Its small, light, robust, can be mounted in any way and will work in sub-zero temperatures. Now weve gone through the science and terminology, hopefully youll be better equipped to understand my campervan and motorhome leisure battery reviews below. We also connect our leisure batteries to the vans alternator through a DC-DC charger. You can! We hope this article has helped inform and inspire you to begin building your own camper van electrical system. We hope you enjoy! That is why we set up our vans electric system so that we can charge our leisure batteries in three different ways. An AGM battery has lots of advantages include being maintenance free, durable and fast-charging. Some (charging) devices allow you to program the voltage yourself, but some also have a preset voltage. You can charge it in different ways. Which campervan fridge to choose for your recreational vehicle? The limitation of this basic system is that the average charge level is unlikely to exceed 85%. Type now could be the time to upgrade to increase efficiency and cut-out maintenance. In this circuit the voltage of both batteries is added together. This is lighter, charges faster and takes up less space! This basically means that this is a high capacity battery designed for users who plan to live off grid. For 4 days, we disconnected our solar panels from our vans electric system and we measured the flow of amps out of our batteries using our Victron Battery Monitor [Amazon]. Determine how many hours each day the device will be used. Lithium batteries cannot be charged at less than 5 degrees celcius. A battery will have reached the end of its life when it cannot hold more than 60/70% of its initial capacity. After the first charge the crystalline silicon dioxide electrolyte crystallises so there is virtually no liquid, minimal evaporation or sulphation. In the spreadsheet above, with our pre-filled data, the battery calculator recommends a 463Ah battery bank (for AGM batteries) and 231Ah battery bank (for Lithium batteries). Building a camper van? Thats why its critical to learn about all the different ways you can charge a camper van leisure battery. Motorhoming is a fantastic way to travel, but van life is not always simple! All leisure batteries can be charged in a number of ways. Now that you have an appropriately sized battery bank, youre ready to move on and size your solar system. Lead-acid batteriesSemi-traction, AGM , Gell batteries are all lead-acid batteries. use an absorbed glass mat material to hold their electrolyte they can be mounted in any position and require no maintenance. Motorhome & Campervan Leisure Batteries Everything You Need to Know! Source:Victron datasheet lead acid batteriesVictron datasheet lithium batteries. The split charge relay prioritises the engine battery and automatically switches to the leisure battery once the engine battery is fully charged. Having sufficient power to run our electronics is critical. Series connectionIn a series circuit, you connect the minus of one battery to the plus of the other. How much energy you consume on a daily basis. Weve reviewed the top 18 on the market today, so you can compare and work out what suits you and your motorhome. If you want to see all our motorhome beginners tips and advice in one place, plus lots of extra info and support you wont find on the website, check out our ultimate motorhome guide for beginners ebook. Boom! A shore power socket could be located at a campsite, in the garage of your house, or even at a gas station. The voltage remains the same, but the capacity is doubled. A 200Ah Lead-acid battery easily weighs 50KG, you dont want this lying around loose in your campervan. Lower current consumption allows you to use thinner cables. The capacity (Ah) remains the same. If youre having trouble finding this information, we list the operating wattages of several of the electrical products we use in our camper van. WebThe best overall battery in this section is the AGM LPX110 Leisure Battery and is mainly use on Motorhomes & Campervans as it has benefits of a low height case and safety of use inside of applications. Do not use batteries of different brands/models with each other. Inverters typically take DC power from the batteries and convert it to AC power. If you have any questions or comments after reading this leisure battery sizing post, please let us know in the comments below! Platinum are a well established battery producer and this battery comes with a 3 year warranty. Renogy Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate 100Ah, If you just need a battery for occasional use, the. The lifespan of batteries is measured in charge cycles. If youre building a van from scratch, consider you power requirements and the battery space this will require before committing to buying a battery. Most portable generators have a 12V DC output for battery charging. Lithium batteries have twice the energy density and weigh half as much as lead-acid batteries. It basically means Id never have to worry about energy storage for the rest of my campervan life! Weight increases fuel consumption by your van so if this is a big priority for your van build or conversion, consider the much lighter lithium batteries instead of lead acid versions. Use battery chargers that have regulated flow and do not charge at a rapid rate. Their biggest downside is their weight. WebIntroduction to upgrading to a Lithium Battery in the campervan / motorhome LeisureBit Arron. The leisure lead acid batteries (deep cycle batteries) are different from your engine start batteries. As the auxiliary battery becomes fuller, the resistance will increase and the speed of charging will decrease. The list of the things that were added is impressive: Passenger seat swivel Espar Heater Climate Control with [], Your email address will not be published. Open lead acid batteries emit gases (hyrdogen and oxygen) which need to be adequately ventilated, they have to be refilled with deionised water and must be kept securely in an upright position to prevent leaks. So a battery of 100Ah can handle an inverter of 500 watts maximum. In the image above, you can see that the battery calculator recommends two popular lithium batteries. Renogy Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate 100Ah