Another leisure battery thread!

[MrSoapsud]

Hi,
I've tried to apply what I've seen in the other threads to my situation but failed miserably.
We have a 2013 Hillside Birchover VW T5 conversion. We had the leisure battery replaced whilst on holiday in France in 2014 due to an issue with the electrics. As France was closed at the time (end of the summer holiday) and the Birchover has the leisure battery next to the starter battery, the only one he could find that would fit was a Yellow Top Optima AGM battery which wasn't cheap and apparently only 55Ah according to the label. I'm fairly certain it's now goosed (not surprising given what I've read) so need to decide what to replace it with. The van has a charger for when hooked up to the mains and a split charge system for when driving but I don't know any technical details. In particular I've seen mention of Battery management and don't know if I have any! It also has a Waeco compressor fridge.
The replacement that Hillside recommend is a Banner 95551 but I wonder whether I can/should go for anything better. Because of the location it can't be bigger so around 256Lx174Wx205H. The Victron Energy 100AH Super Cycle AGM Battery looks interesting and is compact but almost 3x the price.
An added complication is that I'm considering upgrading the battery side of my home solar installation which might leave me with a Victron Multiplus Compact 12/1200/50 inverter/charger the like of which I've seen suggested for conversions, and I've also wondered about putting a solar panel on the pop-up roof. The van's all fitted out inside so any major changes to the wiring might be difficult to achieve.
When we're out we mainly wild-camp rather than going on sites so won't generally have hook-up, but we do tend to move about. However, we've not actually used the van much since the France trip for various reasons.
Just wondering what the combined expertise here might recommend as a way forward. Can't help thinking of the old saying that "If I wanted to go there I wouldn't start from here!"
Thanks in advance
Martin

 

[Steveandjulie]

I'd go for a lithium battery if one will fit in your space their more expensive but last so much longer

 

[nabsim]

Wildebus is well versed in both VW’s and van electrics, he will probably spot this and comment but if not send him a message

 

[Rob H]

Take peak under your drivers and passenger front seats, is there some reason you can't go the standard VW camper route and fit two 80ah Bosch or Varta AGM's under there, that's my set up with 2 x 100w semi flexible solar panels up top and a Victron MPPT controller, plus a Victron inteligent battery combiner, to allow solar charge of the habitation batteries plus vehicle starter battery, it has run ten years trouble free to date.

 

[MrSoapsud]

Hi Rob and anyone else thinking this...

Take peak under your drivers and passenger front seats, is there some reason you can't go the standard VW camper route and fit two 80ah Bosch or Varta AGM's under there, that's my set up with 2 x 100w semi flexible solar panels up top and a Victron MPPT controller, plus a Victron inteligent battery combiner, to allow solar charge of the habitation batteries plus vehicle starter battery, it has run ten years trouble free to date.

If we can get it fixed, my wife's subwoofer lives under the passenger seat. The pipes from the Eberspacher heater come up under the drivers seat and make it tricky to fit a battery under there, plus I'd need wiring from where the split charger is under the bonnet.
Flexible solar panels on the pop-top might be a better solution but we often park in the shade and I can't face doing that much work myself (I'd be scared of the panels blowing off on the motorway!) and can't face finding someone else to do it. Plus there's the work of fitting the wiring inside. Nice idea if you're starting on a conversion and haven't already got everything fitted and carpeted.
Thanks
Martin

 

[MrSoapsud]

Just to close this thread off I thought I'd post an update of what I am going with.
After a long discussion with a certain Mr Wildebus and with the aim of improving things without requiring major work I've bought
1. 90AH Leoch AGM Lead Carbon Deep Cycle Battery to replace the Leisure battery. Dimensions look ok for fitting it under the bonnet where the old one was. (Just to be clear, Hillside didn't fit the 55Ah Yellow top battery - a short-tempered Frenchman fitted it as he thought the Hillside one was dead and it was the only replacement he could find when France was closed that would fit!)
2. A Victron Smartshunt to give me a better idea what the leisure (and starter) battery are up to.
3. A 100W portable Solar panel that I can site outside (we try to park in shade if we can) or in the windscreen if we're not about (reduced power obviously but better than nothing).
Once I've fitted them and had them working a while I'll try to remember to drop back in here and report on progress.
Thanks to those who've taken the time to comment.
Martin

 

[MrSoapsud]

One extra bit to add here. I've realised Hillside fitted the leisure battery under the bonnet alongside the starter battery because they changed the starter battery for a smaller one. I've never had any problems starting ours apart from when there were wiring problems and when recently the starter battery was too old and running out of steam. So I've replaced the starter battery as well as part of this upheaval.
With a bit of effort and some persuasion though I can confirm that I fitted a "12V Type 027 Nordstar Heavy Duty Calcium Car Battery" and the 90Ah Leoch Lead Carbon battery side by side in the battery try under the bonnet.
Thanks to @wildebus for his advide, guidance and patience!
Martin