Motorhome leisure battery: how to choose the right one

A motorhome carries two batteries with very different jobs: the starter battery, which starts the engine, and the leisure (or auxiliary) battery, which powers the living area: lights, water pump, fridge, heating and chargers.

Why a car battery won't do

Starter batteries are designed to deliver a lot of current for a few seconds. If they are deeply discharged again and again, as happens in the living area, they lose capacity within a few months. The leisure battery has to be a deep-cycle battery.

How much capacity you need

Add up your daily consumption in amp-hours. For example: LED lights 10 Ah, water pump 5 Ah, heating 20 Ah and phones and laptop 15 Ah = 50 Ah/day. If you want two days without hook-up or solar panel and you use AGM (maximum 50 % discharge), you need about 200 Ah; with lithium, about 120 Ah.

AGM, GEL or lithium

• AGM: the best balance of price and performance. Maintenance-free and accepts fast charging from the alternator.
• GEL: more cycles in deep discharges; slightly slower charging.
• LiFePO4 lithium: half the weight, discharges of up to 90 % and thousands of cycles. Requires a compatible charger, booster and solar controller.

Before you buy, check

• The available space and the position of the terminals.
• The charging profile of the motorhome charger (AGM, GEL or lithium).
• If you have a solar panel, that the controller supports the new technology.

See all the options in caravan and motorhome batteries and auxiliary batteries.

Any questions? Call us on +34 627 45 96 87 and we'll give you the exact reference. All our prices include VAT and delivery to mainland Spain.