more aux battery questions

[roadwarrior]

I have 2 factory fitted (im guessing) AGM BATTERIES on my van, one aux and one engine battery. I was looking today and found what looks like a loom connector that allows a second battery to be fitted - which is nice.. can someone confirm thats what it is - it seems like it as there is the same connector going to to the built in battery . i have mixed feeling about fitting another as i only sometimes need aux power at aires ect but next year i will go to italy and i dont have a clue what i will find there yet. I also now have a 100w solar panel on the roof, but i ask the question as i have a spare agm battery off the wifes car suddenly and it seems a shame not to use it.
The second question is..
if the spare battery isnt as good as the factory battery, will it pull it down ? or will it just not be good as if it was 2 new batteries ?
the third question is - whats wrong with banner batteries ?
im torn whether to fit it - just cus i can - but extra weight ect ..

comments please.

 

[Figaro]

I doubt you could assume the loom connector is for a second battery, you'd need to trace the wiring.
Adding a used second battery is probably not a good idea either, if it's past it's best it will pull down the existing battery.

 

[Gaston aires]

If the two you have are the same type I would connect them together in parallel, plus to plus neg to neg. Then I would buy a new engine battery or use one you have if it’s suitable.
You can’t have too much battery power especially in Europe.
Phil

 

[John H.]

but next year i will go to italy and i dont have a clue what i will find there yet

You will find campsites just like ours. We went to Pompeii and stayed in a campsite (with EHU) right outside the main entrance (literaly a hop skip and a jump from the entrance turnstyles)
Other places we stayed were more like French Aires. (outskirts of Rome with bus service to town, etc)

Enjoy your trip.

the third question is - whats wrong with banner batteries ?

Nothing, if you treat them correctly. Ours was still going strong after 6 years. I only changed it because I wanted to run an Inverter with a high current draw for air con etc. (and I fancied learning about lithium)

 

[John H.]

I also now have a 100w solar panel on the roof

Your solar panel will work well in Italy.

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[Lenny HB]

The starter battery will be a standard lead acid not AGM.

Idealy when adding a second battery it should within a year of the same age as the first battery. Car batteries are not really suitable for leisure use.

whats wrong with banner batteries ?

The are rubbish particularly the AGM's I had 2 fail in 18 months & they don't honor their warranty.

 

[Lenny HB]

EHU in Italy often only 3 amp .

 

[Revolvor]

My Autotrail had the same plug for connecting a 2nd battery. However, I chose not to use it, and just connected a 2nd in parallel. I rarely use the onboard charger, as I have solar and a B2B connected straight to the batteries.

 

[John H.]

EHU in Italy often only 3 amp .

Certainly worth bearing in mind. Just enough to charge the batteries, but no more, we were told on one occaison when I switched on the air con

 

[Jamesh]

I would do a battery check first make sure it's a good battery either with a charger and see if it keeps charging for say 12 hours, or connect it to a known appliance and see if it continues to discharge to 50% ok.

Then your good to go.

Cheers James

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[Lenny HB]

Autotrail wiring from the battery to the Sargent unit is ridiculously undersized so if you are adding/replacing batteries it is well worth replacing all the main battery cables with 25 mm sq cable.

 

[Jonno1103]

You need to buy an AT specific additional harness to attach a 2nd leisure battery. If you've never replaced the leisure battery it'll be a standard Banner lead acid type, probably 110Ah.

It's not wise to mix types - Lead acid, AGM, Gel etc as they require differing voltage charges.

A second Banner 110Ah will cost around £108, additional harness from Sargent, product No 50079 -16. £29.

You'd then need to look at an additional battery box which can be as little as a tenner and fix it securely to the motorhome.

I'd budget around £150 for the project.