Fried black batteries.

[RColston]

I just know that I can depend on the vast opinions :-{} out there for answers to my problem. In the three months that I had to leave my new 5th Wheel up in the HOT country, like an unattentive idiot, allowed my batteries to cook dry!!! Question is, is it worth putting optima blue tops in as replacements, or should I just use the plain ol deep cycle variety. In the near future I will most likely be adding another pair of batteries and a 2-3k inverter so I can run my fridge going down the road. Ok y'all give it to me.

 

[Mundgyver]

Couple of thoughts there on this. I am usually able to get 5 to 6 years out of a set of batteries. How this is done though, is that I keep the batteries washed clean of dirt and grime, and I use clear plastic paint over the terminals to seal them and insulate them to keep a nasty thing called case leakage from happening. This is when your battery starts to discharge to ground through the dirt and grime and moisture that is building up. With older batteries that could be serviced, you could install a special cap that would collect the water vapor and dump it back into the cell. You see these alot in the solar power system for off grid living. The new batteries can be service also. They will go dry if allowed to. I check mine every 4 months and service as necessary. I also have mine mounted on rubber mats in my outfits that have metal trays.



The new Optimal are gell style. I hear both good and very good things about them and also negative things, but I have no experience with them.



I would way the cost, guarntee, performance for climate and spread all that over a 5 or 6 year period and see which one looks like a better deal as far as the numbers go. I'm the type that will buy the most crank power I can stuff in the holder .



Longest battery I have had lasted me 7 years, and it was a factory battery that came with my old Zepher wagon.



Good luck.

 

[klenger]

I think your best bet is to go with 2 (or 4) 6 volt deep cycle batteries. They are relatively cheap and last a long time. A good 3 or 4 stage charger or simple solar panel with contorller will help a bunch. Check my sig for more info on RV electrical systems.

 

[Willys]

I saw some dry cell batteries from NAPA a few days ago called orbitals. I think they work along the same lines as optimas but are cheaper, and seem beefier. They have deep cycle and starting batteries. No personal experience with them, just passing the word

 

[RCook]

If you're interested in long-living deep cycle batteries, the Optimas might work for you, but only if their Amp-Hour capacity is sufficient for your needs. I have several Optimas, and also larger AGM-type deep cycle batteries (Optima's are spiral-wound AGM's), as well as several traditional flooded batteries. I have also used several of the older Gel types.



Optima blue tops are "marine", batteries, but not necessarily deep-cycle - they come in both starting and deep cycle varieties. The "marine" designation means that they have the bolt-up terminal types, rather than just the round ones car batteries usually have. Even the largest Optima's (D31M, 60 lb each) have only 75 AH deep cycle capacity. If that's enough to last between charges for you (you should plan to use only 50% of the AH capacity most of the time before recharging, if you want good battery life), then they might work.



If you're considering batteries that expensive, you might look into G31 AGM's, which weigh a few pounds more and have 105AH capacity. Any of the AGM's will put up with heat, cold, vibration, deeper discharges, and sitting uncharged for long periods of time far better than flooded batteries, but you do need to make sure you're choosing deep cycle types, and size them right for your needs.

 

[Buffalo]

I've done what Klenger recommends. It works. Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[Willys]

found this link on deep cycle batteries, more than I have time to read right now, more than you ever wanted to know :--)



http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm

 

[jelag]

I'm concerned about your 2-3K inverter... ... 2500 watts at 14 volts is about 170 amps,... ..... if you have 2 batteries rated at 150 amp hours... . and thats a lot for a battery you have a total of 300 amp hours available... . or under 2 hours to run your 2500 watt inverter..... and your going to need """00""" wire runing from the batteries to the inverter..... I've got a 1000 watt inverter and the current draw is a lot... we only use it to fire off the microwave oven when were parked and not plugged in... for a few minutes at a time..... It might be worth your time to understand "ohm's law" when working with these numbers... .



Hope this help... .



