Leisure Battery AH. HOW far can I go??

[notatowny]

Hi, Still learning but enjoying every trip. I am thinking of purchasing a "Mover" for my 1800 kg single axle. They all advice having a 110 watt battery currently have an 80 ah hich is perfect for all my kit, but do use hook ups when we can+ charge at home. So my question there are plenty of batteries on the market advertised for caravan/MH that are in excess of the 110. Whilst I do not have unlimited funds I would like to be able to get the right one first time and maybe have a little extra power in reserve should it be needed for those adventurious sites. so thinking of maybe 125. Also a "Carbon Fibre"
Help with the following questions please gratefully recieved
Is the extra size 125ah going to effect the rest of the electrics?
Does the extra make any real difference?
Anybody experience of "Carbon Fibre" batteries? Dont wish to name but web site search will lead you.
Thanks to all those who reply.

 

[MichaelE]

Basically a 125 Ah battery will last longer than a 110 Ah.
The 125 carbon will also fit into the standard battery box as their dimmensions are smaller than the same lead acid capacity battery plus they are lighter.
I run one and upgraded from carbon 110.
The chargers in the caravans are not as good as a proper deep cycle battery charger so your battery will benefit using one of these every now and then.

 

[TD42]

ImHo I would not buy a 125ah battery to replace you perfectly OK 80/85ah battery as the additional cappacity is not worth the outlay.I have a mover & a 85ah battery & even after 4 days off EHU there has always been plenty of punch to use the mover .If like me you have a pre 2008 caravan then the charger is most likly not capable of fully charging the battery to more than 80%,so I fully charge mine after each trip with a smart charger (Aldi's).If you intend off EHU camping for more than a couple of days at a time I feel that the money for a 125ah carbon battery would be better put towards a40-80ah solar panel.
Gel filled, & glass mat filled batteries are mainly designed to prevent spillage such as on boats & IMO price for price have no significant advantage over a good quality standard battery for caravan use

 

[otherclive]

I have a carbon fibre Elecsol 110AH which is now in its 6th season and this summer easily pitched our van onto the pitch on a small French farm site which has a steep slope into the pitch and then quite a bit of moving to and fro to get it into the final position. I always take the battery out when the van is not in use and connect up to a CTEK XS3600 charger and in winter the battery sits on charge/float. I had a discharge test carried out 12 months ago and the results were virtually as for a new battery. Some have commented that Elecsol are difficult ifa guarantee issue should arise but when I checked on a welll know internet supplier their 3 year warranty contained so many exclusions that it was'nt a discriminator when I bought a car battery.

 

[notatowny]

Many thanks for the prompt response and the good info. Think I might try my 85 first, but give it a good charge off van and see were we go from there. Yes was looking at the Elecsol as comes with a 5 year warrenty but need to read small print like you said there are so many let outs, but if lighter and holds its charge longer then may be considered as cost direct is comparable with lead/acid ones.

The 125 ones are only marginally more exspensive than 110 which is why I am asking that side of the question, dont want to blow my self apart, too messy!!
Can I still go bigger than 110 without harming the electrics????????
Thanks for info so far

 

[MichaelE]

Hello a battery whichever capacity is still 12.7 volts fully charged so electrics are not affected.
I couldnt fit anything bigger than a 110 lead acid battery in my battery box.
Carbon batteries seemed very expensive a few years ago but the rise in lead price has made the difference very small.
I only paid 130 for a 125.
Some reports say that a certain company drag their heels over the 5 year warranty, but best practice is to buy from a third party and your warranty is dealt with by them, saying that i have never had an issue with any of my batteries.

 

[MichaelE]

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