Additional Leisure Battery

[DerryW]

Hi.

We seem to be doing more off grid in UK then we previously have. As a result, we're struggling with just the one 105Ah leisure battery and are considering fitting a second battery, there is plenty of room immediately next to the existing.

The plan under consideration is: -

Purchase another matching 105Ah leisure battery, connected to the existing battery in parallel, i.e. short piece of red cable connected positive to positive and black cable negative to negative. My question is, would I also need to replace the existing solar controller (see attached images). Other than that, am I missing anything.

The current leisure battery is charged by either the 200w Renogy semi flexible solar panel stuck on the roof or the engine alternator.

Vehicle Details
2019 Adria Matrix 670 DC Supreme on a Fiat Ducato Chassis

Thanking you in anticipation.

 

[pappajohn]

Just connect as you say using the same size link wires as the battery wires.
If the battery is the original you should consider buying a pair and scrapping the original as the original will be lower on capacity and drag the new one down to the same.
BTW.....the original is 110ah not 105ah.

 

[Lenny HB]

Can just connect another battery but if your exsisting battery is more than a year old best to replace it.
Also I would get rid of those awful battery terminals and fit some decent solid bass ones. Those quick release ones are pressed steel and not up to the job.

 

[David and Sally]

Question. Are you then supposed to take the positive out of one battery and the negative out of the other?

 

[DerryW]

Just connect as you say using the same size link wires as the battery wires.
If the battery is the original you should consider buying a pair and scrapping the original as the original will be lower on capacity and drag the new one down to the same.
BTW.....the original is 110ah not 105ah.

Thanks Pappajohn.
Well spotted.

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[DerryW]

Can just connect another battery but if your exsisting battery is more than a year old best to replace it.
Also I would get rid of those awful battery terminals and fit some decent solid bass ones. Those quick release ones are pressed steel and not up to the job.

Thanks Lenny.

You may remember a few years back when I was having problems with our previous 2016 Adria leisure batteries (yes that one had a pair of batteries) you explained the proper way to test a battery and then advised me to replace both.

Thanks once again for further advice.

Derry

 

[Stealaway]

Hi.

We seem to be doing more off grid in UK then we previously have. As a result, we're struggling with just the one 105Ah leisure battery and are considering fitting a second battery, there is plenty of room immediately next to the existing.

The plan under consideration is: -

Purchase another matching 105Ah leisure battery, connected to the existing battery in parallel, i.e. short piece of red cable connected positive to positive and black cable negative to negative. My question is, would I also need to replace the existing solar controller (see attached images). Other than that, am I missing anything.

The current leisure battery is charged by either the 200w Renogy semi flexible solar panel stuck on the roof or the engine alternator.

Vehicle Details
2019 Adria Matrix 670 DC Supreme on a Fiat Ducato Chassis

Thanking you in anticipation.



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First of all I would buy two bigger batteries. You must keep an eye on the battery voltage on your control panel. Never let them drop below 12 volts. If you are not getting enough charge from the solar panel you will need to book onto a site with EHU and recharge the batteries. Another 100w solar panel would be a good investment eventually if you want to spend more time off grid .
These batteries have the same footprint but just a little taller. If you can make room these could be a good temporary option


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28342173...pid=5339023013&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1

 

[DerryW]

First of all I would buy two bigger batteries. You must keep an eye on the battery voltage on your control panel. Never let them drop below 12 volts. If you are not getting enough charge from the solar panel you will need to book onto a site with EHU and recharge the batteries. Another 100w solar panel would be a good investment eventually if you want to spend more time off grid .
These batteries have the same footprint but just a little taller. If you can make room these could be a good temporary option


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28342173...pid=5339023013&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1

Thanks Stealaway.

Yes we are finding every 3rd or at the most 4th night onto a site for EHU. the leaisure battery is normally showing 13.4v when 100% fully charged, drops down to c11.5v if no or little solar. Have you had experience of the batteries in the link provided.

Thanks Derry

 

[autorouter]

Question. Are you then supposed to take the positive out of one battery and the negative out of the other?

The batteries are linked in parallel, positive to positive, negative to negative, as the OP said. However for the best battery life long-term, it's best to connect the load cable positive to one battery, and the load cable negative to the other battery. You won't notice any difference, but it equalises the load on both batteries so that one doesn't fail well before the other.

the leaisure battery is normally showing 13.4v when 100% fully charged, drops down to c11.5v if no or little solar. Have you had experience of the batteries in the link provided.

A battery that's fully charged, that's not being charged or supplying a load, will have a 'resting voltage' of about 12.6V. If it has a voltage over 13V, for example 13.4V, then something is charging it - maybe the solar. For best long-term battery life, you should avoid letting the resting voltage drop below 12.0V. The voltage under load will drop, but should recover when the load is switched off.