Leisure Batteries?

[anonymous-user]

Our 12v system stopped working and after looking at the batteries it seems they are the originals from 1993,

Any recommendations as to what batteries we should buy? Would regular car batteries be sufficient? Is bigger always better?

Also it looks like the charger is original so will need to replace this too. Does it have to be a motorhome specific one or would a LIDL's special do the trick?

[Spuffington]

I can't offer too much in the way of help, but what you need is a Leisure battery rather than a starter battery. The latter will work, but won't last over time as it's not designed to withstand deep cycles of discharge.

[chasingracecars]

Google Leisure Battery,

Look for the biggest AH rating that will fit in place. If important make sure terminals are on the right sides. Check weights some are lighter then others. Also warranty. Some have very good warranties.

You shouldn’t need a new charger.

[Output Flange]

Car batteries will die quickly - they're not keen on being run down to zero.

I've been using a Halfords leisure battery (the larger AH rating of the two they do) for a few years now and it has been great - if you can snag one in a sale, even better.

[chasingracecars]

I would only buy a battery from Halfords if I really needed it now!! Most online places do free next day delivery and are 10-20% cheaper.

[Johnnybee]

I've used this place https://www.tayna.co.uk/leisure-batteries/

[anonymous-user]

perfect, Thank you for all the replies, I will have a look at what I can find,

Size isn't an issue as I will be relocating them from behind the drivers seat and under the drivers seat to under the sofa/bench seat and bolting them down in there.

Charger should still be fine? Great news!

[chasingracecars]

CDB1983 said:

perfect, Thank you for all the replies, I will have a look at what I can find,

Charger should still be fine? Great news!

Batteries deteriorate whereas a charger would stop, easy way to tell is if you run the engine, or plug the van in the charger will put out a voltage somewhere between 12-14v, If there is nothing then the charger is broken but chances are the battery is not holding charge anyone. Most places don't warranty for more then 4 years, that says it all.

[twokcc]

This gives you the info you need, leisure batteries cut open to check how manufactured.

https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/13871919/ccmno...

Only Banner and Varta recommended from those tested

Managed to pick up a nearly new Banner battery on Gumtree and highly pleased with performance so far

[geeks]

twokcc said:

This gives you the info you need, leisure batteries cut open to check how manufactured.

https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/13871919/ccmno...

Only Banner and Varta recommended from those tested

Managed to pick up a nearly new Banner battery on Gumtree and highly pleased with performance so far

Ah yes a review from four years ago when only two seven brands tested were revealed, such a review is worth sweet fa!

As per one poster above I use a Halfords Leisure Battery (the larger of the two) have been nothing but impressed with it, however wait for a sale (usually one on every couple of weeks) and it costs no more than an online purchase.

Also check the charger is compatible with the type of battery you are purchasing, for example our EHU charger will detect the type of battery and work with it, our Stirling B2B charger which is the one for on the move has to be told which battery type.

[twokcc]

geeks said:

Ah yes a review from four years ago when only two seven brands tested were revealed, such a review is worth sweet fa!

As per one poster above I use a Halfords Leisure Battery (the larger of the two) have been nothing but impressed with it, however wait for a sale (usually one on every couple of weeks) and it costs no more than an online purchase.

Also check the charger is compatible with the type of battery you are purchasing, for example our EHU charger will detect the type of battery and work with it, our Stirling B2B charger which is the one for on the move has to be told which battery type.

Your entitled to your opinion if you want to buy a battery that is just a normal battery with a leisure battery label slapped on it thats your choice.

From report
CONCLUSION
Only two products complied with EN 50342 and both displayed the type of sturdy plates expected ofpurpose-made leisure batteries and good Ah capacities, too. These were products from Banner (01889 571100) and Varta (01753 480610; uk.varta.com). Exide (0845 450 2400; exide.com/gb/en) lead/acid leisure batteries also comply with EN 50342 but since examples couldn’t be found at UK dealerships, none was tested. The other seven products on test were built like starter batteries but bore leisure battery labels. It would betempting to reveal the manufacturers’ identities but as it was not possible
to test every battery on the market,

Halfords doesn't say if it complies with EN 50342 2 years gaurantee Banner same price(delivered) and 3 years gaurantee.

I obviously don't have the same faith in Halfords giving the best deal as you have.

Edited by twokcc on Thursday 25th January 18:26

[Wacky Racer]

Just replaced our Motorhome leisure battery after six years (from new)..quite happy with that.

[agent006]

Having just done a bunch of research on refreshing our solar and batteries, i have read that Varta LFD or Bosch L5 are about the best you can get.

[geeks]

twokcc said:

geeks said:

Ah yes a review from four years ago when only two seven brands tested were revealed, such a review is worth sweet fa!

As per one poster above I use a Halfords Leisure Battery (the larger of the two) have been nothing but impressed with it, however wait for a sale (usually one on every couple of weeks) and it costs no more than an online purchase.

Also check the charger is compatible with the type of battery you are purchasing, for example our EHU charger will detect the type of battery and work with it, our Stirling B2B charger which is the one for on the move has to be told which battery type.

