I need to purchase a heavy duty battery as we have purchased a caravan with a mover installed. Should I get a sealed battery, or not? How much should I expect to pay, and what make is recommended? Any advice would be welcome.
I would buy a sealed battery next time, simply because the van is stored on a steep drive. I wouldn't go spending big money. We have an 85Ahr and a 110Ahr and we have had no trouble just using the smaller capacity battery. It might be different if you were moving the van up a 100m drive.
Thank you all for your advice, I won't rush out and buy the 110 size, although the mover on the caravan I am collecting next week has a heavy duty powr touch mover on it. I will see how she goes.
Powrtouch recommend a minimum of 85 amp hour. I'd stick with what you've got at least until you need to change it. The other problem with a 110 amp hour is that it may not fit your battery compartment as it is bigger.
Its always assumed that the most expensive batteries are necessrily the best. Batteries that are great for some applications don't always perform as well as some basic batteries in other aplications.Have a look at this site before spending your money - sterling power http://www.sterling-power.com/support-faq-2.htm.
The mover uses quite alot of battery power, and the powrtouch fitter recommended the larger battery. If you are using the van on CL's/fields without EHU I would go with a 110, at least you are going to have plenty of power for a weekend and be able to use the mover afterwards. Just a thought.
Quote: Originally posted by brianconwy on 22/1/2008
Its always assumed that the most expensive batteries are necessrily the best. Batteries that are great for some applications don't always perform as well as some basic batteries in other aplications.Have a look at this site before spending your money - sterling power http://www.sterling-power.com/support-faq-2.htm.
Brian
This is true, but a good quality lead acid battery will almost always outlast a cheap inferior brand. The gel derivatives are a compromise for when lead acid is not an option and are rarely used in caravans (unless someone has a key for the factory backdoor)
The lead acid is the best and cheapest option, but a good quality lead acid battery will be more expensive and usually more reliable. Of course, the good quality ones occasionally have a flawed battery, just as the budget end produce some that outlast their garantee period by a long way.
I know from experience that car batteries quite often fail within 2 years, but it is not unknown for them to last 10 times this.