What kind of battery do I need?

[Cathy]

We have just discovered that our new Renault Trafic camper has been fitted with a Varta E43 car battery (only 72Ah) as its leisure battery, which we have now successfully flattened whilst in Skye (brought it back to life with electric hook up, but still a bit poorly).
I’ve never paid much attention to our previous leisure batteries, but would say they have all been about 110-120Ah.
We tend to travel each day and wild camp most nights, just using sites for supplies and off- loading waste, and have never usually needed electric hook up.
Please can experts on the forum help? My questions are:
1. Is it reasonable to go back to the fitters and say the battery they supplied is not fit for purpose because it is for a car and we need a proper leisure battery?
2. Do we need a deep cycle battery? Some sites say yes, some no. We are really only running lights and fridge while camped up at night, and charging phones, plus we need electric to fire up the diesel heater. It would be good though to be able to have the odd non-driving day.
3. Is a gel battery worth the extra you pay? We have always had wet batteries in the past.
Thank you!

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Hi ya Cathy,
I think this is going to largely depend on your Intentions as far as ‘Use’ goes especially in regards to the Draw that you expect from your Battery supply, & Your Budget . I honestly recommend that you talk to our own ‘Alph Batteries’ for good advice & don’t forget your members discount .
I can only say that I personally am a Full Time Livaboard & only have a cheap n cheerful Lead said 110A/H Battery with a Solar panel that feeds it. It suits my needs (JUST).
Although I am going to up grade to something like this winter to this -

 

[Cathy]

Hi ya Cathy,
I think this is going to largely depend on your Intentions as far as ‘Use’ goes especially in regards to the Draw that you expect from your Battery supply, & Your Budget . I honestly recommend that you talk to our own ‘Alph Batteries’ for good advice & don’t forget your members discount .
I can only say that I personally am a Full Time Livaboard & only have a cheap n cheerful Lead said 110A/H Battery with a Solar panel that feeds it. It suits my needs (JUST).
Although I am going to up grade to something like this winter to this -
View attachment 97530

Thanks for that - Alpha Batteries is just around the corner from me!

 

[st3v3]

If you've got the room, a guy here is selling a varta 230Ah battery really cheap.

TAKEN.... Used Varta 230Ah battery needs a home

Wildebus has replaced my three year old Varta LFD230 silver battery with lithiums so the Varta needs a new home. It's in excellent condition having been kept in a high state of charge throughout its life. Details here: https://www.tayna.co.uk/leisure-batteries/varta/lfd230/ It's big and...

wildcamping.co.uk

 

[Cathy]

Thanks but that will be too big for my cupboard

 

[wildebus]

I would imagine that if they fitted a battery that size, it will be because nothing larger would fit?
If you can provide dimensions of the available space (NOT the current battery), it would be easier to advise on suitable options.

 

[Cathy]

Yes it fits in the battery box that is installed, but presumably you can buy bigger battery boxes? The cupboard width is fixed at 175mm but it could potentially be longer or higher. A 110Ah battery would fit.

 

[wildebus]

Yes it fits in the battery box that is installed, but presumably you can buy bigger battery boxes? The cupboard width is fixed at 175mm but it could potentially be longer or higher. A 110Ah battery would fit.

ah - there is your answer... If a 110Ah Battery fits, go for that

do you spend the extra on a good battery compared to a basic wet battery? ask 10 people, get 11 different replies. If it were me, I would get a decent battery and expect to pay around £175 or so. Someone else will tell you to get a £75 battery.

 

[Cathy]

But my questions were really about type rather than size: must it be a leisure battery? Can I challenge the fitters for just providing a car battery? Should it be a deep cycle battery? And is there a significant benefit to a gel battery?

 

[wildebus]

But my questions were really about type rather than size: must it be a leisure battery? Can I challenge the fitters for just providing a car battery? Should it be a deep cycle battery? And is there a significant benefit to a gel battery?

Like I said .. ask 10 people, get 11 answers - including "yes" AND "no" to every one of your questions above.

As far as challenging the fitters to what they supplied ... if they told you they were fitting one specific type or size of battery and actually fitted another, yes. if they just said they are fitting a battery (or even a 'leisure' battery), no.

 

[trevskoda]

Take the good advice by wildbus.

 

[Tookey]

True, there is a Yank on the web that seems to know what he is on about (does he ) and he is a believer in using cheaper golf buggy batteries as opposed to expensive moho leisure batteries, claims it's a sales pitch

 

[mistericeman]

But my questions were really about type rather than size: must it be a leisure battery? Can I challenge the fitters for just providing a car battery? Should it be a deep cycle battery? And is there a significant benefit to a gel battery?

To be honest 'most' cheaper leisure batteries are likely little more than rebadged starter/car batteries...

Proper 'deep cycle' batteries are expensive (providing you are buying from somewhere trusted like Alpha batteries... EBay etc all bets are off IMHO)

I ran 3 x 100ah flooded lead acids from alpha in our transit with basic solar/Durite VSR for 5 years or so with no issues power wise even hammering them with, all electric cooking via, 3000w inverter...

They STILL hold 12.8v and are doing duty powering a chinese diesel heater in the greenhouse after I upgraded to lead carbons.

Are gel/lithium etc worth it.... Possibly BUT it really depends on IF the rest of your power system will support them AND on your particular useage of power.

 

[alcam]

But my questions were really about type rather than size: must it be a leisure battery? Can I challenge the fitters for just providing a car battery? Should it be a deep cycle battery? And is there a significant benefit to a gel battery?

My van , 2 years old , is fitted with a 70ah battery . Think van company were just being cheapskates . I could have , either , replaced it with 2 x 100+ah or paired it with another 70ah battery . I took the cheapskate option . Will upgrade when necessary . Really don't think you'll get much joy going back to the dealers .
Gel etc ? As wildebus says opinion varies