What is the best Leisure battery to buy for a campervan? (1 Viewer)

[Otisdogwalk]

What is the best Leisure battery to buy for a campervan?

 

[funflair]

Wow that's an interesting question and will certainly yield some opposing opinions but none of them will mean anything without knowing a lot more detail about you and your van, it's payload, available space, how you use it, do you have B2B, do you have solar etc etc.

 

[Richard n Ann]

This one:

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[MisterB]

I think the general consensus is that lithium batteries are becoming more affordable and give more power than a similar sized lead acid/agm/gel batteries.

I think you need to work out how much power you need fir how long and how quickly you can replenish it.

 

[Otisdogwalk]

Wow that's an interesting question and will certainly yield some opposing opinions but none of them will mean anything without knowing a lot more detail about you and your van, it's payload, available space, how you use it, do you have B2B, do you have solar etc etc.

It’s a short wheel base, converted VW transporter with fridge, diesel heater, LED lights and TV that I don’t use. The van is used for short breaks away but sits on the drive for periods between trips. No solar panel but contemplating it.

 

[funflair]

It’s a short wheel base, converted VW transporter with fridge, diesel heater, LED lights and TV that I don’t use. The van is used for short breaks away but sits on the drive for periods between trips. No solar panel but contemplating it.

Ok I guess you don't have a massive amount of space so your best option power vs space is indeed Lithium and as somebody pointed out above prices are coming down, you say fridge so I am guessing compressor fridge which even though it will be small it will still be a bit power hungry so solar would certainly help as well as keeping everything changed when the van is parked up at home.

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[Otisdogwalk]

Ok I guess you don't have a massive amount of space so your best option power vs space is indeed Lithium and as somebody pointed out above prices are coming down, you say fridge so I am guessing compressor fridge which even though it will be small it will still be a bit power hungry so solar would certainly help as well as keeping everything changed when the van is parked up at home.

It looks like a lithium is the way forward. I’ve been reading up on them and although price is higher than alternative it seems a good investment. Looking at solar but have pop top so not sure my diy skills would stretch that far.
Thanks for comments

 

[Richard n Ann]

It looks like a lithium is the way forward. I’ve been reading up on them and although price is higher than alternative it seems a good investment. Looking at solar but have pop top so not sure my diy skills would stretch that far.
Thanks for comments

If you get a portable rigid solar panel you can prop it up facing south and get a decent charge rate even in mid winter, albeit for less hours.

 

[the1andonly]

Looking at solar but have pop top so not sure my diy skills would stretch that far.
Thanks for comments

I had solar on a pop top bongo, flexible tend to be preferred by vw owners but cheap ones have a poor life. If you could put it on a rigid roof you can put it on a pop top, the cable entry may require a bit of thought.

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[Leakylunar]

Have vw t5 lwb Bilbos , also depends on your control panel/charger. The maximum our Sargent will handle is 130a/h and the charger doesn’t have a lithium setting.
I added a victron 175w panel/mppt .
As I have a pop top I also purchased a stronger gas strut so I can get the roof up.
We have 65ltr fridge and diesel heater last month we ran 4 days in Scotland without hook up.