Leisure Battery and stand alone Battery Charger

[AllanD]

My leisure battery is well past it’s best so I need to replace it. I get by fine with a single leisure battery, a single 80W solar panel and the in-built charging set-up in the van along with it’s control system (Sargent PX-300 charger with EC700 Power Control System) so don’t feel the need to add or change anything there.

I think the most suitable battery for our needs will be a Yuasa L36-EFB 100ah but you can’t beat peoples real world views, has anyone on here used these with positive results? (pretty sure I remember Wildebus having good things to say about them previously).

I like the Sargent system and it’s functionality that ensures both batteries get charged as well as the battery charge level displays etc. However, although the PX-300 charger itself is capable, it is fairly basic 3 stage unit with no real intelligence. So I have decided it would be a good idea to purchase a stand alone multi stage charger to give both batteries an occasional smart charge to keep them optimised (it’ll be good to have for the car battery too).

There’s a lot to choose from but I want a decent one and narrowed my choice down to either a Victron Energy 10A 7 Stage Smart Charger, or NOCO genius 10, or a CTEK MSX 10. Has anyone got any good (or bad) experiences with any of these?

Hopefully it’ll be a case of ordering the Yuasa battery and Victron charger from Alpha but any views would be much appreciated.

Ta very much, Allan

 

[Obanboy666]

Had the Yuasa batteries you quoted in my pvc, worked fine for the 2 years I had the vehicle.
Presently use a CTEK MSX 10 occasionally on my Pilote c class to ensure the batteries are 100% charged. Works perfectly and no problems to date with batteries after 18 months.

 

[AllanD]

Had the Yuasa batteries you quoted in my pvc, worked fine for the 2 years I had the vehicle.
Presently use a CTEK MSX 10 occasionally on my Pilote c class to ensure the batteries are 100% charged. Works perfectly and no problems to date with batteries after 18 months.

Thanks for the reply, looks like they are good options then

 

[wildebus]

My leisure battery is well past it’s best so I need to replace it. I get by fine with a single leisure battery, a single 80W solar panel and the in-built charging set-up in the van along with it’s control system (Sargent PX-300 charger with EC700 Power Control System) so don’t feel the need to add or change anything there.

I think the most suitable battery for our needs will be a Yuasa L36-EFB 100ah but you can’t beat peoples real world views, has anyone on here used these with positive results? (pretty sure I remember Wildebus having good things to say about them previously).

I like the Sargent system and it’s functionality that ensures both batteries get charged as well as the battery charge level displays etc. However, although the PX-300 charger itself is capable, it is fairly basic 3 stage unit with no real intelligence. So I have decided it would be a good idea to purchase a stand alone multi stage charger to give both batteries an occasional smart charge to keep them optimised (it’ll be good to have for the car battery too).

There’s a lot to choose from but I want a decent one and narrowed my choice down to either a Victron Energy 10A 7 Stage Smart Charger, or NOCO genius 10, or a CTEK MSX 10. Has anyone got any good (or bad) experiences with any of these?

Hopefully it’ll be a case of ordering the Yuasa battery and Victron charger from Alpha but any views would be much appreciated.

Ta very much, Allan

All good chargers and used all of them. But IMO all too small an output for a 100Ah battery on a camper as a main charger.

If the idea is to use it on the driveway to give a full charge overnight when the van is not in use, then yes, all good.
I would go Victron over CTEK as just about same price but Victron is 5 year warranty over CTEK 3 years and you have Bluetooth adjustment and monitorinf on the IP65 model.

 

[AllanD]

All good chargers and used all of them. But IMO all too small an output for a 100Ah battery on a camper as a main charger.

If the idea is to use it on the driveway to give a full charge overnight when the van is not in use, then yes, all good.
I would go Victron over CTEK as just about same price but Victron is 5 year warranty over CTEK 3 years and you have Bluetooth adjustment and monitorinf on the IP65 model.

Thanks for replying David,

Yes, agree too small for a main charger but confirm the idea is to use it on the driveway so sounds like it would be good to go for either. Was I right in saying that you have previously had good things to say about the Yuasa L36-EFB?

