Just looking at what I would need to buy as accessories for a new van, and wondered whether a leisure battery was actually neccessary. We don't anticpate using sites without EHU, so the real question is whether the 12V electrics within the van will operate off a transformer (I assume there must be one for the charging circuit of the battery) or whether power needs to come from a battery.
Don't need one, but you might be glad of a small battery when some muppet overloads the electrics late one night and the warden won't come out until next morning to reset the system. They are not all that expensive.
I am sure that if you always use site with electrics you would be OK most of the time but the real problem occurs if the power fails. Also it could be inconvenient where you store the caravan not having any means to power up lights. If you were thinking of fitting a mover to the van you would most certainly need a leisure battery.
As leegilbert says you need a battery for the 12v items (eg water pump and some lights) unless your caravan is one that is mains electric only and I doubt that.
Hi Paul.
I assume that you have fridge fitted, in which you will need a battery so that you can keep it cold when travelling to and from home/sites.
Cheers Big Trev.
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I managed the last two years without one! We only went to sites with EHU, and on the rare occasions when the electrics were out used the gas fire and torches. I've been lucky in as much as the electrics have never been off for long and I've never needed more water than I already had in the kettle. I've no motor mover so no battery needed for that.
I pre-cool the fridge for 24 hours (on ehu at home) before a long journey, and then add a couple of ice packs next to any cold meat or other perishable chilled food I want to take.
I supose things would be simpler with a leisure battery, but there wasn't one with the Adria when I first bought it and I didn't get round to getting one, then found I didn't really need one.
This is getting to be a bit like "if I am on a seasonal pitch, do I need wheels on my van?"
If your van was designed and built with a leisure battery, then you would be advised to have one.
It sounds crazy to me to pay thousands of pounds for a caravan and then start to skimp over whether to pay out 50 or 60 pounds for a leisure battery
We have gone the oposite way and have only 3 items on board that require EHU.
A water heater. A mini oven. The battery charger.
EHU, when it is available and we feel that we could use it, is paid for but only as an extra luxury. However, medical reasons may force us to change that opinion shortly and EHU may become a necessity. However that is by the by on this topic.
We feel that because we look after our 12v system, it is more dependable than the site's 230v system.
you can get by without one by using torches etc if the mains fails but for the costs involved I wouldnt, plus if you are on a rally you will need one for the 12v. it is only £50 after all
According to Practical Caravan: Today, all caravans use 12 volts direct current – DC. Additionally, over the past 20 years or so, 230 volts alternating current – AC – electricity has become standard. The 12V supply comes from the leisure battery and is used to power such items as the lights, water pump, 12V sockets, TV aerial booster and caravan mover if fitted. Theoretically, you can power the 12V equipment using the mains, which is then distributed via the battery charger, but it’s possible that some items may become damaged if powered in this way. The mains is used to power the battery charger, mains lights, fridge, gas/electric water heater, the heating elements in blown-air heating systems and any mains appliances. However, parks and sites often limit the amperage, so it is likely that you will only be able to use a certain number of mains appliances at any one time.
It's also possible that the battery charger leads will be "live", and if they touch (because they are not connected to a battery) they could spark or even cause a fire.
I'd say that, as a battery is intended to be part of the electrical system of the vast majority of caravans, one should be included whenever hooked up to the mains, as it helps regulate the current going to systems.
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Also, if you want to "break up" a journey, with an overnight stop such as on the motorway services, you will need one if only for the lights, rather than messing about with torches.
As has been said, we have needed ours on more than one occasion when the EHU has gone off and the battery kicked in. Well worth the £50 or so in my view.
I suppose you could try the caravan on the EHU without a battery to see if it works. Continental built caravans often come without batteries. They have a transformer to allow the 12v stuff to work. The caravan 12v stuff will work while plugged into the car so the fridge will work while driving & you can use interior lights & tap if you stop, but obviously you need to make sure you dont flatten your car battery.
When people buy a German caravan they often want to fit a leisure battery & I know there is a bit more to it than just wiring.
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Topic: Do I need a leisure battery?
