Despite numerous attempts to recharge them, our poor old bus batteries have finally given up the ghost.

If this were a camera, a TV remote control, or even a small car, I'd have a good grasp of the situation and would be able to procure new batteries without needing advice from experts. However, it's not a camera, a TV remote control or a small car and I have to decide whether to replace the existing 4 x 6 volt 200 amp-hour batteries with another 4 x 6 volt 200 amp-hour batteries, or go for 2 x 12 volt batteries instead. Even that sounds like a pretty straightforward decision - and if I hadn't asked around I would probably have gone for the first option.

Having made a few phone calls though, I now understand that 6 volt batteries are more difficult to source and more expensive than 12 volt batteries. So, decisions need to be made, but yet again, I'm having to come out of my comfort zone if I am to understand as much as possible about the mechanics of the bus rather than just hand the responsibility 'lock, stock and barrel' over to somebody else.

I wish I'd paid more attention in Physics when I was at school! I can understand that I need 24 volts all together, but I haven't a clue about amp hours ... and then there's the issue of the width of the leads for the current to travel through, the size of the actual batteries so that they fit into the battery box, and making sure they have the correct terminal posts. All these variables!!!

I've found a lovely company in Hereford called A & P Electronics who very kindly donated two batteries for us to do the electric bike race in Presteigne last year (thank you again for that!) and it was Paul from A & P who suggested I might want to look at the 2 x 12 volt option to try and cut down on the cost.

So, now I just need to speak with Bob Gillespie (from Thamesdown Transport) and Mike Ellis (who helps us with all things electrical and technical) and hopefully by the end of the week I'll be equipped with all the necessary information to be able to make an informed decision and get these batteries on order. I can't procrastinate ay longer, because we have an event in Exeter City Centre at the end of next week!