The majority of caravans or motorhomes will have an oven, TV, kettle and multiple lights that’ll need power. Attempting to use a car battery for powering up these appliances can cause damage to the internal components due to the sudden burst of power. Therefore, you’ll need to use a leisure battery to provide a steady supply of power to the appliances.
If you require a quick answer, the best leisure battery is the SuperBatt DT120, which is a deep cycle battery that’s capable of producing 120 Ah and even comes with a two year warranty. However, if you require a more affordable and compact alternative, the Numax LV22MF is the best option that’s capable of producing 75 Ah and is also NCC verified.
To rate the leisure batteries within this article, we based our recommendations upon our experience of powering up 12V appliances inside of our caravan, plenty of research and multiple factors. Some of the factors that we took into consideration included the size, amperage, CCA, design, warranty and value for money.
Table of Contents
Leisure Battery Comparison
| Leisure Battery | Dimensions | Amperage Hour |
|---|---|---|
| SuperBatt DT120 | 330 x 172 x 242 mm | 120 Ah |
| Lucas LX31MF | 330 x 172 x 242 mm | 105 Ah |
| SuperBatt LM110 | 354 x 175 x 190 mm | 110 Ah |
| Yuasa L36-100 | 353 x 175 x 190 mm | 100 Ah |
| Numax LV22MF | 261 x 175 x 220 mm | 75 Ah |
| Platinum SD6110L | 330 x 172 x 242 mm | 110 Ah |
Leisure batteries don’t last forever and they’ll require a replacement at some point. Although you can attempt to use a battery charger to regain lost power, you may be fighting a losing battle. To avoid fluctuations of power inside of your caravan or motorhome, we recommend that you purchase a new leisure battery rather than trying to repair an old one.
Although there are plenty of cheap options available, they won’t be able to reliably perform to the standards you require and when you need it most. Therefore, we always recommend investing slightly more into a high quality example.
Below is a list of the best leisure batteries that’ll power up all your 12V appliances inside of your caravan, motorhome or boat for extended periods.
The Best Leisure Battery
1. SuperBatt DT 120AH Leisure Battery
SuperBatt are a reputable brand within the leisure batteries industry and the DT120 is one of their most powerful models. It’s a dual purpose battery that can be used for starting and auxiliary use but most people use it as a leisure battery. In terms of the performance, it has a capacity of 120 Ah and is rated at 880 CCA.
Other features of the SuperBatt DT120 Battery include:
- Dual terminals
- Maintenance free
- Advanced calcium technology
- Heavy duty design
- 330 x 172 x 242 mm
- Charge indicators
- Long lasting battery power
- Includes a 2 year warranty
For caravans, motorhomes or boats with multiple appliances that are used constantly, this would be the best leisure battery to use. The 120 Ah capacity is more than ideal and it comes with a 2 year warranty for complete peace of mind.
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2. Lucas LX31MF Deep Cycle Leisure Battery
Another deep cycle leisure battery is the Lucas LX31MF and it’s the latest generation that the brand have to offer. Unlike alternatives that can only handle 100 to 150 recharge cycles, the Lucas brand claim that their leisure battery can manage over 500 recharges, which is very impressive.
Other features of the Lucas LX31MF Deep Cycle Battery include:
- 105 Ah capacity and 900 CCA
- Dual terminals
- Charging indicators
- Reinforced carrying handle
- 330 x 172 x 242 mm in size
- Includes a 3 year warranty
Overall, it’s an excellent all-round leisure battery that’s capable of powering all your 12V appliances. Although it’s more expensive than the SuperBatt alternative, it does come with a longer warranty of 3 years as an added bonus.
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3. SuperBatt LM110 110AH Leisure Battery
Another battery by SuperBatt is the LM110 model, which is by far the most popular 110AH leisure battery available. As with the DT120 model, it uses an advanced calcium technology and it’s also completely maintenance free.
Other features of the SuperBatt LM110 Battery include:
- 110 Ah and 800A
- Suitable for leisure and marine
- 354 x 175 x 190 mm in size
- Starting and auxiliary
- Designed to be long lasting
- Includes a 2 year manufacturer warranty
To conclude, the LM110 model by SuperBatt is a 110 Ah leisure battery that’s perfect for a caravan, motorhome or boat. The main reason for its popularity is the high amperage hour rating as well as its excellent value for money and it certainly won’t disappoint.
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4. Yusa L36-100 Caravan Leisure Battery
The Yusa L36-100 is a premium leisure battery that’s been optimised for repeated charging and discharging. According to the brand, it’s built to an OEM quality standard and its ready to install from the box. It even includes a desirable heavy duty carry handle to make it easier to transport to alternative locations when required.
Other features of the Yusa L36-100 Battery include:
- 100 Ah and 1,200 watts
- Up to 160 cycles
- NCC verified
- Integrated flame arrestor
- Sealed and maintenance-free
- 353 x 175 x 190 mm in size
If you require a leisure battery for your caravan, motorhome, boat or other modern leisure vehicle, the Yusa L36-100 won’t disappoint. It’s also NCC verified and includes multiple safety features for complete peace of mind.
