Hi
We've just upgraded our van from an old 2 berth swift to a newer 2006 4 berth swift with a motor mover.
Do we need to change our leisure battery?
We have an 85amp one which isn't 2 years old yet. My DH is convinced that we need a 110amp one to use the mover.
Whereas I can think of lots of better things to buy for the £80 its going to cost for the new one.
Thanks
I bought a new 85amp hr battery when I bought the van, then about 6 months later I bought and fitted a Powrtouch mover, it worked fine for about 4 years than as the cheapo battery started to show signs of failure I replaced with a 120amp hr. I`d try it first and see how it goes.
I never replace anything until it fails, my 110 battery has been in the van and never let me down with the power mover for the last 6 years, however I replaced the battery on my car with a cheapo when it failed and I could only get that one (night time break down) it lasted 18 months, having said that I guess I am tempting providence by saying that my caravan battery is so good
------------- Be The Man Your Dog Thinks You Are...
Powrtouch recommend a minimum of 85 aH and I have been fine with an 85aH battery for my last two caravans, the current one weighing 1450 kg which the mover drives up a hill about 100 yards onto my driveway without a problem.
My previous battery lasted about 7 years and in all honesty was not well looked after, being completely flattened on a number of occasions. As we mostly use rally fields, we tend to carry a spare, though rarely need it. When my first battery failed last year, I got a second hand 115 ah Elecsol primarily because I got it for less than I could get an 85 aH battery and was only 3 months old.
I had a powrtouch fitted to my little diddy caravan. The chap who fitted said they recommend an 85aH minimum. I only had a 75aH, but he said as the caravan was so small and light, I maybe wouldn't need a bigger one... bit difficult to fit in the space allocated as well!
So I went away for a week. I only have the lights running on the battery anyway, no 12v pump or anything, and although it was late in the season and we needed the lights on from approx 7pm in the evening, after a week of use, the motormover still got the caravan back on the drive - that was without charging it whilst away or charging on the way home as I don't have that option.
I have since bought an 85aH battery as a back up, (the only size that will fit in the same space - the 110s are too big!)as I don't want to worry about getting the van back on the drive if I go away for longer and it would be easier to switch the batteries over just to get it on the drive, rather than have to push and shove it.
I don't have an on-the-go charger for the battery, but I would charge up whilst on EHu with a smart charger if away for longer than a week.
The advice I got on here was to see how it went with the one I had - and the advice was spot on... just try it and see before you buy.
It depends on how much you need to use your mover between re-charges.
A mover will typically consume up to 100 Amps, with a 85AH battery, to drain the battery to 50% will take 25 1/2 minutes. Under the same conditions a 110AH battery will take 33 minutes
a must if before you buy a 110 amp battery is to measure your battery compartment because they are heavy and much larger.
A good point and worth mentioning! I measured my 75aH and the only one bigger that would fit was an 85aH which was the same width and depth, but was a bit higher.