Ritar RA12-100SD ??

Discussion about any electrical topic except 240 volts. Solar, converters, inverters, lights, battery chargers, etc
User avatar
Lance
Posts: 784
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2016 10:03 pm
Location: Melbourne

Ritar RA12-100SD ??

Post by Lance »

Ritar are a good reliable battery aren't they ?
I need to replace the battery in the camper and these look to be a reasonable choice.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Ritar-RA12-1 ... SwOMdZSDuz

Any thoughts chaps ?
Lance & Annee
Looking for more Music Festival Dates in Victoria 8-)
2foot6

Re: Ritar RA12-100SD ??

Post by 2foot6 »

Lance ,I have three of them in my motorhome getting replaced in two weeks.They have been brilliant,but you must look after of them as in any battery.They run a 1500w inverter and run all the electics when free camping. The batteries were installed in Nov 2009 and have been used regularly and have 300 watts of solar keeping them charged.So to answer your question they are a good battery,in my opinion..................Peter.
User avatar
Lance
Posts: 784
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2016 10:03 pm
Location: Melbourne

Re: Ritar RA12-100SD ??

Post by Lance »

Ripper, thanks Peter, I can't recall ever hearing any bad reports on'em.
I've only got space for 160w on the roof but I can add an extra 100w portable when needed.
We don't use a lot of power, basically fridge, CPAP and all the 'lectric pocket gadetry.

100ah @ $330 sounds fair I think.
Lance & Annee
Looking for more Music Festival Dates in Victoria 8-)
User avatar
Craig
Posts: 774
Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2012 9:28 pm
Location: on the east coast.

Re: Ritar RA12-100SD ??

Post by Craig »

Well I can give you a bad report. I fitted 4 of them and they all failed within several months. Aparently there was a problem with the batch. Yes they were quick to act, yes it was a pain in the arse regardless and no they didn't replace them with Ritar. They weren't available so they fitted another brand that I barely got 4 years out of. Currently have gone back to using deep cycle calciums and they are about 3 years old and doing well.

I won't be as fussy with brand next time, it will be simply dollar driven. And here is the one I will be putting in the new camper

https://www.aussiebatteries.com.au/batt ... le-battery
Full time on the road in an Alpine 2855
User avatar
Lance
Posts: 784
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2016 10:03 pm
Location: Melbourne

Re: Ritar RA12-100SD ??

Post by Lance »

Bit of a bugga having all ov'em fail Craig............ :(

Yeah, I have heard a lot of good things about Giant as well.
Just looking at your link they are priced well.
130ah @ $269
140ah @ $249
That sounds like a great deal.
The 140ah will fit at a pinch but am I gonna have panels to take advantage of all those ah's ?
Lance & Annee
Looking for more Music Festival Dates in Victoria 8-)
User avatar
T1 Terry
Posts: 15963
Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 3:44 pm
Location: Mannum South Australia by the beautiful Murray River
Has thanked: 50 times
Been thanked: 30 times

Re: Ritar RA12-100SD ??

Post by T1 Terry »

Not looking rubbish any brand lead acid battery with this, but be careful about claimed Ah capacity. A deep cycle lead acid battery that has a genuine 100Ah capacity weighs 30kg to 32kg. It's just physics thing, it requires that much lead to store a certain amount of capacity in this chemistry combination. You can add alloys to the lead to change its characteristics but it doesn't change its ability to change state between charged and discharged and the reverse, it still requires that much lead to be in the mix. The difference between the weights depends on the amount of electrolyte, 2 ltrs more electrolyte adds 2kg to the weight so a flooded cell will be heavier than an AGM for the same capacity.

If you divide the weight by the price it will give you a better comparison of apples to apples, if you multiple that by the useable capacity, so 50Ah per 31kg on average, you get a better picture of the real cost for what you get

T1 Terry
A person may fail many times, they only become a failure when they blame someone else John Burrows
Those who struggle to become a leader, rarely know a clear direction forward for anyone but themselves
User avatar
Lance
Posts: 784
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2016 10:03 pm
Location: Melbourne

Re: Ritar RA12-100SD ??

Post by Lance »

Thanks Terry.
I knew there was some formula for ah/weight but couldn't remember what the heck it was.

These are the figures for the 3 batteries I'm interested in........
Ritar 100ah.........29kg/$330 .087
Giant 130ah........31kg/$270 .114
Giant 140ah........38kg/$250 .152

Which one would you use given my solar input - 160w fixed, 100 portable ?
My guess would be 140ah ?
Lance & Annee
Looking for more Music Festival Dates in Victoria 8-)
User avatar
T1 Terry
Posts: 15963
Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 3:44 pm
Location: Mannum South Australia by the beautiful Murray River
Has thanked: 50 times
Been thanked: 30 times

Re: Ritar RA12-100SD ??

Post by T1 Terry »

$$ per kg that 140Ah battery is certainly ahead of the pack, I wonder why it's $20 less than the 130Ah advertised capacity battery of the same brand? Interesting when using the advertised capacity as a guide, the 10Ah extra between the 130Ah battery and the 140Ah battery weighs 7kg ........ :roll:

T1 Terry
A person may fail many times, they only become a failure when they blame someone else John Burrows
Those who struggle to become a leader, rarely know a clear direction forward for anyone but themselves
User avatar
Lance
Posts: 784
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2016 10:03 pm
Location: Melbourne

Re: Ritar RA12-100SD ??

Post by Lance »

Yeah, I wondered about the weight difference and sent them a note to confirm the advertised ahs and weights.
I'll get back with their response.

Freight free on the 130ah, but $34 freight on the 140ah..... :?
Still reasonable at that though I think.
Lance & Annee
Looking for more Music Festival Dates in Victoria 8-)
User avatar
T1 Terry
Posts: 15963
Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 3:44 pm
Location: Mannum South Australia by the beautiful Murray River
Has thanked: 50 times
Been thanked: 30 times

Re: Ritar RA12-100SD ??

Post by T1 Terry »

Lance wrote: Mon Jan 15, 2018 3:58 pm Yeah, I wondered about the weight difference and sent them a note to confirm the advertised ahs and weights.
I'll get back with their response.

Freight free on the 130ah, but $34 freight on the 140ah..... :?
Still reasonable at that though I think.
Are ya gunna do a Pauline "Please explain" on that one Lance? :twisted: ;)
A person may fail many times, they only become a failure when they blame someone else John Burrows
Those who struggle to become a leader, rarely know a clear direction forward for anyone but themselves

Return to “Low Voltage Electrical”