Leisure batteries

Hiraeth said:
Hi all,

I’m getting my leisure battery changed and considering having a second one fitted the same time. Anyone else done this and and found it warranted the extra cost?

Thanks
Hiraeth😊
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Check out lead carbon they out perform lead acid batterys but are heavy (info and discount alpha batterys )
 
Hiraeth said:
I’m going down the road of having my current one changed and adding a second one….I’ll let you know how it goes! Thanks for your responses ☺️
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Make sure its wired in correct.
correct battery connection.png
 
I fitted a pair of 160Ah Lead Carbons into the side locker of a Burstner (I think) A-Class. That was a right pain as impossible to lower (which is fairly easy) but had to hold them up under the locker door to then slide them into the locker. A right pain as they were 43Kg each.
Fitting the 200Ah Lead Carbon battery into a Murvi was actually a lot easier even though that was over 50Kg.
But heaviest was the 210Ah Lead Carbons I got off Phil for my own Stripy 'Clarence' Camper - 3 batteries at over 70Kg each was no fun to manhandle!
 
.ithium is the way go but you will probay have to make changes if your van is not compatible , like your present charging system may not be compatible research and good advice is needed needed befor fitting lithium,
 
barryd said:
Oh your opening a right old can of worms now Hiraeth! :D To answer your question though I did this earlier this year. We changed vans in early summer 2024 and the new one we got had one 130ah solar panel and one 110ah battery. It wasn't enough. So we changed the single 110ah battery for a new 120ah mid trip. Still wasn't quite enough so this year we put in a second identical 120ah battery and an extra solar panel and its been spot on. Lead acid though. We have not gone Lithium. Not yet anyway.

The cost just to wire in a second battery should be minimal really. I was lucky and got some help. It all comes down to your usage I guess.
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I thought you had to change lead acid batteries at the same time or are they lithium. Also lead acid is only 50% so 100ah is avtually 50ah as can only go down to 50% drain
 
Stratto said:
I thought you had to change lead acid batteries at the same time or are they lithium. Also lead acid is only 50% so 100ah is avtually 50ah as can only go down to 50% drain
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They are lead acid but you don't have to change them at the same time. They are less than a year apart in age though. Both 120ah Expeditions from Alpha batteries. I think the first one in 2024 was used for a few months and then I bought the second one early 2025.

Yes I am aware of the 50% drain but as I have 240ah now instead of 120ah I've not even come close to that 50%.
 
The folks across the water have a saying, “ain’t no substitute for cubes”.
Okay, I know they are referring to engine sizes. But to my mind, that works for battery sizes as well.

I will get criticism from a certain contributor saying this, but he will anyway. Hi Neil.

Get the biggest and best electrical system you can, or want, to afford. There are no prizes for freezing your bits off, unable to put a light on, or put a kettle on.
You’d not think of running out of diesel, water or lpg. So why not add amp hours into that equation?

Tbh, even though I do have a largish power supply, I did stupidly use it all while parked up for several days earlier this year. To paraphrase, my bucket had a ( micro wave ) hole in it.

My philosophy is, you can’t take it with you, spending the kids inheritance is a no brainier, so enjoy your life while you can.
Enjoy
Nb. I did type, “or can afford “
 
Trotter said:
The folks across the water have a saying, “ain’t no substitute for cubes”.
Okay, I know they are referring to engine sizes. But to my mind, that works for battery sizes as well.

I will get criticism from a certain contributor saying this, but he will anyway. Hi Neil.

Get the biggest and best electrical system you can, or want, to afford. There are no prizes for freezing your bits off, unable to put a light on, or put a kettle on.
You’d not think of running out of diesel, water or lpg. So why not add amp hours into that equation?

Tbh, even though I do have a largish power supply, I did stupidly use it all while parked up for several days earlier this year. To paraphrase, my bucket had a ( micro wave ) hole in it.

My philosophy is, you can’t take it with you, spending the kids inheritance is a no brainier, so enjoy your life while you can.
Enjoy
Nb. I did type, “or can afford “
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Don't matter how much you have Del, you got to be able to top it up again :)

If someone just goes out for a week then yes you could just pack enough storage in to do you. Waste of money when you run out the day after when you decide to stay a bit longer. Conversely if you stay on sites a 50Ah battery is probably overkill.

I am still managing on my 200Ah :)
 
Nabsim said:
Don't matter how much you have Del, you got to be able to top it up again :)

If someone just goes out for a week then yes you could just pack enough storage in to do you. Waste of money when you run out the day after when you decide to stay a bit longer. Conversely if you stay on sites a 50Ah battery is probably overkill.

I am still managing on my 200Ah :)
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I don't seam to struggle with my 400 amps Neil lololol
 
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