Which leisure battery do you recommend (1 Viewer)

[JACQ]

We are looking to replace our leisure battery. We've had a Banner 115/135ah, for the last 3 or 4 years, which Is no longer holding charge. Any recommendations?

 

[funflair]

Fist off it has to match the profiles of your charger, after that in my view a heavy 80ah or 90ah is better than a light weight 110ah, I like Exide GEL but other than that "cheap no good good no cheap' springs to mind.

Martin

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

We've had 2 of these Varta LFD90 batteries (from this supplier) which have worked well for last couple of years:-

https://www.tayna.co.uk/leisure-batteries/varta/lfd90/

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[denisejoe]

Have 3 of these they have been very good

 

[canopus]

Exide Gel as @funflair suggested, but only if your charger supports Gels. Steer well clear of AGM batteries IMO.

 

[MickyP]

Exide Gel as @funflair suggested, but only if your charger supports Gels. Steer well clear of AGM batteries IMO.

What’s the problem with AGM Batteries?

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[DL42846]

Don't know what age your MH is. Some of the newer MH support Gel batteries but you have to switch it to Gel on the battery charger controller. On Older MH it may be necessary to change the controller which starts to work out more expensive.
If your charging system supports Gel I would go for something like these. https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/12v-110ah-leoch-powabloc-tubular-gel-battery/

I fitted one in our previous MH and I have recently fitted two in our newer MH. Gel batteries charge at a slightly lower rate that Acid batteries, but GEL can be discharged down to 20% where as Acid batteries can only be discharged down to 50-60% depending on the quality. Plus these GEL batteries are guaranteed 6 years. They have worked fine for me.

 

[funflair]

Don't know what age your MH is. Some of the newer MH support Gel batteries but you have to switch it to Gel on the battery charger controller. On Older MH it may be necessary to change the controller which starts to work out more expensive.
If your charging system supports Gel I would go for something like these. https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/12v-110ah-leoch-powabloc-tubular-gel-battery/

I fitted one in our previous MH and I have recently fitted two in our newer MH. Gel batteries charge at a slightly lower rate that Acid batteries, but GEL can be discharged down to 20% where as Acid batteries can only be discharged down to 50-60% depending on the quality. Plus these GEL batteries are guaranteed 6 years. They have worked fine for me.

They look good, 30kg for a 95ah@20hr rate and confident enough to give a decent warranty.

Martin

 

[funflair]

What’s the problem with AGM Batteries?

In the real world users don't rate them.

Martin

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[JJ]

Like Sir RB QC, I have two Varta LDF 90s and have had absolutely ZERO problems with them. Had them well over year (I think).

I am a fulltime, Freedom Loving Type who doesn't use hook-ups.

JJ

 

[canopus]

What’s the problem with AGM Batteries?

They don't seem to last half as long as GEL's. Ask @Jim our leader.

 

[Stealaway]

Take your pick but Tayna are always a good price... I've had a pair of Numax for 4 years

https://www.tayna.co.uk/leisure-batteries/types/group-31/

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[two]

How much longer do you expect to keep the current van?

 

[GPW]

They don't seem to last half as long as GEL's. Ask @Jim our leader.

This.
AGMs want a higher charging voltage which they seldom get and don't shed heat very well. They can be great if cossetted, but in the real world they are subject to too many life shortening events so they don't last as long as cheap lead acid starter batteries.

 

[JACQ]

Thanks for all your posts, much appreciated!

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[69intheshade]

Varta LFD 90's are reputably good as both leisure and engine. I've recently replaced my two leisure batteries and engine battery with them, the bonus being that if I'm ever stuck with a flat engine battery I can use one of the leisure ones to get started.

 

[Lenny HB]

What’s the problem with AGM Batteries?

Everything, totally unsuitable as a leisure battery, often don't last much longer than a year yet they are more expensive than gels which last 6-10 years plus.

 

[MickyP]

Everything totally unsuitable as a leisure battery, often don't last much longer than a year yet they are more expensive than gels which last 6-10 years plus.

I asked the question as my new van came with a Varta AGM 85ah Battery and I wondered why manufacturers fit them if they are not up to it?

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[GPW]

I asked the question as my new van came with a Varta AGM 85ah Battery and I wondered why manufacturers fit them if they are not up to it?

People don't know much about stuff - that's the basic reason.
If you just have a split charge relay it will only ever see a maximum of 14.4V which is not enough as they need 14.7V to charge properly.
Also they have maximum charge currents which a relay also won't respect.

Varta are a top brand but don't expect it to last very long unless there's a decent B2B charger on board (unlikely) and the EHU charger is setup properly.

 

[Lenny HB]

I asked the question as my new van came with a Varta AGM 85ah Battery and I wondered why manufacturers fit them if they are not up to it?

Probably because the buy them at the right price.
AGM's in my last van lasted 18 months.
Current van got rid of the AGM and fitted 3 gels. We use the van 95% of the time off grid so reliable batteries are a must.

 

[emjaiuk]

Well worth reading, his knowledge comes highly recommended

http://www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk/battery-technology.php


Malcolm

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[funflair]

Well worth reading, his knowledge comes highly recommended

http://www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk/battery-technology.php


Malcolm

But if you go back 5 years wasn't he singing the praises of AGM stop/start car batteries.

Martin

 

[emjaiuk]

But if you go back 5 years wasn't he singing the praises of AGM stop/start car batteries.

Martin

Go back a few more and somebody was singing the praises of the steam engine. their comments at the time were probably based on all available information at the time. Battery technology changes, as you'd know if you bothered reading the link and they change their recommendations as required , which to my mind is all to the good.

Malcolm

 

[funflair]

Go back a few more and somebody was singing the praises of the steam engine. their comments at the time were probably based on all available information at the time. Battery technology changes, as you'd know if you bothered reading the link and they change their recommendations as required , which to my mind is all to the good.

Malcolm

I have read the link many times actually, including originally when they were praising AGM but just because technology changes it doesn't mean it is better, after reading their comments and others I decided to ignore them and stick with good old tried and tested GEL.

Martin

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[colyboy]

What ever battery you buy make sure you read the very small print on the battery!

See my recent thread “ Make sure you read the small print”

Colyboy

 

[JJ]

I have read the link many times actually, including originally when they were praising AGM but just because technology changes it doesn't mean it is better, after reading their comments and others I decided to ignore them and stick with good old tried and tested GEL.

Martin

I reckon that if you are happy with your choice of battery then it is the right one for you...



JJ

 

[jagx300]

anyone gone down the lifepo4 route with a b2b charger ?

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[poppycamper]

If you don't use hook up and are planning to keep van.... go lithium.. yes expensive but well worth it IMO.

 

[jagx300]

If you don't use hook up and are planning to keep van.... go lithium.. yes expensive but well worth it IMO.

i like the idea of being able to use most of its capacity instead of only half of it , they are much lighter and when you have nowt left , with the correct b2b charger let the engine tickover for an hour or so and you get loads of charge back ,like you said , just the cost

 

[PhilandMena]

Exide Gel as @funflair suggested, but only if your charger supports Gels. Steer well clear of AGM batteries IMO.

Ideal Charge Voltage	14.1v - 14.4v
Top Up Charge Voltage	13.3v-13.8v

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