leisure batteries

helen&tony · Post by **helen&tony** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:59 pm

Hi
I'm looking to buy a replacement leisure battery over here, and I suspect that they may be a bit hard to locate, however, marine batteries may be a different kettle of fish , so to speak! Are marine batteries for starting outboards, running cabin lights etc. manufactured as "deep cycle" batteries in the same way as leisure batteries, with tougher plates?
Thanks in anticipation of help
Cheers
Helen

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 3:32 pm

Don't think so Helen - my boats both had normal starter batteries for the engine and leisure batteries for the rest of the electrics.

helen&tony · Post by **helen&tony** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:34 pm

Hi John
That's more or less what I feared....I'll just have to punt around, and take our young friend, who speaks perfect English, and hope, somewhere along the line, that we can order one.....camping is a bit basic over here, but a lot of fun!!!
Cheers
Helen

madmile · Post by **madmile** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:06 pm

Not sure about that one - as a lot of leisure batteries are marketed as marine / leisure, but i would agree that a marine battery is mostly used to start a boat and be charged whilst running just like a normal starter battery. They normally sit for a long time between starts however, but not sure if this is really deep cycle

.

helen&tony · Post by **helen&tony** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:32 pm

Hi Madmile
I've read that leisure batteries have re-inforced plates to prevent warping when charging from an almost "flat" state. It is always stated as unwise to fully discharge a leisure battery, and keep it in such a state for extended periods, as irreversible chemical changes render it impossible to recharge it, but, as I say ,deeply discharging it and recharging it will not cause such harm as it would to a normal battery. I had been told that "deep cycle" batteries are commonly used in boats, but as John says, mainly as accessory power, and as such, are "leisure" batteries rather than a marine equivalent....shame , really, as I just need a simple replacement that may seem hard to find.
Cheers
Helen

moonshine · Post by **moonshine** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:30 am

If it's any help, the batteries I use on my boat are ordinary car-type batteries for engine starting, and deep-cycle leisure batteries for running everything else. I am sure they were marketed as marine/leisure batteries when I bought them, so I would have thought they were quite suitable for use as Bongo leisure batteries.

I have small diesel inboard engines on my boat, but friends who have outboard motors normally use car batteries to start them, certainly not marine batteries.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:56 am

Don't quote me, but i'm sure the Bosche 110 a/h l/b i bought from costco was also sub-headed as being for marine use too...

I know that costco isn't much use to you in bulgaria Helen&tony, but if we can ascertain that leisure batteries fall into the same catagory as marine batteries, that may help you in your search.

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:54 am

Any half decent boat chandlers should be able to supply both types of battery.

helen&tony · Post by **helen&tony** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:07 pm

Hi all
Yes, that's more or less what I wanted to establish....if the batteries are classed Marine/ leisure, then I will probably be able to pop into a chandlers over here...there's no shortage of boats. Before next camping season, I've a few upgrades to do to the battery area, and chuck the old LB in favour of a new one, and rewire some of the services onto the LB.
Many thanks for the help, folks,
Cheers
Helen