Have I got enough battery storage?

[Scubagas]

Hi all
I know that there are lots of threads like this but I cannot find one close enough to my needs.
We have just changed our van from a Bailey Autograph to a Sunlight. The Bailey had 2 x 100ah lead acid batteries with a single 100w solar panel (pictures 1 to 3). We managed quite well when without EHU.
The new van has a single 95ah AGM battery, but 2 solar panels.(pictures 4 to 6) We just had a trial weekend locally and all was well, but it was very sunny.
We don't use an inverter and we run the fridge on gas so the 12v is for lights, TV, water pump etc.
My concern is that we don't have enough storage when it is dull. In cold weather (early & late season) we tend to use EHU.
My thoughts are
1. add another battery, in which case, does it need to be identical.
2. go to a single lithium battery
3. buy a Jackery type power pack & attach it to the electric hook up inlet to charge the 12v system if we get stuck. (would that work by fooling the van into thinking we had EHU?)

Any thoughts appreciated?

 

[Landy Andy]

I’d fit a second battery

 

[Ditcha]

Hi all
I know that there are lots of threads like this but I cannot find one close enough to my needs.
We have just changed our van from a Bailey Autograph to a Sunlight. The Bailey had 2 x 100ah lead acid batteries with a single 100w solar panel (pictures 1 to 3). We managed quite well when without EHU.
The new van has a single 95ah AGM battery, but 2 solar panels.(pictures 4 to 6) We just had a trial weekend locally and all was well, but it was very sunny.
We don't use an inverter and we run the fridge on gas so the 12v is for lights, TV, water pump etc.
My concern is that we don't have enough storage when it is dull. In cold weather (early & late season) we tend to use EHU.
My thoughts are
1. add another battery, in which case, does it need to be identical.
2. go to a single lithium battery
3. buy a Jackery type power pack & attach it to the electric hook up inlet to charge the 12v system if we get stuck. (would that work by fooling the van into thinking we had EHU?)

Any thoughts appreciated?



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Two very cheap batteries here in classifieds will make a good bank and the same make etc

2 x Varta LA95 12V 95Ah Leisure Batteries for sale.
Professional Dual Purpose AGM as fitted to Hymer Group vehicles.
Just one year old. Sale due to Lithium upgrade

Reduced £50 each.

Grab a bargain

Length - 353 mm
Width - 175 mm
Height incl... https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/classifieds/two-agm-batteries.7921/

 

[suavecarve]

And therein lies the conundrum.
Couple of days of rain and watching tv and you'll be wishing you bought a 2nd battery.

Number 2 battery may also negate EHU in early and late season

 

[Landy Andy]

Is the new to you van, a NEW van, so will have a NEW battery?

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[Jimbohorlicks]

Just going to add there ard 2 x 95ah varta batteries in the classified .1 Yr old.
But see its been added already. But they are a bargain and would suit your set up 3 batts linked in parallel will give you all you need and you don't need to change anything else yet. ( maybe an mppt controller later when you see how well its all running)

 

[dunnah01]

Your AGM will give you near enough the same as your 2xLead Acids so the extra solar will improve things for you. You're better off than you were so worry about something else

 

[autorouter]

does it need to be identical.

It needs to be the same type of battery (AGM, Gel, SLA etc), preferably the same make and model, but the ages don't have to be identical. Often the reason for thinking about adding a second battery is that the existing battery is getting old and doesn't hold as much charge as it used to. In which case adding a brand new battery of the same make and model will only result in the old battery causing problems for the new battery. But if the existing battery is fairly new then it won't be a problem. Especially if you are buying a battery that's not brand new anyway.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Deleted

 

[PlacidoD]

Ah but what about space for stowing the 2nd leisure battery? That would be my problem!

Chris

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[Scubagas]

Is the new to you van, a NEW van, so will have a NEW battery?

The van is 6 years old. I cannot see the date on the battery as I need to take the drivers seat out to do that, so it may be Original?

