Leisure batteries have good cell separation which helps to contain the active materials inside the leisure battery and prolong battery life. The voids in each cell inside the battery are filled with sulphuric acid which acts as a conductor between the cell plates. As the cells inside the battery discharge the density of the acid decreases and the ability of the plates to produce electricity are reduced. The aforementioned condition is reversed when you recharge your leisure battery.

The lifespan of your leisure battery very much depends on what you are using it for and how often it is used. You can extend the lifespan of your leisure battery by performing basic maintenance tasks such as cleaning the terminals and ensuring the area is grease free, clean any white deposits around the battery terminals with warm water before applying petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, to the leisure battery terminals.

When cleaning a leisure battery always wear safety goggles and protective clothing as battery acid will damage your clothes and burn your skin.

You should never totally discharge a leisure battery as this seriously reduces your ability to recharge the battery back to its original state. We would always recommend that you never discharge a leisure battery beyond 80% of its total capacity. To check the state of charge of a leisure battery you may use a DC voltmeter across positive and negative terminals on the battery. If the voltmeter reads 12.7v or above then your 12v leisure battery is fully charged, if the voltmeter reads around 12.3v then your 12v leisure battery is around 50% charged and if the voltmeter reads less than 11.8v then your 12v leisure battery is very flat and you may experience problems recharging the battery to it’s original state.

When caring for your leisure battery you should always ensure that you do the following.

1)      Avoid naked flames or electric sparks when topping up (Wet Batteries only) your leisure battery.

2)      Remove the negative battery terminal connector from your leisure battery first.

3)      Ensure the leisure battery is securely fixed.

4)      Use gloves and protective clothing when cleaning or topping up(Wet batteries only) your leisure battery.

5)      Never smoke near a leisure battery when maintaining.

6)      Turn off battery charger and disconnect from electricity mains before moving your leisure battery.

7)      Always use proper clamping clips on leisure battery terminals.

8)      Ensure leisure battery venting is clear and properly positioned if pipe is supplied.

As will all other products when choosing your leisure battery we would always recommend you contact a knowledgeable battery supplier who can find you a leisure battery that is best suited to your needs as well as the correct charger or charging equipment for you. Also it always pays to ask questions about maintenance and how to keep your battery in the best possible condition to ensure you extract the maximum life possible from it.

The time they last will of course depend on the size and capacity of your caravan battery. With reference to the different sizes of caravan battery as a general rule the bigger the battery the longer it will last however you must be aware of the maximum size of the area you wish to fit your caravan battery into as some batteries may be too big for the space provided.

In terms of size batteries for caravans can be found in many shapes and sizes starting at around 12v-10ah Caravan and leisure batteries to around 12v-110ah Caravan and leisure batteries (Some Caravan Batteries may even be larger than this).

We would always recommend that a caravan or leisure battery never be fully discharged as doing so would cause sulphating of the lead plates inside the battery and would cause it to work in a far less effective manner or even not at all. Caravan batteries as well as all other forms of leisure battery will last for a period of time determined on how long and often you use them and what you use them for.

When choosing a caravan battery that is suitable for your needs it pays to do the following calculation which will also help you determine how long a particular caravan battery will last for.

If you add up the total power consumption in watts and divide it by the voltage (usually 12v) this will give you the total number of amps. If you then multiply the amps by the period of time you wish your caravan battery to work for between charges this will provide you with the ampere hour rating of the battery you will require. (We always suggest you add on 10% to avoid the damaged caused by over discharging your caravan battery).

There are a number of ways to ensure that your caravan battery lasts for longer.

1)      Switch off all appliances when not in use.

2)      Avoid using high drain appliances such as televisions with your caravan battery.

3)      Keep your caravan battery fully charged at all times when not in use to prevent it from becoming sulphated.

4)      Ensure you purchase a suitable battery charger for your caravan battery as the use of faulty/incorrect battery chargers is one of the most common causes of battery failure.

With regards to charging your caravan battery there are a number of suitable battery chargers on the market that will trickle charge your battery from solar powered or wind powered chargers to generator powered chargers and those powered by your car battery which can be used when your car is being driven.

During the winter period when your caravan battery is not in use we would recommend that you remove it from your caravan and keep it fully charged over the winter to ensure it does not become sulphated and useless when you come to use it again.

When removing your caravan battery, always ensure you remove the negative (Black) lead first and then the positive lead. When reconnecting your caravan battery you must connect the positive terminal first and then the negative terminal.

Always switch everything off before disconnecting and reconnecting.