Yes...Unless suitably equipped with a healthy battery bank (with additional battery(ies)), decent sized/quality solar panels, LED lights etc etc, it's probably best to approach "off-grid" use as more akin to "camping" and to not just treat it as a fully functioning "Home-from-home" ( ie- with telly on, heating running, all lights ablaze etc)
With our last proper MH, which had no additional batteries, nor solar panel (and no generator! ),during the summer(UK),we could EASILY manage off hook-up for a week plus..but being "summer", that would be with no heating, minimal lighting (and no TV)..
However, during autumn/winter stints of more than 2-3 days away, we'd pick a site/stop-over with hook-up.
Going 'on site' is much more expensive in the long run and takes away any chance of enjoying the freedom of the Aires and France Passion systems in France.
I too had to change my system in my Trigano 650, the heating being blown air and diesel, on start up it does zap the battery somewhat and as we use it all year round, I changed the single battery to 2 Elecsol 100A, now she can watch tv and we can have the heating on to her heart content, by the way they are coupled to a 80 watt solar panel, so far in 2 winters we have had no problems at all, once in Bury it was minus 7 and we were as warm as a bug in rug lol lol
I have never been on a hook up with this current MH in three years
I fitted a 120 watt solar panel charging a 110 amp battery through a 10amp regulator.
TV dvd Led lights sureflo pump outside lights all run off this system
when the leisure is fully charged the current is redirected by another gadget to the engine battery so in winter storage isnt a problem both batteries are fully charged
I usually do 4 day wild camping throughout the spring/summer/autumn but haven't seen the battery levels drop dramatically as yours. anyway in summer they are fully charged again by midday. a little later in Autumn/winter.
solar system cost me £150 self fit easy DIY if you know a bit about electricity solar is the way to go fit and forget. 2 wires to regulator from panel 2 wires from regulator to battery with a fuse.
Leisure batteries dont get memories planted in them its NICad cordless drill batteries and the like that do. demand he the dealer put it right.
Flattening leisure batteries is a no no twice and they are usually ready for dump.
I have had van chargers in the past cook batteries by overcharging not a good idea to leave them connected in winter if you have to use a motorcycle optimizer battery charger they are a lot battery friendly. £13 Aldi/Lidl when they come on offer.
Thanks for all the comments, managed a night without running the battery down but we didn't use the heating or TV. For the rest of the year will just be careful with the power consumption and look into getting a solar panel and extra battery next year. I have managed to get a download of the Schaudt LT315 control panel in English, wish we had this earlier! Perhaps it is the Electroblock which has the memory?
Hi, just had a thought come into my head since my original offering. A flat leisure battery going to be recharged MUST have a 10 minute charge of the highest speed/capacity your charger will do. It is to wake it up....as soon as the 10 minutes are up....switch down to trickle. This piece of info came from Rutland Electric Fencing at Oakham. I once worked in agriculture and this is how (sheep/cattle)electric fencing is run, on Leisure batteries. They also do solar charging of the batteries, and that is trickle by just a little sunshine. Forgot to say in original also ( I think ) that we do have an 80 watt solar panel up top. You may want to give this a try, the quick first 10 mins...as capacity of battery may not be full without.
Thanks Austins, Thatp may work, usually just connect to EHU at home for a couple of days, that will just be a trickle charge I presume. Not worth bothering with solar panels at this point in the year but will look at getting one fired next year.
Remember with all the additions recommended, solar panels, batteries, etc, this is added weight on the motorhome. Which takes away your carrying capacity. A 110amp battery weighs 21 kg, try two of them and that's 42kg, that's nearly the weight of a bag of cement. A lot of motorhomes wont be allowed to travel if stopped by the police, which I understand they are prone to do these days, especially in France.
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Topic: Leisure Battery on 1 year old motorhome
