Leisure Batteries - How Many?

[Falcon 269]

Some advice, please. We have run the last four years with 2 x 100ah Green Power AGM but they are showing their age and will need replacing soon. Considering 2 x Varta LFD 90, a single 140ah AGM or perhaps a single 100ah Yuasa EFB.

We seldom go more than 2 days off EHU and our power useage is pretty low (LED lights, a few hours TV each day and chargers for devices) and I wonder if I really need the twin battery setup. On the other hand, wouldn't like to leave ourselves short if we decide to do longer off grid. Should add that we do most of our trips in Europe in sunny times.

What do the experienced Funsters here think based on their own setups? Tempting to lose the weight of the extra battery but would one give enough of a margin for future use?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lenny HB]

I use 3 x 78 a/h gels with 300 watts of solar but rarely use EHU.
For your use a couple of LFD90's would be fine for slightly more avalible power 2 x 78 or 80 a/h Gels. Need to make sure your charger can be set up for the type of battery you choose.
I certainly wouldn't use AGM they are useless as leisure batteries, yours have only lasted that long as you don't really use them.

 

[Falcon 269]

Thanks. I did wonder why our AGMs have lasted this long after reading other battery threads here. Not sure if the charger we have is compatible with gels, though. Will have to check.

 

[Taran_Las]

If it were me I'd avoid a single point of failure.

 

[daveinspain]

Only ever had one battery and no solar, and never run out of battery power in 8 years.

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[Lenny HB]

Only ever had one battery and no solar, and never run out of battery power in 8 years.

Can't see that woking unless you use EHU or do loads of driving. We can be away for 6 weeks and not use EHU.

 

[daveinspain]

We seldom stay anywhere more than 3 days, and normally spend around 7 weeks away in the summer on aires whenever available, or mini-campings when not available.
It all depends on how much electric you use, we use very little - all lights are LEDs, rarely use TV (to play dvds).

 

[Lenny HB]

Our average is 30 to 35 a/h per 24 hours.

 

[iandsm]

Thanks. I did wonder why our AGMs have lasted this long after reading other battery threads here. Not sure if the charger we have is compatible with gels, though. Will have to check.

AG

I have two 90 AGM's with 100 solar. They are now four years old and have had plenty of off grid use, they show no signs of failure. In the evening when we settle down the y will rad 12.7 and rarely go down to 12.5 by bedtime. Having said that all our lights are LED and we don't have a TV although we go use an inverter sometimes to charge our phones and laptop. If and when they do fail I should replace them with similar AGM's without hesitation.

 

[daveinspain]

Our average is 30 to 35 a/h per 24 hours.

If I was using that much a day, I would fit solar, too. Our original 90A battery lasted 6 years, and our replacement is now 100A, and we rarely get down to 75% remaining on it - our heaviest use is the water pump for 2 showers plus washing up every day.

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[Happy1]

2x125 agm 120w solar, tv, cab radio, WiFi never bother too much switching lights off etc. 3-4 days off grid lowest 78% left.

 

[Falcon 269]

Looks like the charger is gel compatible so that's another possibility to add to the list. Thanks for all the responses so far - more ideas welcomed still.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Our 115ah caravan battery lasted at least 5 days with no solar or hook up, we even had the TV on for a couple of hours in the evenings.
I don't know how folks manage to use so much. Just got one 100ah battery and 150w solar now, plenty for what we use