Sealed lead acid battery brands - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: theleakydiode
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2020, 07:12:11 am
content: Shopping around for some 12v 7ah sealed lead acid batteries I've noticed there seems to be two tiers, the cheaper brands weighting in at 2kg, and the more expensive but well known ones such as Yuasa, Yucel, Lucas and Powersonic etc weighting in at 2.3-2.5kg for the same capacity.Is there some reading between the lines needed here? Anyone have any long term experience with the cheaper off brands? I know branding is just a label, but with the price and weight differences there must be something to it.My last set consisting of the Yucel Y7-12 types have just lasted me 9 years for hobby use which I consider excellent, would the cheaper and lighter batteries last as long? I'm guessing its down to the quality of the plates making it heavier but I'm not 100% sure.Thanks.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2020, 07:50:42 am
content: Its well known that the limiting factor for the life of Lead Acid batteries that haven't been abused*, is corrosion of the lead grid forming the structure of the plates that holds the active material. Less weight == less Lead == Less life.I wouldn't be surprised to find sand in the bottom of a *really* cheap no-name battery to bring the weight up!One exception where cheap batteries would be better value would be if you know they are going to be abused: e.g. UPSes that run an excessive float voltage and a high battery compartment temperature so kill them due to electrolyte loss before the plates can corrode out.* i.e. never over-discharged, or charged or discharged at an excessive current, and always kept well enough charged to prevent sulfation, and haven't lost electrolyte due to over-charging (or for non-sealed ones: that the electrolyte hasn't been lost by spillage and the level has been properly maintained with distilled water)

author: theleakydiode
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2020, 08:27:21 am
content: Thanks, so I should probably aim for the heaviest battery for a given capacity I can find?They're both from CPC (farnell) so we're not talking burn your house down kind of cheap.I should just post the links to the ones I'm looking at, the Yuasa Yucelhttps://cpc.farnell.com/yuasa/y7-12/battery-lead-acid-12v-7ah/dp/BT01942and the cheaper brandhttps://cpc.farnell.com/pro-elec/pel01436/battery-lead-acid-12v-7ah/dp/BT06696Their service life will be for lab use where I often need a semi-portable floating supply at a couple amps for short periods, the last bunch (Yucel Y7-12 and a regular Yuasa NP7-12) have lasted me 9 years now but they're finally starting to go, reason I was looking at the cheaper options is I need to purchase a few so every little helps (but not if its a false economy). Prices appear to have crept up since I last purchased these kinds of batteries.I never abuse them and always keep them charged when not in use, their storage area is room temperature in a mild temperate climate

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2020, 03:35:59 pm
content: Heavy = good. This logic works when buying car batteries as well.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2020, 01:20:03 pm
content: Take a look at lithium batteries. The price has come down to the point that sealed lead acid is making less and less sense, especially for the smaller sizes.

author: theleakydiode
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2020, 07:02:44 pm
content: Got any links to some packs you'd recommend? Looking on RS to make a similar sized pack of the same voltage and capacity would cost more by the looks, but I've never actually bought lithium cells before so I'm not really sure what to look for.

author: splin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2020, 11:29:06 pm
content: 6.3Ah LiFePo4 cells should outlast a lead-acid if treated properly. But if you got 9 years out of your current battery I'd be tempted to replace with the same - not the cheaper AGM variety. Saves messing about building a pack and trying to find a suitable and reliable BMS (which have a reputation for destroying almost as many batteries as they save).https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/re-sealing-sla-batteries/msg3046730/#msg3046730Cheapest I can see on Aliexpress currently:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33001295414.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.5eb26712wXNXvA&algo_pvid=11eae213-8b6b-4b8e-a904-6f332412ff6d&algo_expid=11eae213-8b6b-4b8e-a904-6f332412ff6d-1&btsid=0ab50f4915901891854043140ed709&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_£11.97 for 4 or £31.65 for 12 including shipping (and VAT in all likelihood, except that as a good citizen you would volunteer to forward it to the Chancellor given the nation's parlous finances)!

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2020, 12:11:47 am
content: Quote from: theleakydiode on May 22, 2020, 07:02:44 pmhttps://batteryhookup.com/They used to have 8x A123 2.5Ah LiFePO4 for $10, but they seem to have sold out of those. (Looks like the PG&E crisis is driving demand back up...) The current best small deal is 36x 1.15Ah for $12.50, but that's regular lithium and is not a drop in replacement for lead acid.

author: theleakydiode
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2020, 05:37:39 pm
content: Quote from: splin on May 22, 2020, 11:29:06 pmThanks!Yeah 9 years is pretty good, especially when the Yucels were mean't to be Yuasas budget brandBTW has anyone managed to work out what sets the Yucels apart from regular Yuasa (other than price)? Specs all look the same and having got 7ah 12v UPS sizes of both I haven't noticed any difference either.Quote from: NiHaoMike on May 23, 2020, 12:11:47 amThanks!