Your entitled to your opinion if you want to buy a battery that is just a normal battery with a leisure battery label slapped on it thats your choice.

From report
CONCLUSION
Only two products complied with EN 50342 and both displayed the type of sturdy plates expected ofpurpose-made leisure batteries and good Ah capacities, too. These were products from Banner (01889 571100) and Varta (01753 480610; uk.varta.com). Exide (0845 450 2400; exide.com/gb/en) lead/acid leisure batteries also comply with EN 50342 but since examples couldn’t be found at UK dealerships, none was tested. The other seven products on test were built like starter batteries but bore leisure battery labels. It would betempting to reveal the manufacturers’ identities but as it was not possible
to test every battery on the market,

Halfords doesn't say if it complies with EN 50342 2 years gaurantee Banner same price(delivered) and 3 years gaurantee.

I obviously don't have the same faith in Halfords giving the best deal as you have.

Edited by twokcc on Thursday 25th January 18:26

Only 2 on THEIR test, some 4 years ago, so we can safely assume that the data is out of date, I am not arguing the validity of your choice, simply the relevance of your supplied data! However if it helps, Halfords batteries are made by Yuasa and are all NCC approved, whose opinion is a little less self serving than that of the C&CC

Also in the interest of fairness, the Banner achieves a Class B rating the Yuasa a Class C rating.

A quick review of the Yuasa website also shows ALL their batteries to meat your compliance standard EN 50342 and also that they are a member of the British Battery Builders Guild type thing

So there we have it. Its fine, its a perfectly acceptable battery.

You pays you money, you takes your choice, which is fine.

Clearly a chip on your shoulder about Halfords, that's fine as well but at least try and see past the end of your nose and occasionally do more than a 30 second glance at something before asserting someone is wrong.

Oh and in reference to the price, I paid £75 for mine when on sale, so, cheaper too!

Toodle pip!

[agent006]

Another thing, in terms of what size to get. I does depend on your charger and usage patterns. We have 3x 110ah on ours and if we get them properly flat, say on a site with no hookup and no decent solar weather, it will take almost two days for the standard hymer charger with a 10 amp charge speed, to get them back to fully charged. This is not great for their longevity, leisure batteries are much better when discharged to not fully flat and then fully charged. Coming down through France last week in crap weather and using Aires with no hookup we barely saw more than 12.5 volts all week.

Not sure what van you have, so there are plenty of variables. The a&n caravans website has a lot of good info if you don't mind getting a bit nerdy.

[twokcc]

geeks said:

.
Clearly a chip on your shoulder about Halfords, that's fine as well but at least try and see past the end of your nose and occasionally do more than a 30 second glance at something before asserting someone is wrong.

Oh and in reference to the price, I paid £75 for mine when on sale, so, cheaper too!

Bought mine about a year ago and found an article(may have been on a forum) by someone who worked in the Automitive battery industry. Detail differences in construction,who he considered to be best manufacturers, where relabed batteries were manufactured together with comparison regarding discharge rates etc for leisure batteries. Similar conclusion to one in report, plus others which I can't remember.
So no need for abuse., I posted info I believed was useful to PHer's in making a decision. Not even considered Halfords but IMO for same money worth buying the Banner to get the extra years warranty.

Same as you I like a bargain the price and picked a Banner up for £45(from memory) on Gumtree with 34 months warranty left

[Classy6]

From daily experience, not so much with leisure batteries but car batteries generally I can say from experience Banner & Exide are quite poor.

I would tend to stick to Yuasa batteries now, they may cost a little a more but are very good batteries.

In terms of purchasing, buy the biggest you fit in the space, then the highest you can get in terms of AH rating. This means the battery will be able to support whatever you're doing for longer.

[PH5121]

I've a query regarding batteries, do you need to use a battery at all times with a caravan?

I only go the sites with electric hook ups and don't have a battery.
It was mentioned to me that you should always have a battery as with a hook up you are transforming from 230v ac to 12v dc and them an invertor converts the 12v dc back to 230v ac. By not using a battery am I putting undue stress on the transformer / invertor?

[ALY77]

As much as it pains me to say (given I worked there for three years a long time ago and know how rubbish some of their stuff is), I bought a Halfords leisure battery having priced everything else I could get in the area from various suppliers. They all came with similar or shorter warranty lengths and anything with the same amps rating was 50% more than the, albeit sale, price of circa £98.

If the new one packs up then its off to the nearest branch for a swap over, regardless of where in the UK we might be at the time.

[Halmyre]

PH5121 said:

I've a query regarding batteries, do you need to use a battery at all times with a caravan?

I only go the sites with electric hook ups and don't have a battery.
It was mentioned to me that you should always have a battery as with a hook up you are transforming from 230v ac to 12v dc and them an invertor converts the 12v dc back to 230v ac. By not using a battery am I putting undue stress on the transformer / invertor?

I'm pretty sure the 240V stuff is distributed straight from the hook-up; no hook-up, no 240V. YMMV.