 

[wildebus]

Thanks for replying David,

Yes, agree too small for a main charger but confirm the idea is to use it on the driveway so sounds like it would be good to go for either. Was I right in saying that you have previously had good things to say about the Yuasa L36-EFB?

Not me specifically I think, but I would agree that Yuasa has a superb reputation when it comes to battery quality, so I doubt you could go too wrong with one of theirs

 

[AllanD]

Not me specifically I think, but I would agree that Yuasa has a superb reputation when it comes to battery quality, so I doubt you could go too wrong with one of theirs

Thanks again, always value your posts and advice on batteries and charging systems

 

[trevskoda]

Bosch or varta silver power frame batts, chargers, well lots to buy these days.

 

[AllanD]

Thanks Trev, the Varta/Bosch power frame variants were on my short list but reckoned the extra 10ah with the Yuasa would be more advantageous.

 

[trevskoda]

Thanks Trev, the Varta/Bosch power frame variants were on my short list but reckoned the extra 10ah with the Yuasa would be more advantageous.

Bit more juice but will not last as long by miles.

 

[molly 2]

Choosing a battery is a minefield, in most cases it comes down to price size and weight , have you thought a about a battery monitor like the aili (wildebus supply) gives information.about the battery state as it counts amps in and amps out ..I have a Sargent set up and have no complaints .it charges my batterys to 100 %

 

[QFour]

If you need more power fit a Lithium battery. Fitted one to our Carthago and it’s about half the weight and twice the capacity.

 

[AllanD]

Choosing a battery is a minefield, in most cases it comes down to price size and weight , have you thought a about a battery monitor like the aili (wildebus supply) gives information.about the battery state as it counts amps in and amps out ..I have a Sargent set up and have no complaints .it charges my batterys to 100 %

Thanks. Agree choosing a leisure battery isn’t straightforward but thankfully having a forum like this has helped a lot. My Sargent EC700 works well and it does show battery status (voltage and amps in/out etc.) on both solar and EHU so happy with that. The charger also charged the now tired and basic entry level 90ah leisure battery that came with the van fine when new so I probably only need to replace it with a decent new one.

I want a smart charger anyway (stop-start car battery needs a bit of TLC too) so thought I’d see what others on here might recommend.

 

[AllanD]

If you need more power fit a Lithium battery. Fitted one to our Carthago and it’s about half the weight and twice the capacity.

Thanks. It’s not so much more power that’s needed for me but a better battery that holds charge and delivers it’s power without dropping off so much.

 

[molly 2]

Thanks. Agree choosing a leisure battery isn’t straightforward but thankfully having a forum like this has helped a lot. My Sargent EC700 works well and it does show battery status (voltage and amps in/out etc.) on both solar and EHU so happy with that. The charger also charged the now tired and basic entry level 90ah leisure battery that came with the van fine when new so I probably only need to replace it with a decent new one.

I want a smart charger anyway (stop-start car battery needs a bit of TLC too) so thought I’d see what others on here might recommend.

Thanks for acknowledgement you are spot on .I have a cheap but very good aldi lidle charger under 4 amps . about £12 lasted 10 years .

 

[alwaysared]

Never used a Yuasa leisure battery but Yuasa are the go to battery brand in the motorbike world

Regards,
Del

 

[Wetwalker]

Fitted 2xYuasa L36-EFB 100ah batteries in June 2020 to the MH but previously had them fitted to the caravan they have performed well in both vehicles,I use a Epever Duoracer solar controller which has managed to maintain and condition the batteries over winter. The leisure battery charger on the Adria is not brilliant so I added a Victron 30amp B2B in July 2020 which made a massive difference to charging times on the few occasions we were allowed to travel.
Ian

 

[AllanD]

Thanks Ian. That’s reassuring to hear about the reliability of the Yuasa L36-EFB batteries.

 

[trevskoda]

Bosch/Varta are miles better with the silver power frame, they will hold there voltage steady for 5 years where as yeasu will drop of from day one,
lithum will hold its voltage and power with out dropping of twice as much as lead acid, and their lighter, expensive mind you.
Wildbus is the man to talk to regarding batteries and charging.

 

[Phantom]

I bought a Yuasa L35-115 battery about 2 1/2 years ago and it still seems as good as new. It's paired up with another but doesn't usually go less than 80% so I expect it should at least last that long again.