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5. Numax LV22MF Leisure Battery
The Numax LV22MF is another NCC verified leisure battery and it has a capacity rated at 75 Ah. Although it’s not as powerful as the alternatives, it’s more than ideal for small to medium caravans, motorhomes or boats.
Other features of the Numax LV22MF include:
- 261 x 175 x 220 mm in size
- Safety sealed lead acid
- NCC class rating of C
- Maintenance free
- Weighs 21.7 KG
- Includes a 2 year warranty
As this leisure battery has been NCC verified, it’s the best option for use within a caravan. The brand also offer a range of different models that vary in performance and size to best suit your requirements too.
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6. Platinum SD6110L Leisure Plus Caravan Battery
The Platinum Leisure Plus is yet again another NCC verified battery that’s available in several forms. The Leisure Plus is the brand’s most popular series and this particular model is a dual purpose battery that’s suitable for leisure and marine auxiliary use.
Other features of the Platinum SD6110L Leisure Plus Battery include:
- 110AH capacity
- 330 x 172 x 242 mm in size
- Includes a 3 year warranty
- Class C NCC rating
- Lead acid construction
To conclude, the Platinum SD6110L is an excellent all-round leisure battery that combines performance with value for money. As it’s verified by the NCC, you have the confidence that it’s safe and reliable for use within your caravan or motorhome.
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How We Rated The Leisure Batteries
Whether we are in our own, family’s or friend’s caravan, we’ve had plenty of experience with a range of leisure batteries over the years. This includes batteries produced by the popular SuperBatt brand (as shown below) and many others.
Therefore, to rate the leisure batteries within this article, we based our recommendations on our own experience of using multiple setups, hours of research and a number of factors. Some of the factors that we took into consideration included the size, amperage, CCA, design, warranty and value for money.
Leisure Battery Buying Guide
Almost every caravan, motorhome or boat will have some sort of 12V appliance onboard. Therefore, to ensure that they have the necessary power source available, you’ll require a suitable leisure battery.
To help you make an informed buying decision, we have produced the below guide regarding leisure batteries.
Terminology Regarding Leisure Batteries
If you have only just began researching the topic of batteries, you may be slightly confused. There are many complex terminologies used but below are the main metrics that you need to understand.
- Voltage – The process that moves current around the battery. The majority of batteries are 12V, which matches most modern appliances.
- Ah (Amperage Hours) – The amount of time a battery can provide power to appliances. The larger batteries often provide additional AH.
- CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) – If you require a battery to also start an engine, you will require high CCA, which is a sudden burst of power.
- Capacity – Refers to how long a battery will last for over a specific discharge period.
- Cycle – The amount of time a battery can be part discharged and then recharged is known as the cycle. The more cycles that it can survive, the longer the battery will last.
Understanding the above terminologies will help you analyse certain performance metrics for each of the batteries listed above. However, if you are still confused, feel free to get in touch with our team for further assistance.
Construction Types
The two most commonly used leisure battery types include a lead acid and an AGM construction.
The lead acid type is the most used construction for dual-purpose and semi traction batteries. It’s a solution of water and acid that covers internal lead plates and most brands will offer the option of a sealed or semi-sealed design. The sealed design is the best option and it’s often referred to as “maintenance-free” because it requires zero topping up. However, it’s important to note that lead acid batteries need to breathe and shouldn’t be kept inside of a box.
Absorbent Glass Mat is better known as an AGM battery and it contains an acid that has been soaked into a material between the lead plates. The major benefit of this type is the fact it can be mounted in any position because it’s spill-proof. They are also available as both dual purpose and semi-traction options that offer great recharge cycles too.
Compatibility
Before you purchase the first leisure battery you find, you’ll want to ensure that it’s compatible. Checking the existing battery is the best method of finding a compatible specification but this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best option.
Once you’ve found the specification that you want, you’ll then want to check the size of the battery before going ahead and buying it. Unless you are planning to change the battery tray, you’ll want to measure the tray and compare it against the replacement leisure battery to ensure it fits within its place.
Calcium Technology
The majority of modern leisure batteries will make use of the advanced calcium technology. This clever technology is used to strengthen the lead plates used within the construction of the battery. The benefit of this is that the battery is more robust and it also doesn’t require any maintenance.
NCC Verified
The purpose of NCC (National Caravan Council) verification is to provide caravan and motorhome owners with peace of mind that the battery is safe and reliable. The verification is split into three categories (A, B and C), which provides an indication to the battery’s intended usage. If you aren’t entirely sure which battery to use for your caravan, opting for one that’s NCC verified is a great option to consider.
Using Car Batteries
In the majority of applications, using a car battery won’t be suitable for use as a leisure battery. You could have the best possible battery but it would still not be able to provide low level power for long periods of time. Leisure batteries use different separators and thicker plates, which allows it to provide power to 12V appliances for longer periods.
Conclusion
All of our recommendations above are suitable for all budgets and performance levels. However, before purchasing any of the above batteries, we highly advise that you check that they are compatible with your caravan, motorhome or boat. If you are planning to run many appliances, a leisure battery that’s 110 Ah or above is what we would recommend.