 

[suavecarve]

Ah but what about space for stowing the 2nd leisure battery? That would be my problem!

Chris

That's why there's a competition to buy a dirt cheap lithium battery on here.

It's on here somewhere

 

[Roger S]

I have a varta 95amp gel battery 11 months old if your in the Kent area, £40 due to lithium upgrade

 

[pappajohn]

It needs to be the same type of battery (AGM, Gel, SLA etc), preferably the same make and model, but the ages don't have to be identical

Same chemistry yes, same make and model isn't necessary.
BOTH should be a very similar age.
Batteries lose capacity over time so a 3 year old will have less capacity than a 1 year old....a 95ah may be down to 75ah capacity after 3 or 4 years.
AH doesn't matter either.....when one is full the other will take all the charge until full.
Your charger and solar panel only see them as one larger battery

 

[pappajohn]

If

The van is 6 years old. I cannot see the date on the battery as I need to take the drivers seat out to do that, so it may be Original?

If It is 6 years old it's running out of time.
Replace both

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[Landy Andy]

The van is 6 years old. I cannot see the date on the battery as I need to take the drivers seat out to do that, so it may be Original?

If it’s 6 years old, or you don’t know. I’d be buying 2 new batteries and fitting them.

 

[Scubagas]

I have a varta 95amp gel battery 11 months old if your in the Kent area, £40 due to lithium upgrade

I'm in herne bay

 

[bigtwin]

AH doesn't matter either.....when one is full the other will take all the charge until full.

It doesn’t work like that; they charge at a rate that is in proportion to their capacity. Both will reach full capacity at the same time.

It is the same with discharging; they will each supply current in proportion to their capacity so will both become ‘discharged’ at the same time.

Ian

 

[TrudeandDall]

The van is 6 years old. I cannot see the date on the battery as I need to take the drivers seat out to do that, so it may be Original?

PVCs can be a nightmare for battery storage, especially German conversions with the battery under the drivers or passenger seat. You may have a problem getting 2 batteries into the space below the drivers seat, especially if there is any other electrical equipment in that space. My Hobby Vantana had a single 95ah battery plus all of the chargers and 12v distribution stuff under the drivers seat. When I doubled up the battery I had to fit the second one under the passenger seat with all the extra cables needed to connect them. Since then I have gone for one 280 ah LifePO4 which is shortly to be installed under the passenger seat. With hindsight I should have done that in the first place.

 

[Scubagas]

So would I be better off just going for a 105ah Eco tree lithium. Same physical size and great customer feedback. Would it go straight in without additional equipment?

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[Cush]

If money is no object, you could upgrade all your charging sources to lithium profile if you want to get optimum from a LiFePO4. Such a battery will still work with older charging systems (you won’t get the most out of it) that you can upgrade as and when you have the money, unless you have a smart alternator. That would definitely need a b2b charger.

A powerbank of decent size is not economically “sensible” unless you have other uses for it away from the van or are getting rid of the van soon. I have one and if I’d been spending that sort of money myself I would have bought a b2b and lithium. There may be combined b2b and mppt solar chargers out there.

If it were me, I’d add 2 new batteries of the same chemistry you have been using as it has been all you required in the past.

 

[Scubagas]

I'm in herne bay

Where in Kent are you?

 

[Dolmen]

I like staying on sites, however, I invariably find myself staying off grid, and the soc of the leisure battery was always in the back of my mind, so when I changed vans, I opted get the 230ah lithium under the drivers seat with a B2B, I have no solar, however, unusual to stop in one location for more than 2 nights so battery always being recharged by B2B. Although an overkill, given the battery is always being recharged (when I drive), the fact that I never give the leisure battery a second thought anymore, including never touching the settings and rarely looking at the app, has been worth every penny, so I would bite the bullet and add a single lithium battery

 

[Roger S]

I'm in herne bay

We're near Tenterden, happy to meet up somewhere if you would like

We are away until 4th July though.