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Topic: what type of battery?

niki b

19/3/2009 at 9:17pm
Location: stoke on trent
Outfit: vango ventura 500 & abi maruda

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hello, i have recently bought a caravan and it has no battery , i was told by one person that i needed a leisure battery, and told by another that any car battery would do if i was having electric hook up. PLEASE help !

Dave101

19/3/2009 at 9:27pm
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Leisure battery is what you must buy for a caravan. A Car battery is no use whatsoever.

Two main types: 85ah (amp hour) and a 110ah. If you are going to be using sites with no hook up's then a 110ah is what you will need. However, if you are going to be using a hook-up then an 85ah is normally plenty.

Example

These are the Prices for Alpha Batteries - Next Day Delivery Included

Prices as follows

BUDGET 85 AMP £ 52.99 DELIVERED

LUCAS 85 AMP £ 56.99 DELIVERED

PLATINUM 85 AMP £62.99 DELIVERED

BUDGET 110 AMP £ 67.99 DELIVERED

LUCAS 110 AMP £79.99 DELIVERED

PLATINUM 110 AMP £ 79.99 DELIVERED

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Ulti-Mates

19/3/2009 at 9:30pm
Location: South Gloucestershire
Outfit: Sterling Excel 550 - Honda CR-V Mk4

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Hi,

If you are planning to spend all (or most) of your time on a hook up then a car battery will be fine..although check out your caravan dealer they may have an offer on their leisure batteries.

Mr UM

Ulti-Mates

19/3/2009 at 9:32pm
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Which is best..leisure battery or car battery....there's only one way to find out!

Mr UM

Ulti-Mates

19/3/2009 at 9:34pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Dave101 on 19/3/2009
Leisure battery is what you must buy for a caravan. A Car battery is no use whatsoever.

Why is that Dave, do car batteries not store electrical energy and deliver 12-13 volts?

Mr UM

CandP

19/3/2009 at 9:44pm
Location: North West
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Leisure batterys are designed to give a constant low amperage output for a long time, while car battery is designed to high output over a short period.
Car battery's are more susceptible to sulphating, in other words will stop charging correctly due to deep cycling. While Leisure battery's don't mind deep cycling, as its in their design.

Basically leisure battery's can handle lots of discharges and charges. Car battery's cant.

Dave101

19/3/2009 at 10:21pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Ulti-Mates on 19/3/2009
Quote: Originally posted by Dave101 on 19/3/2009Leisure battery is what you must buy for a caravan. A Car battery is no use whatsoever.
Why is that Dave, do car batteries not store electrical energy and deliver 12-13 volts?
Mr UM

Are you having a laugh?

A Leisure Battery has a softer cell and releases it's power over a longer period of time. A car Battery has a hard cell and releases it power instantly the second that you turn the ignition.

But what do I know?

Link

This link is clearer

Post last edited on 19/03/2009 22:28:54

Post last edited on 19/03/2009 22:29:13

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baskey1975

19/3/2009 at 10:50pm
Location: packmoor stoke on trent
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thanks for all the info ,i will go out and buy a leisure battery tomorrow.

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Baskey1975

AndyandLynda

19/3/2009 at 10:55pm
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Why would anyone want to put a car battery on a caravan, just buy the correct gear to do the job and it will not let you down.We bought an 85amp from Towsure nine years ago and is stored in the garage in the winter and used on the van in summer and is still going strong.

I doubt a car battery would have managed this.

Andy

MartyM

20/3/2009 at 6:14am
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You might use a car battery if you happen to have one lying about anyway. It will work ok in a caravan it just wont last as long as a leisure battery. Leisure batteries as supplied for caravan use are not deep cycle batteries btw, they are just slightly better for the job than car batteries.

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Ulti-Mates

20/3/2009 at 6:21am
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Thanks Marty, that just the point I was going to make. Leisure batteries are just slightly better than car batteries. A true deep cycle battery costs a fortune and is out of our league.

If I had a car battery spare and only used hook up (which was the stated parameter), or came accross a bargain I would go for it.

Don't be conned by what it says on the sticky label.

Mr UM

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