better than normal lead acid then I might as well get x2 normal car batteries for a total of 90ah. You think that would be enough to run an led tv, fibre router, small soundbar and a decoder for a minimum of 2.5hrs? Ideally I would like it to run longer as then when the loadshedding gets worse I don't have to fork out more on this and also not to completely drain the batteries everytime there is loadshedding is probably a good thing as well

 

[Steamy Tom]

Thanks Steamy Tom and Swa for your input. Costs are a bit of an issue for me as I got the UPS for free without its original batteries. It is 24v though and I have R4500 to spend to make a viable system. Solar not really an option for me because of cost and also I am renting an appartment and there is units above me so no tile roof for the panels. If the gel batteries are not much better than normal lead acid then I might as well get x2 normal car batteries for a total of 90ah. You think that would be enough to run an led tv, fibre router, small soundbar and a decoder for a minimum of 2.5hrs? Ideally I would like it to run longer as then when the loadshedding gets worse I don't have to fork out more on this and also not to completely drain the batteries everytime there is loadshedding is probably a good thing as well

hmm car batteries arent designed for that i wonder how many cycles they would last. though from what i understand gel are considerably better than lead acid in terms of cycling

 

[Swa]

Thanks Steamy Tom and Swa for your input. Costs are a bit of an issue for me as I got the UPS for free without its original batteries. It is 24v though and I have R4500 to spend to make a viable system. Solar not really an option for me because of cost and also I am renting an appartment and there is units above me so no tile roof for the panels. If the gel batteries are not much better than normal lead acid then I might as well get x2 normal car batteries for a total of 90ah. You think that would be enough to run an led tv, fibre router, small soundbar and a decoder for a minimum of 2.5hrs? Ideally I would like it to run longer as then when the loadshedding gets worse I don't have to fork out more on this and also not to completely drain the batteries everytime there is loadshedding is probably a good thing as well

Ok now I understand. Yeah the money is an issue. If it wasn't for your circumstances and that you could have gone for a R10k system that would pay for itself. No the gels are about 60-70% drain before damage occurs where ordinary lead acids are about 30% so you'll need at least 4. With the price of car batteries it would cost you about the same with no benefit so go with the gels rather.

 

[Zoomzoom]

Are modern car batteries different from old car batteries? Because I remember my grandparents running their TV off a car battery when they lived in Port St Johns without electricity. (Pre-1980's). I think they literally just had a lead from the battery to the TV although I never really asked or looked exactly how it was set up. I just remember the battery sitting on the floor directly behind the TV. I also have zero idea about where or how often it was recharged, but it certainly wasn't often.