Does your campervan or motorhome have a leisure battery? This is an essential introduction to maximising the lifespan and performance of your leisure battery, along with the factors that can affect the battery life.
One thing to bear in mind: If your leisure battery depletes while you’re on the road, your campervan or motorhome may struggle to start. That’s where we can help. We can help you ensure you’re fully covered for campervan or motorhome breakdowns, along with many other possible setbacks. For more information, call us on 0208 290 9099, or email Commercial.Motor@AnthonyJones.com.
What is a Leisure Battery?
A campervan or motorhome may use a dedicated battery to power all of your vehicle’s electrical equipment. This might include the interior lights, a TV, a shower, running water, a fridge, and cooking equipment. This dedicated battery is known as a “leisure battery”.
How is a Leisure Battery Different from a Standard Car Battery?
A leisure battery differs from a standard car or vehicle battery in one major way: A vehicle’s battery is designed to provide a burst of power to start the engine, and to keep all of the vehicle’s key systems running while on the road. A leisure battery, on the other hand, is designed to provide constant, regular power levels over sustained periods. Crucially, they can also work when the engine is switched off.
The Different Types of Leisure Batteries
- Open lead acid – Open lead acid leisure batteries might not cost as much as other types of leisure batteries, but they can require a lot more maintenance. You can top them up yourself with electrolytes or distilled water, to maintain their performance and efficiency.
- Sealed lead acid – As the name suggests, these are sealed, meaning you cannot remove the battery’s caps to top them up yourself. They can be just as affordable as open lead acid batteries, but there’s a lot less maintenance required.
- Absorbed Glass Matt (AGM) – They cost a bit more than lead acid batteries, and they may not last as long either. But a major benefit of AGM leisure batteries is that, as their electrolyte is contained in a non-liquid state, there’s no chance of any leaks or spillages that could damage your vehicle or equipment.
- Gel – These tend to cost more than other kinds of leisure batteries. But because the electrolyte is in gel form, this type of leisure battery requires no maintenance and there is zero risk of leaks or spillages.
- Lithium batteries – All of the above types of leisure batteries are lead-based. But you can also choose a lithium battery for your campervan or motorhome. They are lightweight and have a high energy capacity. However, they tend to cost more than most other types of leisure batteries. Plus, lithium batteries can carry a strong risk of fire.
How Long Does a Leisure Battery Last?
How long your leisure battery lasts will depend on a number of factors, including the type of battery, and the way you use your vehicle, and its equipment.
Most lead acid batteries self-discharge over time. This means that they will gradually lose charge even when you are not using them. Other kinds of leisure batteries, though, including AGM and lithium batteries, have much lower self-discharge rates, which can mean a significantly longer lifespan for the battery.
In most cases, a leisure battery can last for around five years before it needs replacing – maybe more, maybe less, depending on certain circumstances.
Calculate How Many Hours of Use Your Leisure Battery Will Give You
In terms of the hours of power a leisure battery can provide on a full charge, once again you need to consider exactly how you are using your battery. Compare your battery’s amp hours (Ah) to the currents used by the various devices you wish to use in your campervan or motorhome. Divide your battery’s capacity with the total amps drawn to get an idea of your potential hours of usage.
If your campervan has a fridge that’s constantly running, and if you occasionally watch TV or cook food while on the road, then a fully charged 100Ah battery should provide up to four days of use before it requires charging again. Though obviously, the more power-intensive devices you use, and the longer you use them, the faster your battery will drain.
How To Make Your Leisure Battery Last Longer
- Take care with temperatures. Never let your leisure battery get too hot, or too cold. This means that, if you are not using your campervan or motorhome through the winter, you should disconnect its leisure battery and store it somewhere dry, preferably indoors.
- Never overcharge your leisure battery, and never let its charge get too low. Consider attaching solar panels to your campervan, which may be able to provide a quick charge while you’re on the road.
- Keep your battery in good condition. Make sure the terminals are dry and rust-free, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely when attaching, detaching, and storing your battery.
- Never use more power in your campervan or motorhome than your battery can handle. If you know you’ll be using a lot of power during your trips – with showers, cookers, fridges, laptops, lights, and so on – then make sure you fit a battery that can manage the load.
Make Sure You’re Covered For Leisure Battery Issues
Some campervan and motorhome owners have found that their vehicles have struggled to start as a result of issues with their leisure batteries. Often, these issues can be fixed through simply charging the battery. But it’s important to ensure you’re covered for the assistance you may need should you find yourself broken down and stranded miles from home.
We can help you ensure you’re fully covered for campervan or motorhome breakdowns, along with many other possible issues. For more information, call us on 0208 290 9099, or email Commercial.Motor@AnthonyJones.com.
