Newby battery question

[chrisbutcher999]

Our 2009 Arapaho arrived with only one leisure battery, now I want to put 2 in so my question is do they have to be a matched pair kwh and model.
Thanks
Chris

 

[chrisbutcher999]

Scratch this, I found the answer-in the Batteries forum (who’d have thought it)
What’s a good make / model?

 

[David and Sally]

 

[Stealaway]

Scratch this, I found the answer-in the Batteries forum (who’d have thought it)
What’s a good make / model?

OK then you should be keen to enlighten some of us other thickos.

I have two 130ah Hankook about £110 each that should last you at least five years if you don't abuse them.
The are 250 cycle rated by and I had over 500 half cycles with them before I sold that van.

 

[rob1234]

hi have just ordered 2 of these 130ah Hankook from tanya you get a little discount caravan club ,,got 2 delivered for £215 ,,

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[chrisbutcher999]

The opinion was and to be honest common sense really, don’t put a new one in with an old one (different charge rate etc, etc..) 1 good one or a matched pair

 

[TheBig1]

Common sense when you think about it and something that most take for granted. But when adding a second battery in parallel, the charger(s) only see 1 larger battery of the combined capacity. This needs charging with a charger a minimum amperage of 10% of the total amp/hours. More is better. So the fitted charger is fine for one battery (100a/h) but may be a bit lacking for two (200a/h). Yes it will charge, all be it slower, but at it's maximum capacity for longer

You also find that the manufacturer's installed charging cables and from the alternator are barely capable of the higher current needed too. I have seen some shockingly poor original installs based on saving money

 

[rob1234]

hi i have installed a sterling b2b only the 30 amp one but seems to work well ,,i am assuming that this will charge the new 130 ah hankooks ,,? there was 2x 110ah that i removed they were not a matched pair ,,one is 8 years old ,,but still holds a charge ,,numax,,thought they could do with replacing for a matched pair ,,

 

[Stealaway]

I fitted a Stirling 30amp B2B alongside my solar panels.
They all seem to work well enough together and seem to sort themselves out even with the difference voltages.
I just know that when I stop for the evening my two 130a are always fully charged.
Numax batteries seem to be re labeled Hankook