I was befuddled by my choices of a leisure battery to install in my camper. The following might help you with your choice.
There are two broad type of technology – lead acid and lithium.
Based on what I have read if you are going to choose a lead acid battery you need to choose an AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) style. These are resistant to vibration, totally sealed, non-spillable and maintenance-free and apparently are the most popular style in Australia.
| Feature | AGM Lead Acid | Lithium |
| Weight eg. 110 AH | Very Heavy ~31 Kg (apparently minimum weight for quality) | Lighter – Better ~11Kg for Baintech Slimline Made in Australia |
| Size | Bigger | Smaller – Better |
| Effective to discharge level | 50% | 80% – Better |
| Recharge time | Slow | Faster – Better |
| Lifespan | Shorter ? 3-5 years | Longer ? 10 years – Better |
| Cost | Cheaper – Better | Expensive |
| Best Value | ? | ? |
The value equation will need to include what other changes you need to support the battery such as whether you are going to use a solar regulator and the cost of this associated equipment.
There are downsides of a lithium battery including that they are not a simple replacement for an existing lead acid battery. The existing charging system may not be compatible and lithium batteries need to have a smart management system (which might be internal). Don’t assume all sellers understand the requirements. [ Reference: RV Daily ]
My plan is to get equip a solar regulator just in case.
After balancing the options of the available control systems for Lithium Phil at Wanderlust designed a simple system for me with a 100 AH Lithium battery and charging system with an external Anderson plug port.
I ended up buying a portable solar blanket 200w just in case.
