The Battery Mine-field
Eco Volt Vehicle Solutions Ltd supply, fit and install all battery technologies at very competitive prices.
In fact when it comes to batteries we like to say we are experts in this field, as our owner Mark also owns two battery companies. Mark's knowledge of technologies and which is best suitable stretches over 29 years of industry experience.
Supporting many other vehicle conversion companies with Batteries, Solar and Victron products, Mark is one of the most recognised professionals in the UK battery industry.
Understanding Batteries
What is the difference between starter and Leisure batteries?
What is the difference between starter and Leisure batteries?
What is the difference between starter and Leisure batteries?
Now thats an opening Question - and quite simply Starter Batteries are manufactured with very thin plates, designed to provide high power over short time ( The turn of a key) , where as Leisure batteries are made with fewer plates but much thicker, these discharge slower and recharge slower depending on the technology, but basically are used to run things rather than start things.
How do i know which batteries are better ?
What is the difference between starter and Leisure batteries?
What is the difference between starter and Leisure batteries?
Battery technology is evolving and one battery is better than other based on three main things.
DOD - Depth of discharge, how much power the battery will provide before going flat.
Cycle life - how many times it can be charged and discharged in its life.
Charge Time - Different Technologies charge at different rates, and times, for example a lead. battery can take 10-12 hours where a lithium - 2-3 hours.
Whats the best battery for my budget ?
What is the difference between starter and Leisure batteries?
Whats the best battery for my budget ?
Buying a battery can be a big expense, however it's finding the right battery for your preferred usage, Lithium is coming down in price, and lead based batteries are starting to perform better with the new technologies such as CNT. The three things to consider are cycle life, warranty and Capacity Usage (DOD) Depth of Discharge
Battery Capacity (ah) availability
Whats the best battery for my budget ?
There is a myth in the battery industry that a 12v battery is a 12v battery, this is not the case, as different technologies allow different discharge range. Below is some details of how far batteries can be discharged and their usable battery capacity.
This example is for a 100ah Battery
100ah Wet Lead Acid = 50% DOD = 50ah
100ah AGM Battery = 60% DOD = 60ah
Quasar CNT = 90% DOD = 90ah
Lithium = 100% DOD = 100ah
What is a battery Cycle ?
A cycle is a discharge - recharge (Cycle) and as you go through the technologies these increase. The better the battery, the better the cycle life.
Wet Leisure - 200-300 cycles
AGM - Up to 500 cycles
CNT - Up to 1500 cycles
Lithium - Between 3000 and 8000 Cycles
How do i size a Battery
Sizing a battery can be a challenge especially when it comes to a vehicle conversion or battery replacement.
Batteries are considered to be sized on Watt Hours (Wh) (Volts x ah = Wh) this is the power that can be provided by each battery,
However the different battery technologies can only be discharged to different levels, for example a Lead Acid Wet Leisure although says 100ah you can only discharge to 50% so 50ah x 12.7v usable = 635Wh, a lithium battery is 100% usable so 100ah lithium can provide 1.280Kw of power so a huge difference.
Find Your Dream Battery Today
Wet Lead Acid Batteries
Wet Lead Acid Batteries
Wet Lead Acid Batteries
Wet Lead Acid Batteries are the entry level when it comes to battery technology.
These Batteries are to suit a budget and are designed to last for a 2-3 year period. For minimal use Lead Acid deliver 2-300 cycles within their life span and are designed for campers and caravans for weekend use, a half a dozen times a year.
AGM Batteries
Wet Lead Acid Batteries
Wet Lead Acid Batteries
AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) batteries us a fiber-glass mat to absorb and hold the electrolyte (Acid), making them spill-proof and maintenance-free. They offer high power output, low internal resistance, and perform well delivering 500-600 life cycles
Ideal for deep cycling and start-stop applications, AGM batteries are durable and vibration-resistant.
Quasar CNT Batteries
Wet Lead Acid Batteries
Quasar CNT Batteries
Quasar CNT batteries are the Best Lead Batteries available in todays market, discharge to 90% fast recharge compared to all lead batteries, and can deliver a whopping 1500 cycles.
For customers not wishing to change to Lithium, then Quasar is the ultimate solution.
Lithium Life
Lithium Bluetooth - Heating - CanBus
Quasar CNT Batteries
Lithium Life is the entry level of Lithium Batteries.
A basic lithium with BMS (Battery Management System) for protection but without Bluetooth or Heating and also not really suitable for series or parallel connection as the BMS have no way to communicate.
Lithium Bluetooth - Heating
Lithium Bluetooth - Heating - CanBus
Lithium Bluetooth - Heating - CanBus
Lithium with Bluetooth and heating, These batteries are great for two reasons, one you can monitor through bluetooth, so you can connect to your mobile and see exactly what the battery is doing and two are fitted with heat plates which is very important.
Not many people know that Lithium cannot be charged in freezing temperatures, so anything below zero will not charge. however the addition of a heat plate within the battery, takes a small current to heat the inside, fooling the battery into thinking its warm and therefore accepting charge.
Lithium Bluetooth - Heating - CanBus
Lithium Bluetooth - Heating - CanBus
Lithium Bluetooth - Heating - CanBus
The Premium Lithium batteries, with all teh features of the Bluetooth and heating as well as CanBus for seamless connection when pairing a battery bank.
A lot of battery suppliers state you can link Lithium batteries together in series and parallel using just cables through the positive and negative terminals.
There is no problem doing this and it is perfectly safe, however, there is a cost to it, as each Lithium battery has a stand alone BMS. These BMS'S are the heart beat of your battery, they keep the battery safe, and they also keep the cells balanced safely. There is no possible way for two batteries and two BMS to communicate together through two battery cables, which is where the CanBus comes into play. Safer connection and Prolonging Battery Life.