What does a Leisure Battery do?
Leisure batteries are needed for the running of your caravan or motorhomes 12v electrics. This includes internal lights, controlling mains appliances (although most appliances work with 240v hook up, they are normally controlled by a 12v controller), 12v sockets and Motormovers!
Do I need a Leisure Battery if I am plugged into mains electric?
Although modern caravans have 12v chargers in the caravans, the secondary function of a leisure battery, aside from powering appliances, is to correct any irregularities in the power supply, keeping you and your appliances safe. Almost all UK manufactures advise that you should have a battery in connected when a charger is on. If not this can burnout the charger and have a very negative effect on your caravan.
Is there a difference between Car Batteries and a Leisure Battery?
Yes there is a very big difference between a car battery and a leisure battery as they both do very different jobs. A car battery is designed to provide a burst of energy to start the engine when required, whereas a leisure battery will release a lower level of energy over a prolonged period of time in order to power appliances. Think if you leave your lights on your car for half an hour to an hour, the battery would be dead. Not very practical for a caravan that uses so much 12v power.
What Size battery do I need?
Do use your caravan away from mains electric? Do you use a Motor-mover? are you always connected to mains electric? The size of battery you need really depends on how you use it.
Considering the increased number of electronic gadgets and improved technology used in all aspects of our lives nowadays, the National Caravan Council (NCC) has introduced a Verified Leisure Battery Scheme to give caravan and motorhome owners peace of mind when purchasing a new leisure battery.
The NCC categories batteries into 3 Classes
Category A is for batteries with a higher storage capacity for people who frequently use their touring caravan or motorhome away from an electrical hook-up:
If you are using your caravan for rallying and do not use an electric hook up, a Class-A battery is the battery for you. This is110amp and above. Although a lot of people needing this sort of battery, will get a solar panel fitted.
Category B batteries are aimed at those who frequently use sites with hook-up facilities, but require a greater battery capacity to operate devices such as motor movers:
If you use your caravan on sites but sometimes on a site without electric for a night or have a motor mover that is used, a Class-B battery will do the job for you. This is normally 90amp to 110amp.
Category C batteries are for users that require a lower capacity battery to cover basic operation of their habitation equipment for short periods away from an electrical hook-up:
So in short, if you are using your caravan on a seasonal pitch or always use mains electric and do not have a motor mover, a Class-C battery will be fine. This is normally 75amp to 86amp
How to tell if a battery is NCC approved?
You cannot simply judge a battery by its name, as all manufacturers make a range of batteries of different capacity, durability and price to suit myriad applications. Manufacturers of verified batteries are entitled and encouraged to display the NCC classification on them at the point of sale.
What batteries do we sell at Burlingham Caravans?
Burlinghams stock Numax batteries from 75amp to 105amp and can order larger sizes! All Numax Class-B batteries come with a 3 year guarantee and Numax Class-C come with 2 years!
Ask in-store if you are unsure what battery you need!