Leisure Battery

fiona b

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Hi
We have a Bannerbull leisure battery and about to have to replace it for the 3rd time (van is 9 years old).
Majority of our camping is not on sites and never use EHU.
Any suggestions as to what is best battery to replace it with for longer life.
Thanks
Fiona
 
Thanks to both. Also meant to ask if lithium batteries are worth the extra cost?
 
Cant really comment on Lithium, someone will be along to help, I do however feel they are a bit pricey.
 
Agm battery's I would recommend
I have 2 110amp agm but I do have solar topping up the charge all the time so I never have to plug into mains supply
 
For the new range of lithium coming out soon (post 65) on 'motorhome builder forum' on Wildebus 'not a self builder but a tweaker' (sorry unsure how to link) he has linked each new battery. With regards to lithium I cant comment on leisure batteries but I know that I will only get lithium drill batteries in the future now I have used them
 
this is the description on the top one that I randomly choose out of the 4. If you have the funds then I suspect its the way forward, (I am a novice)


LINC BASE series is the Lithium battery that can be widely used for deep cycle applications with more power and less weight than traditional Lead acid batteries as well as below features.

● Long cycle life: 10 times of Lead acid battery’s cycle life - 2000 cycles at 100% Depth of Discharge - 5000 Cycles at 50%

● More usable capacity: up to 100% usable energy

● Fast charging: 10 times faster than Lead acid battery

● Easy installation: drop-in replacement for Lead acid battery

● Low self-discharge: ＜2% per month

● Compatible with AGM battery chargers

● Increase flexibility: up to 4 batteries connected in series & up to 2 in Parallel

● Built-in BMS ensuring battery safety and efficient operation
 
My knowledge on the subject is very limited, but Banner are a well respected battery.
I think I'd be looking into battery use/consumption etc, before thinking that a different make of battery will perform any better.
Lithium batteries excluded.
 
trevskoda said:
Bosch/varta silver power frame stop start batteries, they will hold for 5 years before doing what normal batteries do from day one, there was a test done and they came out tops in the lead acid group.
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3 sets all rubbish. They don't hold their volts. That said I have the original set still. They will start an engine, but rubbish for leisure.
 
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Banners are very thirsty on electrolyte. My latest van bought recently at 2 yrs old had 2x 100Ah Banners fitted as original equipment. Having had prior experience of Banners, I checked the levels soon after taking delivery and had to add a total of 3 litres de-ionised water. The manufacturers handbook did say to check levels frequently but, I suspect, the previous owner had never done so. I advised the dealer (normally of good repute) in writing of my displeasure for not having done PDI properly.
Despite this the batteries do seem to be holding up but I expect to change them next spring.

(BTW the rest of the van is fine and I am highly delighted with it.)
 
SquirrellCook said:
3 sets all rubbish. They don't hold there volts. That said I have the original set still. They will start an engine, but rubbish for leisure.
Click to expand...

Bosch working fine in my van as leisure batteries.
Smart alternator was knocking the life out of the Varta vehicle battery though, until I found an easy way to bypass it, DRL's are a waste of time now though. 😂
 
mark61 said:
Bosch working fine in my van as leisure batteries.
Smart alternator was knocking the life out of the Varta vehicle battery though, until I found an easy way to bypass it, DRL's are a waste of time now though. 😂
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When my batts die i will also be fitting bosch/varta, i will never be fitting fancy batteries at £800 a pop, i may not live to get the use out of. :eek:
 
trevskoda said:
When my batts die i will also be fitting bosch/varta, i will never be fitting fancy batteries at £800 a pop, i may not live to get the use out of. :eek:
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Come on Trev, don't be such a meanie. Kids will be using your truck for many many years to come. (y) :)

I'm going to go lithium when these batteries die, or on next van. Weight & space saving is not to be sniffed at on a 3.5T.
 
Now that a single lithium @£600 (and falling) is available..
As DelBoy (not Trevboy) would say "You know it makes sense"
For many a single Lithium with its "full usabitlity of Amp-hours" will be perfect .
OK some hassle and cost in other items but
 
I have an Alpha, pretty good also Bosch Powerframe are not too bad in the AGM / Dry Cell type
If you can afford it go Lithium Technology though
 
well, this is my take on the subject ...

Banner are budget batteries and getting 3 years out of one is actually not that bad in reality. But you can do a lot better!
Some folk rave about the Powerframe Varta/Bosch Batteries. Good for them ;) not for me :)

What options are there?
Lithium is obviously the most advanced choice and there are numerous advantages, of which Philip has touched on. But you do need to fork out for the initial investment and also likely add some advanced battery management/monitoring (a basic voltmeter won't cut it with Lithium) and maybe update your charging system.
If you go Lithium, I have not seen a better value product than the Poweroad Lithiums that Alpha-Batteries will have in before Christmas. You can get cheaper by building your own of course, but if someone was into that, they wouldn't be asking a "what battery" type question in the first place, so lets forget the DIY option!

An option which I personally think is very good is the one I have in my Campervan (and got from Geeky Philip as it happens) ...
Lead-Carbon. A variation on the Lead Acid AGM batteries and while they don't have the same life cycle count as Lithiums, they could well outlive many of us in normal use (Lead Carbon batteries tend to have a cycle count in the thousands).
Using Alpha Batteries as a example (I tend to look at their range as they manage to have the best prices around), they have a new Lead Carbon battery arriving soon - https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/1...ad-carbon-ultra-deep-cycle-battery-dc12-100c/
What I like about this battery is that you could use this genuinely as a drop-in replacement for a standard battery without the need for extra monitoring. It also has a lower charge voltage requirement than typical AGM batteries so may allow you to fit it without the absolute need to upgrade your chargers.


If you are tight on space and weight, Lithium is the way to go, but you do need to make sure it is installed right with suitable associated periphrals (chargers, monitors)
If you are ok for space and weight, I would be very tempted by the Lead-Carbons as - IMO - as a DIY install, they offer the least hassle at a significantly better initial cost than Lithiums.

My own plans are to install Lithiums in my Motorhome, but that is because of both space and weight limits. If I had the spare payload (like in my Camper), I would stay Lead-Carbon and save the money (even though I have chargers and monitoring suitable for either).


Final note. The best way to get the best service life from your batteries is to install more than you need!
If you think a 100Ah Battery will suit you fine, then installing 2 x 100Ah Batteries will stress the batteries a lot less, and they will last probably more than twice as long and also give you the extra power reserve on the occasions you could use it.
 
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