Best Lithium Battery, 3. Gel batteries have all the benefits of an AGM battery and typically have a longer lifespan if they are adequately cared for. Finally, we can also charge our leisure batteries by connecting to shore power with our inverter/charger. The gel cell battery is another type of VRLA battery. The step by step video goes through everything from stripping the van, adding insulation to bathroom and shower. Check whether your (Lithium) battery has a Battery Management System (BMS). The cells shaded in green are for you to fill out. Each row should only have a single type of device, like LED lights. Download our free battery size calculator spreadsheet by clicking the buttons below. Solar Panels (360W) We installed two 180W solar panels on our vans roof and feed the power through our Victron charge controller to the leisure batteries. In the previous blog post, you already learned a bit about the auxiliary battery. This concerns lead-acid batteries. Top roof vents to keep your campervan ventilated, To discover the best van solar panels, check out this guide. WebMotorhome Batteries. As a result, the batteries cannot leak and can be fixed in any position. So we enter 8.5 in cell D3. There are different types of lithium batteries but the most commonly used type is LiFeP04. Lots of motorhome beginners ask these questions, so were here to explain everything you need to know about getting your motorhome checked over. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.co.uk and affiliated sites. Terminal type and layout does the configuration of the new battery work? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); So many choices! A regulator or controller will ensure your battery runs through this charge and discharge cycle regularly. And this means we should almost never run out of power during van life (since we also used the calculator to determine our solar wattage size). The price of lithium batteries is also becoming increasingly attractive. This is the recommended minimum amount, so its a good idea to at least round up to the next battery size. This section explains what else you should consider before purchasing a auxiliary battery. Converts 12V DC to 110V AC to power laptops and other household appliances. For your campervan or motorhome, youll need a LiFeP04 battery. But they are also more expensive than flooded or AGM batteries and will require a special charger and regulator. Leisure batteries should never be completely drained of all power. With over 70+ pages packed with helpful knowledge, first hand advice and motorhome basics, this is the ebook every new motorhomer needs in their van. It is essential before you buy that you check the measurements of the existing battery required i.e. An alternator is a device that connects to the vans motor and generates electrical power when the motor is on. I use this battery with my 275W solar panel and MPPT charge controller and it provides/stores enough energy to run a fridge, heater, lights and charge my laptop, phone and multiple other gadgets. Are Lithium Batteries Worth It For A Camper Van Conversion? AGM deep cycles batteries provide much better performances than lead acid batteries: they dont spill, they allow for much faster charging and have low self discharge. It has a 95% charge efficiency and an 80%Depth of Discharge. However, because our solar panels and DC-DC charger already do such a good job in keeping our batteries charged, shore power only provides roughly 5% of our power charging needs. Download our free e-Books with intuitive electrical, solar, and plumbing diagrams. Please consult the manual for the correct charging voltage, or contact your supplier. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It also explains how you can connect multiple batteries together. Of course we would have preferred a Lithium battery, because it lasts the longest and is very light. As a rule of thumb, you can keep in mind that the power of the inverter in watts should not exceed five times the capacity of the battery in amp-hours. Your email address will not be published. There are two types of valve regulated lead acid batteries: Absorbent glass mat (AGM) and Gel. We both grew up in Asia ( Japan & Hong Kong ), we left our jobs and homes in 2018 and started traveling full time from Canada to Argentina in our self-converted camper van since end of May 2019. 1979 VOLKSWAGEN Type 2 Westfalia Camper in pristine condition, Over the past few years, camper vans have gained massive popularity. From Moel Siabod is a mountain peak in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, North Wales. It is true that the charging parameters are similar, but there are other things to consider too. Are Lithium Batteries Worth It For A Camper Van Conversion? WebWhat campervan leisure battery are on the market? Its a crude way of working out the draw on the battery, but this wont tell you how long the battery will last. VARTA Leisure batteries are built to power marine craft such as electric boats, yachts and motorboats, plus all kinds of caravans and motorhomes. the Motorhome Engine Starter Battery and the Motorhome Leisure Battery to power electrical equipment. Built-in LCD screen displays: capacity, charging status and output. We discuss this in our next post: How To Calculate The Size Of Your Solar Array. If you like to camp off grid where EHU (electric hook up) isnt available, then a reliable power source is important, even if its just to have your lights on after dark. When it comes to batteries, more money typically means a better product. SuperBatt 120AH Dual Purpose leisure battery. However, if youre converting your own campervan which you know youll have for a good 10 years or plan to spend time visiting very cold climates, then splashing out on a more expensive lithium battery would be the way to go. A staple for off-grid property owners, a wind turbine is a great source of power. These devices use algorithms to allow solar panels to operate at their maximum power for a given set of temperature and light conditions. The name Absorbent Glass Matt refers to the fiberglass mats placed between the lead plates. If youre a weekend warrior who just needs power to charge a phone and some LED lights at night, then a 100Ah battery would be plenty. These days, AGMs