Battery Disappointment

Nov 6, 2005
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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.
 
Nov 11, 2009
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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.
Can understand your disappointment. Aren’t NCC Verified self certified?
 
Jul 18, 2017
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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.
The Yuasa AGM battery that was in the caravan is now being used at home to counter power breaks and gets dragged out and used only 2 - 3 times a year. It is over 7 years old and despite standing in the shed for most of the summer, the battery still read 12.4v when checked 2 weeks ago. A quick top up and now at rest again waiting for the next power cut.
 
Jun 20, 2005
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Roger,
Play the Devils Advocate.
Send your story to the boss of Customer services

Contact us​

GS Yuasa Battery Sales UK Ltd
Unit 8
Ignition Park
Swindon
Wiltshire
SN3 5FB
United Kingdom+44 (0) 1793 833555+44 (0) 1793 833579info@gs-yuasa.uk

You never know, especially as it is NCC certified 😉
 
Apr 23, 2024
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Verification is simply a paper exercise , where the paperwork supplied by manufacturer is checked against set standards, which may or may not be recognised by national institutions such as the British Standards Institute. . The checking process isn't necessarily robust and if the manufacturer chooses to lie , then the verifier may not know. unless they dig deeper and employ independent testing companies.
Having said that Yuasa is a good brand I had quite a few batteries of various types from them over 50 of my adult years and never had one fail prematurely. I generally use Numax now . A lot of caravans I see have this type of battery.
 
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JTQ

May 7, 2005
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Is this another example of how the NCC (Self appointed trade organisation) makes yet another pseudo standard that's not fit for purpose?
But could really be ideally "fit for purpose", just depends on the "purpose", theirs the trade, or ours, the punters?

Sadley in the caravan trade the evidence IMO does anything but support these being remotely the same.
 
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