BTW - we used to use a rule of thumb..... a load test on a battery was 3 x's the amp hour rate, or 1/2 the cold cranking power... so if the battery is rated today at 1000 cca, thats a load test of 500 amps... . or 1/3 of that is the amp hour rate... . thats about a 166. 666 amp hour rate..... so 2 of these big batteries... . like what in my Cummins would run your 2500 watt inverter at full output for about 2 hours... .



Jim

 

[RColston]

I've got to check how much space I have to play with. Teton dosen't give you a whole lot of room for batteries. The only reason I need an inverter is to power my fridge in between long trips. The coach has an 22cuft Amana residential unit which I think draws 11 amps peak. I am headed up to Casper Wy on the 29th for some warranty work and have to sort out the battery issue ASAP. Will 2 6 volt deep cycle batteries in series provide enough reserve.



Thanks for the input



Rick

 

[The Sequel]

I've got to check how much space I have to play with. Teton dosen't give you a whole lot of room for batteries. The only reason I need an inverter is to power my fridge in between long trips. The coach has an 22cuft Amana residential unit which I think draws 11 amps peak. I am headed up to Casper Wy on the 29th for some warranty work and have to sort out the battery issue ASAP. Will 2 6 volt deep cycle batteries in series provide enough reserve.



Thanks for the input



Rick

Rick, my father-in-law has a Teton Sunrise Experience and he ordered solar, 2. 5 Prosine inverter and an Onan generator, all installed from the factory when he ordered in last year. This system is working well for him and Teton installed 4 batteries (group 27 I think) in two separate compartments on the street side. Give Teton a call and see if they can schedule you in. I'm sure they will adapt your rig for any number of batteries you want if space is an issue now.

 

[K5IP]

Look at using two 6v golf cart batteries. About 200AH, cost about $50 each from Sams or Costco. Best bang for the bucks. (be careful of height)

Rog

 

[GerryDrake]

Golf cart batteries

If you can fit 'em in, a pair of 6 volt golf cart batteries will give you a lot better service than 2 12V deep cycles. The ones I have in my trailer are a bit taller than the originals, and about 1/2" from the top of the compartment, so I cut a piece of rubber mudflap to size and lay it on top to prevent any possible shorting. .

 

[Ramtough]

11 amps at 120 volts converts to about 138 amps at 12 volts accounting for 20% inefficiency in the inverter. Deep cycle batteries are rated at a 10 amp load. If you put a 138 amp load on them, they would not deliver anywhere near their rated capacity due to the inability of the electroyte to diffuse that quickly. To run a 11 amp 120 volt load for two hours with deep cycle batteries, I think you would need around 600 amp hours of battery bank capacity. That would be 3 pairs of golf cart batteries which would probably weigh as much as the refrigerator.



You are also going to need an inverter rated at nearly 2000 watts AC. 11 amps AC = 1,320 watts. The inverter needs to be a little larger than the anticpated load. The cabling to the inverter will be huge '00' or larger.



If your refrigerator is only going to be off AC for two hours, I say forget all of this. If the door is not opened there should not be enough of a temperature rise to cause excessive heating. I have read that ice boxes are good for up to 24 hours if they start at 0 and the door is not opened.

 

[lcrawford]

turn off the ice maker and advance the defrost timer so it will not defrost for 8 to 12 hours now you only need 3 amps at 120 volts

 

[RColston]

I installed 2 golf cart batteries before I left for Casper WY on Friday. Had about 1" over the posts. The piece of mud flap is going in after Teton is finished doing their thing with the 5th wheel. I decided to forget the inverter idea in favor of a generator or two. Probably 2 EU2000i's. If any one has these gen's mounted in an enclosure. I'd sure like to see some pic's. Thanks for all of the input.



Rick C

 

[Ramtough]

Good Idea Rick. I highly recommend a battery system monitor. I use the Tri-Metric from Backwoods Solar. See http://www.backwoodssolar.com/Catalogpages2/meters2.htm#Tri-Metric Battery Meter



This meter will tell you EVERYTHING that is going on with your batteries. Without it, you are operating blind, especially if you are dry camping. Good luck & happy RVing.