offer very little competitive advantages over lithium batteries. Which campervan, motorhome or recreational vehicle for your holiday? Conversion Van Floor Plan Guide: Create Your Own Layout, Camper Van Insulation: The Ultimate Guide, How To Build Strong Camper Van Walls Using Furring Strips, How To Create A Stunning Campervan Interior, 7 Must Have Items For A Photogenic Campervan, DIY Camper Van Electrical System: An Epic Off-Grid Setup, RV Water System & Plumbing (Diagrams & Advice). Therefore by connecting the leisure batteries to the starting battery, which already connected to the alternator, these auxiliary batteries can also receive a charge every time you turn on the engine. And on average, the solar panels provide roughly 60% of the total power used to charge our batteries. number of discharging cycles quoted by the manufacturers: can go from 500 cycles to 1200 or more. If you plan to live in your van full time for many years to come, a lithium battery would be a good investment. In this post, we go over each of these common charging solutions, their pros & cons, and essential product recommendations, if you choose to utilize that specific charging method. A deep cycle leisure battery, sometimes called a house battery, runs on a deep cycle and is designed to efficiently discharge a low and stable current over a long period of time. In this chapter they are conveniently listed so that you can make a better choice. This can damage both battery and alternator. You can be wild camping miles away from civilization and your batteries can still be receiving power from the solar panels. We hope you enjoy! Many Motorhomes are fitted with 2 batteries i.e. The Amp-hour (Ah) denotes the battery capacity and showshow much current can be delivered for a specific time. WebElectrics Planning How To Charge A Leisure Battery In 5 Ways Campervan leisure battery charging sounds simple, but is it? The AGM deep cycle battery has low internal resistance and charges faster than either a gel or flooded battery. Even more, they provide more power and more charging cycles than led acid batteries. Their biggest downside is that they are heavy and they dont function as well in very cold climates. Battleborn 270Ah Gamechanger Lithium Battery. Gel cell batteries also have flat tops except for the positive and negative terminals. With this voltage we will continue in this blog. These are two huge bonus points when it come to van life. Thanks for your support! Of course you want your auxiliary battery to last as long as possible! If money were no object I would choose a, The power of a battery is measured in ampere-hours (Ah), 1 amp for 1 hour. Lithium ion batteries or Li-ion batteries are used to power phones, laptops, e bikes and hybrid and electric cars. Which auxiliary battery is right for you depends on a number of factors: You can use the calculator for the first two points, and calculate the battery capacity (Ah) you need! Lastly in Column D, enter the estimated hours used per day that you intend to use each device. Motorhomes and campervans cost a lot of money and if youre a first-time buyer, making the right decision can be tough. For more information, read our DC-DC charger installation post. This allows mounting in any position, they require no maintenance and are far more efficient than lead acid batteries. Decide the quantity of each device in your camper. But generators can be useful in emergency situations. A 100 watts of solar panels can generate on average 400 watt-hours of energy per day (in a good day) so you need more than 100 watts of solar for a good size compressor fridge. How To Install A Power Inverter In A Camper Van (With Diagrams), Campervan Wiring: Best Wire Sizes For A Camper Van Conversion, How To Install A DC-DC Charger In A Camper Van. You can find the wattage information on the products packaging box, manual, or even on the products Amazon page. Size and weight what is the size of the existing battery tray or space. Do you want access to our free resource library packed with road trip & motorhome checklists? Victron Energy MultiPlus 2000VA 12-Volt 120V AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter 80 amp Battery Charger, 50 Best Camper Van Sinks Which Are The Best For Van Life? Whether you holiday off-grid or often hook up to a caravan sites power supply, the leisure battery in your vehicle will store the energy needed to power your motorhomes 12v appliances. Capacity if youve been struggling to manage a night without EHU, now is the time to get more amp hours. Calculating what leisure battery size you need for your camper van conversion is a critical step to building the electrics system. Renogy 100AH Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate. Then you should probably look for AGM leisure battery as they offer the best price to power ratio and ease of use. There are a number of different batteries suitable as an auxiliary battery. Because we work remotely, we value power reliability and cannot afford for our batteries to run out of charge. Light leisure battery usage is almost always defined as occasional weekend caravan, boating and motorhome holidays, usually where fixed power points are available. As a result, you quickly charge the battery to 100% and it has a high discharge current. The glass mat absorbs electrolyte, stopping it from moving and spilling, and acts as a damper between the lead plates. WebLeisure Batteries for Boats, Yachts, Caravans and Mobile Homes. If you want to power speakers, gadgets, fridges, laptops and even your washing machine and e bike, its possible with the right leisure battery set-up, just follow our buying guide. The 'leisure' battery is wired in separately, powering all of the comfort systems in the 'van when it is parked up. Gel batteries have all the benefits of an AGM battery and typically have a longer lifespan. If you scroll down on the battery calculator file, youll reach our battery recommendations. You will need to use a solar charge controller or regulator to regulate the incoming solar charge. This post may contain affiliate links, from which we earn an income. You will see that most of the cells are shaded in green and yellow. Your email address will not be published. Deep cycle batteries are typically rated for a 20 hour discharge.