Is Bigger Better? Battery Size That Is

Hi All,
I am looking to replace the leisure battery in my 2008 Nuevo, and my question is am I able just to put the largest size in that I can. It currently has 70 Amp battery, based on size I can easily fit a 140 Amp in. So can I simply put the larger size in, will the wiring, charger support this. I also have the MES control panel so will this support the larger size. I currently have a 90w solar panel also with a Morningstar solar controller, but will also upgrade this to a Votronic duo MPPT controller. 
Thanks in advance.
Jerry

I have a 150AH in my 2008 Nuevo (the biggest I could get which would phyically fit) everything else standard (no solar)with no problems, lots of people (not necessarily in a Nuevo) have huge battery backs with three or four batteries totalling 400Ah or more - dont see the point myself but each to his own

Hi Raymondo,
Thanks for replying. Did you have to alter anything in the battery compartment, ie did it fit the tray. Mine is under the offside sofa. If so how did you secure. Did you have to recalibrate the MES control panel, or is that the later control panels. Also which battery did you go for.
Many thanks,
Jerry

mine is fitted in a box under the drivers side sofa  - same as yours, the only thing I had to change was the securing strap which goes over the battery  which is like a very wide "U" shape steel strap the legs of the U were quite long enough to go over my particular battery (they may fit over yours  - it depends on the size of your chosen battery) nothing else had to be changed - the control panel (mine isnt a MES) didnt need any atention.

the battery (GC 1275) fitted neatly inside the standard battery tray - one alteration which Iwas required was a pair of screw on 'automotive posts' as the battery was fitted with 10mm bolt terminals

edit to add

GC2 1275 :
Specifications –
Volt : 12 Volts
Ah : 150 amps
Length mm : 331
Width : 183
Height : 281
Weight : 38kg

£155 +vat

If you go off grid camping  go big. My choice would be varta 140 amp

Hi
Looked at that battery raymondo and appears to be for golf cart. I assume they are very similar to leisure battery. Do they need any special charging requirements. What made you choose this one. Have also looked at the Varta 140 Molly3 and think it should fit but is lot larger size wise than existing. Have heard good reviews of these though. Thanks for the info. 
Cheers
Jerry

Golf cart batteries tend to be able to cope with a deeper discharge than leisure types which themselves are less distinct from starter batteries. The difference is however not that huge so for longevity still should be limited as much as possible.

Because the charger is designed to supply habitation loads as well as charging it will have more than adequate power to charge it on hook. However the solar panel at 90W (new rating, will reduce as it gets older) is only good for around 6A at best. Ideally you should be looking to charge at between 5% and 10% of the batteries Ah capacity so for 140Ah about 7 to 14A. Yes it will charge but with less than optimal results and no spare capacity.

Like many other systems a good solution needs to be matched, increasing one part should not ignore the whole.

Yes the GC 1275 is a traction battery, made to discharge slowly and capable of taking a deep discharge, most leisure batteries are little more than rebadged starter batteries - if a leisure battery gives a CCA rating walk away its actually a starter sorry 'dual purpose' battery, starter batteries are made to deliver a very high ampage for a short time  (to start an engine) to this end they have thin lead plates with a high surface area as opposed to the thicker plates in a traction battery.

Aside from looking for a CCA rating look for weight more weight equals more lead and the more lead the better.

Some 135A/h 'leisure' batteries can weigh as little as 22Kg, finally (and this one is often hard to find) look for a figure as to how often it can be fully discharged obviously the higher this figure the better (but dont take the manufacturers figure as gospel!)

Solar panels, yes 10% of battery capacity would be ideal but its a Nuevo where are you going to put them?
you can certainly fit a 100W on the roof and you night get another 100W flexible over the cab but that isnt going to get you anywhere near the 5% figure let alone the 10% one - except maybe in spain

In UK even in the height of summer 5A is all you can expect out of a 100W solar panel and you wont even get that all day -  spring and autumn probably half of that.

edit to add, "What made you choose this one?"
1)  it was the biggest battery I could find that would fit without needing modification
2) it was good value

Hi
As has been pointed out I may struggle to get a larger solar panel on the roof of the Nuevo Hairyfool so am pretty much as big as can go on solar. Although the flexible panel over cab seems like a good idea. I am going to change to an MPPT controller which has been stated as being more efficient at controlling and regulating the charge. Raymondo the deep cycle battery looks good can only find a Trojan 1275 which appears to be very similar, this side the channel. If I upgrade to this, is it a sealed battery or will it still need venting. Can not seem to find this info. Also will the charger and my wiring cope with potentially a larger draw or ampage than the existing 70amp.
Thank you

the Trojan is so far as I can tell identical to mine, same size same weight same capacity.
It is an old fashioned 'wet' battery not sealed so will need venting and topping up - my Nuevo had a conveniently placed hole in the floor - could have been made for the job (probably WAS made for the job).

I dont know that there is a larger current draw - the alternator/charger will only provide what they provide  - ( a 10A charger can only provide 10A whatever its connected to) certainly I have had no issues.

No effect on existing wiring if all you're doing is fitting a bigger battery, and when on EHU the charger will just take longer to charge it.
Look at it like fitting a bigger water tank, it'll last you longer but your water will still come out of the taps at the same rate..
Al.

Hi Al,
Thanks for the info, I understand that bit but have heard in some cases it’s more the connector blocks and relays etc that can overheat in the charger etc, with the extra ampage going through. Just a little bit concerned about overloading these by doubling the size of my battery. 
Thanks to everyone for the advice.
Jerry

It is possibly the same terminals that handle the current for both the battery and the loads. The battery will only take higher current if the loads don't require it so the actual increase will be relatively small, it will just take longer to charge.

In fact that is probably the main downside of what you want to do. Continually running the battery partially charged is not good for it, make sure that it regularly gets fully charged.

Have a look at,  a and e , caravan service web site very informative .

Hi
Yes have been looking at their website and this is what has raised my concerns above. I think I will contact Autosleepers and see what they state can be the largest battery I can use without changing anything, and initially try to stay within their parameters. I understand that a larger battery would be more beneficial for staying off grid longer but based on comments above it will also take longer to recharge fully based on my solar panels etc, which may be more detrimental in the long term and actually provide less power. Thanks for everyone's input by the way.
Jerry

Hope you post their reply . I run 2x 105  amp in winter 1 in summer  (to save space and weight )