Leisure batteries
BATTERY TECHNOLOGY is about to take off. As the Government bans petrol and diesel cars, so the humble lead-acid battery will inevitably be usurped by far smarter chemical compositions, which are going to Trickle down’ from high-end electric cars to the outdoor leisure market.
The caravan leisure battery, it has to be said, has served us extremely well: cheap, compact, reliable and long-lasting, it has illuminated our lighting and powered our (12V) TVs for many years. It’s a little bundle of highly corrosive joy!
Of course, leisure batteries are different to car batteries, as they don’t have to deliver that powerful ‘mule kick’ to turn a starter motor; instead they flow smooth, consistent power over a long period, and can be steadily recharged using a solar panel or smart charger, or by a few miles hooked up to the back of your tow car.
In this guide, we’re looking at leisure battery choice and maintenance, to help you get the best ‘bang for your buck’.
JOHN SOOTHERAN is Practical Caravan’s Consulting Editor and an experienced caravanner
What batteries do
Put simply, the leisure battery in your caravan stores 12V DC electricity, which can be used to power all sorts of devices, fittings and appliances.
Once charged up, it can provide electric current for many hours, depending on the ‘draw’ of those devices.
In addition, leisure batteries can also store electricity that is created by solar panels, and they have a third benefit, in that they
