Newbie needs leisure battery advice...

[pog]

I will be using my caravan (conqueror 630) for about 4 days every 6-8weeks, do you have advice on what kind of leisure battery to buy and the best way to maintain it.

Am brand new to all of this so all your help would be most appreciated.

Cheers!

Bj

 

[Mike_5041144]

Hi Bj

The usual 'Leisure' battery for a caravan is 85Ah or 110Ah the latter if you have a Motor Mover. If you are buying a new battery make sure the caravan clamping system is compatible with it. Batteries are usually sealed so no maintenance is required - use the Caravan charging system to keep the battery 'topped up' when you are away camping. A new battery should last for 3 - 5 years depending on useage etc. 6-8 weeks with no use should not be a problem, however during the Winter months I bring my battery home and give it an occasional 'slow charge'. If you keep your caravan at home then now and again use EHU and charge as though you were away

HTH

 

[scot_374309176]

hi there if your car has the twin sockets ie black and grey the grey socket charges your battery while you are towing . make sure that tour panel in the caravan is at 12 volts and the battery is pointing at the car sign if you have one cheeras

 

[rambler1]

hi there if your car has the twin sockets ie black and grey the grey socket charges your battery while you are towing . make sure that tour panel in the caravan is at 12 volts and the battery is pointing at the car sign if you have one cheeras

Think you will find that when it is pointing to the car it is for running off the car battery not fot charging the van battery the correct position is level not pointing at the car or the van and the van battery and fridge(as long as turned to 12 volt operation) will work off the car,the battery being charged and the fridge being cooled.

 

[Kellie_374356981]

Another newbie here also looking for advice on leisure batterys.

Do I need one and what are they for? I'm sure to seasoned caravanners its a silly question but I newer than new to this and I really havent a clue!!

 

[rob_jax]

Kellie,

A leisure battery allows you to operate 12 volt appliances in your caravan when away from electrical hook-up - things like water pumps and low voltage lights. And if you have one - a caravan motor mover.

In addition to this:

If you have a UK caravan - then it is very likely that a battery is required to supplement any moments of high current demand on the 12 volt system - and the battery will also smooth the output from the caravan power pack. If your need for a battery is just to provide a supplement to the power pack, then pretty much any 12 volt battery will do (as many have testified).

If you have a European caravan - then most of them are designed to run their appliances without the need for a battery to boost the current. But if you want to go wild camping, or fit a motor mover, then you'll need a leisure battery.

Robert

 

[Kellie_374356981]

Kellie,

A leisure battery allows you to operate 12 volt appliances in your caravan when away from electrical hook-up - things like water pumps and low voltage lights. And if you have one - a caravan motor mover.

In addition to this:

If you have a UK caravan - then it is very likely that a battery is required to supplement any moments of high current demand on the 12 volt system - and the battery will also smooth the output from the caravan power pack. If your need for a battery is just to provide a supplement to the power pack, then pretty much any 12 volt battery will do (as many have testified).

If you have a European caravan - then most of them are designed to run their appliances without the need for a battery to boost the current. But if you want to go wild camping, or fit a motor mover, then you'll need a leisure battery.

Robert

Thanks for your reply Robert. Everything I've read has told me which to buy but nothing else! As it happens I have a european caravan so I'm not in desperate need for one but when I have some spare cash I'll get one just in case I do "go wild".

Thanks again!

 

[rob_jax]

Kellie,

A pleasure - and as many on here know - we've got a German designed Eriba Triton (which are now made in Alsace at the Hymer factory)

This does have a 55AH Varta battery, which seems to be a common fit to the smaller "German" caravans - and this will happily run a Reich motor-mover to manoeuvre our 1200 kg caravan.

And in the UK, about half of Eriba owners will have a leisure battery.

Robert