Solomongrundy Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 I have a couple of Banner Energy Bull Leisure batteries about a year old that are claimed to be 'maintenance free'. Both are side by side under an internal seat and are wired to a small digital voltmeter which usually gives a reading of 12.8v/12.9v at night and they have not had a lot of 'hammer' in their short life. Are they truly 'maintenance free' or should they be checked on a regular basis? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spospe Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 If the batteries have inspection plugs for each cell, I would always check them on an annual basis and top-up with distilled water as needed. If the batteries are sealed then they are indeed maintenance free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawki Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Hi I have the energy bull batteries and they are definitely not maitenance free as I found out to my cost last year They need to be topped at least once a year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brambles Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 There are Flooded, AGM and Gel versions of the Energy Bull, the AGM and Gel being maintenance free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 Banner make more than one range of batteries, and even more than one kind of battery under the same range name. Some are gel, some AGM, and some flooded. So, within that range of types some will be maintenance free and some won't. You'd need to be more specific as to range and type to know whether they are truly maintenance free or not. You'd also need to know whether the charger is the right type and power for the batteries as it is possible for excessive charge voltage to cause heavy gassing with resultant loss of electrolyte. Have a look through the "Leisure batteries - again" string for more info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 As Brambles advises, Banner markets 3 types of “Energy Bull” battery and (besides the AGM and gel versions being labelled as such) it should be fairly easy to visually identify each type from the details on Banner’s website or from the Energy Bull advertising document http://bannerbatterien.com/banner/files/FolderEnergyBull_GB05.2015.pdf When Solomongrundy obtained the Banner batteries towards the end of 2014 he sought advice about charging them. This forum thread refers https://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/Deep-cycle-battery-charger-/36815/#M444889 The assumption was made then that the batteries were 95751 100Ah (K20) flooded type and as this was not contradicted at the time (and it would have been the most likely option in any case) it’s a fair bet that’s what Solomongrundy has. These batteries are described as "Maintenance-friendly – easy to open and MIN/MAX marking on the transparent housing” and "Low-maintenance – reduced water consumption and self-discharge”. Banner does not claim that flooded Energy Bull batteries are ‘maintenance free’ and their electrolyte level should be checked regularly and topped-up if the level has fallen. The batteries have a venting-point allowing a vent-tube to be fitted. It would be sensible to fit a vent-tube irrespective of where the batteries are installed in a vehicle, but this should definitely be done when the batteries are housed within a motorhome’s living-area as in this instance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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