Best buy/don't buy leisure batteries article?

Red King replied on 05/01/2020 11:26

Red King

Posted on 05/01/2020 11:26

I need to replace my leisure battery. There was an article in the club magazine 'recently' in which the lab checked various batteries by cutting them in half. Some were complete cons, mostly empty space. Three brands were recommended.

Yes, I know I should have cut out the page. Yes, I know every issue for the past 12 months is online at caravanclub.co.uk/news-features/club-magazine/archive/ But can I find it despite looking at the contents page of every issue three times? Can I ****!

So could some kind soul who did keep it tell me which ones were recommended or at least which issue?

Thanks in anticipation

25 replies

young thomas replied on 17/01/2020 08:11

Member

young thomas

Motorhomer

Posted on 17/01/2020 08:11

...its also worth noting that the same alternator/charger/solar controller may well be asked to charge a lead acid cab battery and AGM/lead acid/Gel leisure batteries....

this is 'tricky' as the charger can only be set to one 'regime'...

sometimes this results in a compromise situation...

Gel setting might be perfect for your leisure batteries but for your cab battery?

lead acid great for the cab battery but for your leisure AGMs?

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replied on 17/01/2020 08:50

Posted on 17/01/2020 08:50

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

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BlueVanMan replied on 17/01/2020 10:10

Member

BlueVanMan

Campervanner

Posted on 06/01/2020 08:50 by young thomas

this article from A and N caravans was almost certainly compiled by the late Allan Evans, a much respectd contributor to MMM and the like.

when i was 'messing about' with electric golf trolleys to amuse myself after retiring, my own view was that Sonneshein and Yuasa were (by a fair bit) the best (real life) performing batteries i came across.

i see these are still marketed Tanya and recommended by Allan.

the Bosch L/Varta LFD and Yuasa L36 EFB seem to have very good comments.

Posted on 17/01/2020 10:10

Those who use the MMM Out and about motorhome forum can read about/may have followed the story by the late and greatly lamented Alan Evans concerning Leisure batteries and his one man crusade which he conducted despite being terminally ill. Essentially Alan was saying that some mainstream manufacturers make false claims and some certification is inaccurate and technically unsound. I put it no more strongly than that here but the phrase "industry complicity" comes to mind.

Alan was a terrific bloke with considerable knowledge which he shared freely (for example helping me specify and configure a solar controller upgrade) work which he was no longer able to do but happy to advise on.

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Tdub49 replied on 19/01/2020 18:04

Member

Tdub49

Motorhomer

Posted on 19/01/2020 18:04

Hi - as a newbie (Ace Siena) and about to post about some problems with the control panel, the solar panel and the leisure battery I started looking for replacements in case the answer turns out to be a new battery. This article was quite informative in that respect

https://www.hortoncommon.co.uk/best-caravan-leisure-batteries/