Caravan Batteries

Caravan leisure batteries are essential assets if you own a caravan or plan to purchase a motorhome to make the most of the holidays!

Snappy Start has compiled this guide to explain how to charge leisure batteries for caravans, what size of caravan leisure battery you need, and all the basic features and components.

What is a Caravan Leisure Battery?

Leisure batteries for caravans power your equipment and appliances, including all the 12V devices inside your caravan or motorhome.

For example, you'll need a leisure battery caravan installation to run your lights, watch TV, or use cooking equipment.

Caravan leisure battery models are designed to produce steady, prolonged power over time rather than a quick, heavy burst of energy like a car battery.

What are the different types of leisure batteries for a caravan?

Buying a caravan leisure battery for the first time can be confusing, as multiple products are on the market.

One of the quick ways to differentiate between lead-acid batteries is to look at how each caravan leisure battery works - and understand the different terminology!

As a quick cheat sheet:

• Standard starter batteries can also be sold as calcium or cranking batteries.
• Standard leisure caravan batteries are called deep-cycling or auxiliary batteries.
• Traction or semi-traction batteries are the same as deep-cycling batteries.

What Are Alternative Caravan Leisure Batteries?

Some alternative leisure batteries for caravans are made with a different construction.

Gel caravan leisure batteries are more likely to be found in a caravan you have imported - they're also used in jet skis and quad bikes because the gel is less of a hazard in the event of a crash than leaking acid.

Don't worry if you're new to camper life - it's all quite straightforward! Our range of leisure batteries is a great place to start if you are having trouble with your batteries.

You'll need a battery charger to power up your caravan leisure battery, and you will find one already fitted within your vehicle.

However, the onboard charger is there to help keep all your equipment running, and it isn't enough to keep your leisure battery for caravan appliances fully charged.

Choosing A Battery Charger For Leisure Applications

The best way to choose a charger for your caravan leisure battery is to look at the battery capacity and pick a charger that meets at least 10% of the output.

A quick example would be choosing a nine-amp charger for a 90 Ah caravan leisure battery.

The Recommended Time to Charge Leisure Batteries for Caravan Vehicles

Ideally, you want your caravan leisure battery to stay reasonably charged and power it up removed from the vehicle.

The general rule of thumb is that you should aim to have used around 50% of the max discharge power before recharging a leisure battery for a caravan - recharging too often could impact the unit's longevity.

How Does a Voltmeter Reading Show Me When to Recharge My Caravan Leisure Battery?

The Voltmeter reading is helpful because you can see how much power you've used in your caravan leisure batteries and keep an eye on the level to know when you recharge.

• If the Voltmeter shows a reading of 12.7 V or more, the battery is at 100%.
• That reduces to 75% for a 12.5 V reading, 50% at 12.4 V, and 25% at 12.2 V.

Voltmeter readings of 12 V or less mean the caravan leisure battery has been discharged.

Caravan Batteries: Are They Suitable for Motorhomes (Motor Movers)?

Absolutely. If you see a caravan leisure battery advertised, it's the same lead acid battery model you'd use in your motorhome or motor mover. Motorhomes are in fact within the same vehicle group as leisure caravans, so it's essentially the same battery used for a motor mover that you'd find in a caravan.

How Long Should Leisure Batteries for Caravans Take to Charge?

Charging times for caravan leisure batteries are relatively long because a slower charge is important for a battery built to deliver a low currency level over a prolonged period.

Short, faster charges aren't ideal for a caravan leisure battery.

The exact recharging time will depend on how much power remains and what type of battery you have, but it can take a day or two.

How Do I Maintain a Leisure Caravan Battery?

Keeping your leisure battery at an optimal charge and addressing dust or grime build-up will help keep your leisure battery caravan in good working order.

How Long Should a Leisure Battery for a Caravan Last?

Leisure battery caravan models tend to run down over time and often last around five years - our deep cycle battery range all comes with a four-year warranty.

There are a few things you can do to prolong the lifecycle of caravan leisure batteries:

• Greasing the terminals (lightly!).
• Using quality clamps free from rust.
• Making sure the attachments are correctly fitted.
• Avoiding the battery running completely flat.

Another tip, if you don't plan to use your caravan, is to buy a trickle charger that stops it from losing all charge.

What Size of Leisure Caravan Starter Batteries Do I Need?

There are three categories of leisure batteries. The right size depends on your requirements, such as how often you use an electrical hook-up or rely on the battery as your sole power source and how many appliances you use inside your caravan.

The three caravan leisure battery categories are:

• Cat A - higher storage leisure batteries for frequent and independent use.
• Cat B - for use within caravans, you'll normally stay at a site with an electrical hook-up but need a higher battery capacity to run heavier-demand appliances.
• Cat C - general-use, which are also lead acid battery types for basic appliances or short periods without an electrical hook-up.

Can I Use a Car Battery Instead of Buying a Caravan Leisure Battery 110 Ah?

Theoretically, you could use a car battery instead of a leisure one, but only for a very short time.

Car batteries run at full capacity and deliver short, fast bursts of power. Their recharge cycles make them a perfect fit for any vehicle – they get recharged automatically, ensuring a great lifespan.

Caravan vehicles need a steady, slower power supply – a deep-cycle battery is the perfect solution.

Why is it Worth Buying a Deep Cycle Battery for Caravan Trips??

Snappy Start caravan leisure batteries are built specifically for caravans and motorhomes and provide reliable power during repeated cycles. We are among the leading brands for banner batteries and AGM batteries for caravans.

If you pick a high-performance leisure battery, it will last for years and keep your lights and appliances running wherever your trips take you. We guarantee great prices on batteries for caravans and vehicles for other leisure applications with low maintenance and long lifespans.

Frequently Asked Questions