For 36 years, I've run my caravans using an old Vauxhall car battery - not the same one but they would typically do 5 years on the car and then 10 years in the caravan. The last VauxhalI bought was in 2000 and by 2019 I'd run out of them so based on a few recommendation on this forum I decided to bite the bullet and buy a Yuasa L36-EFB with a 4 year warranty but in 2023 it was flagged as failing during the caravan's annual service, ie after just 4 years service. I've nursed it over the last year but it's finally given up the ghost, despite using my CTEK to go through a full recovery cycle. The Yuasa L36-EFB is an NCC Verified Class B battery
Throughout my now 40+ years caravanning, it's always been plugged in to the mains - originally with a smart charger keeping the battery topped up and latterly using the semi-smart BCA power supply fitted to our present Lunar - we always use sites with electric so the only time there's any drain on the battery is using the mover at each end of our towing trips and one night/year off-grid on our way up to the Highlands.
That I'm disappointed with the life of this Yuasa caravan-specific battery compared to the life I used to get from old car batteries is a major understatement, especially given its high reputation. I had hoped to be able to use the big AGM battery recently replaced in my VW Touareg but that too is showing signs of failing according to the battery tester I use which indicates State of Charge and State of Health in addition to Voltage and Internal Resistance.
You can also say that I'm unimpressed by the NCC Verified scheme.
I plan to buy a medium-sized car battery for use next year and will run a check on the caravan's BCA power supply output which should be between 13.5 and 13.8v to ensure that wasn't the issue.
Throughout my now 40+ years caravanning, it's always been plugged in to the mains - originally with a smart charger keeping the battery topped up and latterly using the semi-smart BCA power supply fitted to our present Lunar - we always use sites with electric so the only time there's any drain on the battery is using the mover at each end of our towing trips and one night/year off-grid on our way up to the Highlands.
That I'm disappointed with the life of this Yuasa caravan-specific battery compared to the life I used to get from old car batteries is a major understatement, especially given its high reputation. I had hoped to be able to use the big AGM battery recently replaced in my VW Touareg but that too is showing signs of failing according to the battery tester I use which indicates State of Charge and State of Health in addition to Voltage and Internal Resistance.
You can also say that I'm unimpressed by the NCC Verified scheme.
I plan to buy a medium-sized car battery for use next year and will run a check on the caravan's BCA power supply output which should be between 13.5 and 13.8v to ensure that wasn't the issue.
