Of course, it is like anything else in life. There are “horses for courses,” and what one guy wants will be very different from what another guy may want. Let’s face it: not that long ago, there was not much choice at all. You might use a 110 leisure battery in a crisis, but long-term usage isn't recommended since the method by which these batteries produce energy is not the same.

Leisure batteries are mostly used for motorhomes and caravans, and marine use. They sit at 12v - and only 12v (except for power stations with built-in inverters for mains power). They release their charge in a controlled, smooth flow. Standard leisure batteries are typically used with low-power devices. Depending on their Class rating and capacity, they can be used with kettles and TVs, fans and lights. Featuring an onboard state-of-the-art battery management system with high-performance dual-processors, the battery protects itself from overcharging, shorting out and overheating while maintaining a balanced voltage across all cells, so you’ll never need to worry about it. You’ll typically find lithium batteries in your phone and laptop. They are also predominantly used in hybrid and electric cars.The problem is to do with Euro 6 cars using regenerative braking to charge the leisure battery instead of the alternator. Also, they will have a shorter operating life. However, if you only do some infrequent off-grid camping or you have a motormover, an AGM should be a serious consideration.

Really, when it comes to kettles, the most practical option is to use your gas stove instead of pulling power from your leisure battery. You can also consider a refillable gas cylinder to keep running costs down. At least, that’s the theory. But temperature, battery age, charging regimen and the systems in your ‘van mean that nothing is that predictable. The amp hour rating is indicative of battery capacity and the higher the quoted figure, the longer the lights should stay on. Depending on the size of the battery currently fitted, there may be some spare space to fit a larger battery. As you would expect, a battery with a higher AH rating will generally also be physically larger. Finally, when looking at the capacity of your battery, consider the physical size: will it actually fit into the space you have? This, I think it’s fair to say, is a crucial consideration. Anything else?

Power your portable appliances when out in your caravan, motorhome or motor boat

Either your old battery has lost capacity and died, or the type and size of your battery are no longer suitable for how you use your caravan or motorhome. There are some discussions that Gel and Lithium as best suited to the irregular charge provided from solar panels. Also, as they can’t leak, they can even be mounted on their side, giving you more options on potentially fitting two batteries. At Halfords, we’ve signed up to the National Caravan Council (NCC) Leisure Battery Verification Scheme which provides guidance to the type of battery you should buy. It’s split into three categories: Gel Leisure batteries are very similar to AGM technology in that they are leak and maintenance-free with VRLA to control pressure.

Increased safety: High-quality batteries are more likely to be made with the highest safety standards in mind, which can reduce the risk of accidents or malfunctions.AGM batteries are also a possibility, although they tend to be expensive and incorporate compressed glass fibres inside each cell.