New Battery Time..

[Pakrat]

Time for new batteries. Our Alpenlite takes 4, 12 volt batteries. What have you guys found as the best - AGM, Optima, or what ??

Thanks for any info...

Larry

 

[seafish]

Many poeple here feel that the most cost-effective way to buy batteries is to buy them from Costco or Walmart. However, if you simply want the best, no one has complained about these, except of course for their price. They are relabeled Oddysey AGM batteries sold by SEars. Here is the link for the Group 65 that fits our 3rd gen trucks and also for the Group 31 deep cycle marine that fits with a little mod.



http://www.sears.com:80/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02850065000P?aff=Y&sid=I0084400010000100600



http://www.sears.com:80/shc/s/p_101...es+&+Chargers&keyword=diehard+platinum+marine





I have no doubt that 4 of the group 31 would NEVER let you down, but you are also talking $1000. 00 worth of batteries. :{

 

[Grizzly]

As long as you have 4 batteries, have you considered a 4 six volt battery system? I'm told that the charge will last much longer. I would have gone to the 4 six volt system if I had the room to store 4 batteries, which I don't. I could put two batteries in my basement storage compartment, but I'd have to provide a separate battery enclosure.



george

 

[Holzarbeiter]

I like the optima's in my trucks as well as the camper

 

[RVTRKN]

I use Optima, and when I switched, I solved the battery drain issue in both my boat and in my RV. The best thing is I can pull a fresh charged battery and swap it in my boat and charge the low battery with the RV because they are the same.

 

[RBridenbaugh]

I have four Lifeline GPL-4CT 6VDC AGM batteries for 440 Ahr of capacity. Went with the 4 six volts vs. 4 12VDC batteries as I could fit them in the exisiting space whereas 4 group 31 would not.



Optima are fine batteries, however for the same amount of battery space, they have about 75% of the Ahr capacity. I was looking for the most Ahr that would fit in for winter camping/boondocking.



Expensive batteries, but no acid spills, no maintenance, accepts charge rapidly and is not damaged by freezing. Need a good 3-stage converter to get maximum # of cycles out of these.

 

[Grizzly]

I have four Lifeline GPL-4CT 6VDC AGM batteries for 440 Ahr of capacity. Went with the 4 six volts vs. 4 12VDC batteries as I could fit them in the exisiting space whereas 4 group 31 would not.



Optima are fine batteries, however for the same amount of battery space, they have about 75% of the Ahr capacity. I was looking for the most Ahr that would fit in for winter camping/boondocking.



Expensive batteries, but no acid spills, no maintenance, accepts charge rapidly and is not damaged by freezing. Need a good 3-stage converter to get maximum # of cycles out of these.

Would two 6 volt batteries work and would it be better than two 12 volt batteries? I don't have the space for 4 batteries.



george

 

[dkoldno7]

Hi George I have two golf cart battierys in our carriage,last at least four days between charges,



dkoldno7

 

[CBari]

Yes to six volts will work in any twelve volt system and usualy preform better than two 12 volts. If you go with gel cells which i would recommend be sure and check your charging volts and make sure it isn't greater than about 13. 4 volts or i will damage the batteries.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Trojan

Trojan T105 the great thing about these is the charge seems to last for ever Trojan T105 Group Size GC2 6V 6 Volt Deep Cycle 225 AH Battery

 

[Bob Cochran]

After reading a lot about 6v batteries such as used on golf carts. I have come to the conclusion that if you do not boon-dock regularly drawing down batteries to almost dead and recharge they don't last very long. In my application very seldom draw down batteries is not a good thing. Any thoughts on this aspect of using those batteries? I agree they will last longer when boon-docking. Just a question I have really no answer to.

 

[CBari]

I have had 2-6volts on my LQ trailer since 2006 and do not draw them completly down before rechare and they are still very good they will last just as long as they did new when we do draw them down. Mine are a gel cell I don't know about the liquid ones from golf carts though.

 

[Matt400]

What about battery maintenance while the RV is not being used?

Who uses what if anything?

I just hit the battery disconnect but I think a small solar charger would be helpful.

 

[Shadrach]

I have two 6V golf car batteries from Interstate mounted on the tongue of my TT. If I could put 4 I would, then I could dry camp for longer. I thought about adding 4 more sixes or 2 twelve volt 4D's ( less $ ) in the back of the truck and connect them with heavy cable like a fork lift, but this would be more $ than I have at the moment. I also have a 75W solar panel with 1750HD inverter. The 2 sixes easily last for a 3 day weekend. I prefer to park in the trees so as not to get too hot inside trailer, no a/c, therefore I don't get full charging benefits from the solar panel. The rof panel charges up my batteries for the next weekend. During the winter I take them into an unheated garage and at the beginning of each month I charge them for 24 hours. The last set lasted me 7 years. Two sixes , I believe, are better than 1 12 and better than 2 twelves as well. If you use shore power all the time 1 twelve will be fine. The one problem with using a 6 volt setup is that if 1 battery should die for some unknown reason you loose the pair. This would be rare. If you had 2 twelves you would still have half power. Normally you replace both batteries at the same time anyway.
Shadrach

 

[HookMeUp]

I currently have one of this http://www.sears.com:80/shc/s/p_1015... latinum+marine I've had it for 4 years and still are going strong. When I store these over the winter they do not lose a charge, I just put back in the trailer and they are ready to go.

 

[JField]

Yes, 2 6volts are much better

 

[mpaulson]

I have two Trojan T105's and have no complaints. If you dry camp, go with the 4 6volt batteries in the place of the 12volt ones and you will never regret it. It's nice not having to be worried about the batteries getting to low in the night to keep the furnace going in the spring or fall.

 

[BIGNASTY]

battery tender

What about battery maintenance while the RV is not being used?

Who uses what if anything?

I just hit the battery disconnect but I think a small solar charger would be helpful.

I use a battery tender works great and it will not over charge battery

 

[Skydiver]

Here is 30 minutes reading about batteries and how to make them last and last.
Batteries -- and Other Electric Stuff by phred
This charger will revive your wet cell batteries.
BatteryMINDer 12 Volt 2-4-8 Amp

 

[Matt400]

I don't have any power where the RV sets otherwise that would be great. A solar trickle would be good for me, not sure where I could mount it and running the wires sounds like a task compared to adding a circuit in a vehicle.