As with any battery, the elements of a leisure battery degrade over time and the performance will decrease. We recommend you replace your battery after five years, even if the battery is holding up well. Can I use a car battery? Conventional lead-acid starter and leisure batteries have inspection caps so that the level of acid can be inspected in each of the cells. This also enables the cells to be topped-up using de-ionised water (also sold for steam irons) so that the electrolyte just covers the top of the lead plates. Introducing the Exide 017 Car Battery 12V 95Ah - your reliable power solution for your vehicle's electrical needs. Designed with advanced technology and unmatched performance, this battery is a perfect fit for a wide range of car models. Needless-to-say, if a battery box is mounted inside, heat in the living area will help to improve its performance. However, many batteries are mounted externally where ambient temperatures can be much lower.

An AGM battery has lead plates in each cell and the manufacturer uses a machine to add highly compressed glass fibre into each compartment. The fibre then absorbs the acid electrolyte. During manufacture, air is also drawn from the casing and a pressure relief valve is fitted. These processes render the finished product more costly than a conventional ‘wet lead-acid’ leisure battery but AGM products can generally achieve many more recharging cycles – thereby achieving a longer working life. Lead Acid - Lead Acid is the most common type. They require maintenance and need venting. They take damage if left to run flat. Valve Regulated Lead Acid batteries operate in the same way but do not require venting. From this information decide what size battery will likely be needed depending on how long you are away from a charging source. It is likely that this is not enough to meet your needs and will have to consider a top up charge. This will be covered in more depth in the Battery Charging guide.For example : If a light bulb used only 1 ampere in an hour then a 50Ah battery could light up 50 light bulbs for an hour. Alternatively it could power 1 light bulb for 50 hours* Most caravan control panels have a light display or battery condition meter, some of which don’t provide a precise indication of its charge level. More accurate information is obtained by taking a reading across a battery’s terminals using a digital meter. When using a hand-held meter, note the following points: The engine size is primary. A larger engine uses a larger starter motor and needs more battery power to turn it over first thing of a cold morning. Other factors include the number of cylinders the engine has, each of which needs converted energy to create a spark for combustion. Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO 4) batteries are another form of very deep cycle battery. They're self contained units with their own on-board charge manager. Having elminated lead they typically weigh half as much as an equivelant output lead-acid battery so the weight saving is a benefit. They can also be fully discharged and recharged and during the discharge cycle they can retain a stable voltage level and they can be rapidly recharged. Class A - Higher capacity batteries for those who frequently spend extended time away from an electrical hook-up.

Products made differently such as gel, lead-crystal, lithium and AGM batteries are mentioned later in this guide. Category A is for higher storage capacity for people who frequently use their caravans or motorhomes away from electrical hook-ups Cost is the issue, they can typically be more than five times the price of a good quality lead-acid battery. Maintenance-free batteries The compartments in the casing of lead-acid batteries are also filled with diluted sulphuric acid referred to as the electrolyte. The casing also has a gas outlet for releasing any hydrogen created during re-charging. This must not be allowed to become detached.Class B - Medium capacity for those who often use mains hook-up but also need to run more power-hungry devices like motor movers or heaters.

In Japan, battery failure is the largest complaint among new car owners. The average car is only driven 13 km (8 miles) per day and mostly in a congested city. As a result, the batteries will never get fully charged and sulfation occurs. The batteries in Japanese cars are small and only provide enough power to crank the engine and perform some rudimentary functions. North America may be shielded from these battery problems, in part because of long distance driving.The average car battery will have an Ah rating somewhere around 50Ah. The 50Ah means that it can push 12 volts out at a rate of 50 amperes in an hour. Leisure batteries power those travel essentials, like fridges, phones and televisions. Used in boats, caravans and motorhomes, leisure batteries are built to consistently deliver 12v power - perfect for your home appliances outside of your home.

Your leisure battery needs to be maintained in good condition to give consistent performance. In fact, running a leisure battery down until it’s empty could cause unnecessary and permanent damage. It’s safe to use up to 50% of your leisure battery’s charge, after which it’s advisable to recharge it. As mentioned earlier, AGM batteries are unusual in that they can act as starter batteries as well as leisure products. For instance, some recent cars are fitted with a supporting AGM second battery to run the many electronic aids now being installed. Similarly, their notable performance is recognised by caravanners wanting a task-specific support battery to specifically run a motor mover. Apply a thin film of grease or petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, to a battery’s terminals (see right).

What isn't covered by the guarantee? 

Scottish Highlands - AB36-38, AB55-56, FK17-21, IV1-39, IV52-54, IV63, KW1-14, PA21-40, PH19-26, PH30-41, PH49-50