Community Forums

CityElectric · 01-20-2019, 07:05 PM

I have a Alpine 2003 40’ FDTS Diesel pusher
Need to replace my 6- 6 volt and my 2 - 12 volt batteries
I would like to get a sealed and deep cycle batteries
Any suggestions out there
Thank you
Mike

RVPioneer · 01-20-2019, 08:51 PM

Lifeline AGM would be the top choice for replacing the 6v house batteries if you can stomach the cost. For chassis batteries you want 2, 12v with 950CCA each. Interstate is a solid choice.

gatorv · 01-21-2019, 01:07 PM

I bought the Sams club AGM batterys. Not happy with them. If I could do over I would go back to the interstate 6v and put up with the maintenance. Costco is the way to go.

gmcgene · 01-22-2019, 07:25 AM

GATORV,

Why are you dissatisfied with the Sam's AGM batteries? Did you get a bad set or do they just not perform as well as wet cell batts?

gatorv · 01-23-2019, 10:47 AM

Hi Gene I had 6 lifeline AGM batts. 2 for starting and 4 12volts in my Revolution coach when I bought it. They were shot. The lifeline's were to expensive so I found the Sam's club AGM. The new AGM's go straight to 12.7 volts as soon as I stop charging them to 13.2 as it says on battery. They certainly don't last near as long as the 4 6volt wet batt's in my Alpine before I crashed it. I could leave inverter on for at least 6 hours at night, now maybe 3 in the new coach. The great thing about them is no maintenance.

twinboat · 01-23-2019, 11:20 AM

If your shutting down charging of your AGM batteries at 13.2 volts and they fall back to 12.7 volts, your only charging them to about 80%.

AGM batteries need to be charged to 14.4 volts.
Once that target voltage is reached, they need to be held at that voltage for a few hours, and only then do you drop to 13.2 volts for float maintance.

Arch Hoagland · 01-23-2019, 12:29 PM

My only suggestion would be TAKE PICTURES before you disconnect anything.

There has been several posts of guys hooking up the batteries wrong.

wolfe10 · 01-23-2019, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland

My only suggestion would be TAKE PICTURES before you disconnect anything.

There has been several posts of guys hooking up the batteries wrong.

Unless it has been removed, there is a wiring schematic on the wall in the battery area on Alpines showing OE cabling.

But, yes VERIFY!

Alpine03 · 01-29-2019, 08:28 AM

I am very dissatisfied with the way my Alpine is wired. There is some terminals with 5-6 wires on them. I am sure it is putting allot of stress on the battery terminals and it is hard to keep clean.
I would like to put in 3 copper buss bars. One for + house bat, one for + chassis bat and one for - for all. mounted on the back wall with phenolic standoffs. All of the wires from the coach would go to the buss bars and then one wire from each of the sets of batteries would go to the buss bars. Has anyone done this. I would also like to label all those wires from the coach.
2003 34FDDS

Rich and Cork · 01-29-2019, 05:40 PM

You might want to follow Paul's thread for some ideas:

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f104/elec...em-424505.html

CityElectric · 01-29-2019, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alpine03

I am very dissatisfied with the way my Alpine is wired. There is some terminals with 5-6 wires on them. I am sure it is putting allot of stress on the battery terminals and it is hard to keep clean.
I would like to put in 3 copper buss bars. One for + house bat, one for + chassis bat and one for - for all. mounted on the back wall with phenolic standoffs. All of the wires from the coach would go to the buss bars and then one wire from each of the sets of batteries would go to the buss bars. Has anyone done this. I would also like to label all those wires from the coach.
2003 34FDDS

Have you installed these buss bars would like to see your lay out.
Can you email me your photos on this
Cityelectricservice@comcast.net

Beyond · 01-30-2019, 12:09 AM

I've bought our 2 & 4 6v batteries from these folks: https://deepcyclebatterystore.com/#
they have great instructional videos which might help you out. We put in the Trojan 6v's with a watering system 6 years ago and they are still going strong (we frequently dry camp). The CCA's on the Trojans as well as other batteries we've gotten there have been better at the same or lower price than our local Costco.

paul65k · 01-30-2019, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alpine03

I am very dissatisfied with the way my Alpine is wired. There is some terminals with 5-6 wires on them. I am sure it is putting allot of stress on the battery terminals and it is hard to keep clean.
I would like to put in 3 copper buss bars. One for + house bat, one for + chassis bat and one for - for all. mounted on the back wall with phenolic standoffs. All of the wires from the coach would go to the buss bars and then one wire from each of the sets of batteries would go to the buss bars. Has anyone done this. I would also like to label all those wires from the coach.
2003 34FDDS

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich and Cork

You might want to follow Paul's thread for some ideas:

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f104/elec...em-424505.html

Yes my set-up has exactly what you are suggesting.....2 separate Buss Bars as you state.....saw an Alpine coach built within 30 days of mine at the Quartzsite rally without the buss bars and it definitely looked a little like an octopus