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abqdan · 09-01-2019, 06:15 PM

1994 Fleetwood Jamboree here. Just have one house battery - it's in the engine compartment and is a Group 24. The battery failed and I need to replace. I intended getting another AGM battery, then found a note that Gel batteries do better in desert locations - is that true? And the website also said they need special charging systems - what is special about it?

Budget is going to be around $250. Anyone have a favorite deep cycle AGM (or Gel) battery in that price range?

A lot of the time we camp at full hookup sites, but we do some dry camping, so I'm also thinking about adding a second battery for those trips. Thinking about just traveling with it in a battery box, and then when we set up just sliding it under the rig and temporarily connecting it in parallel with the installed house battery. Means I could keep the second battery at home on a trickle charge when we don't need it. Any thoughts on that arrangement?

Ray,IN · 09-01-2019, 07:55 PM

I don't think AGM batteries were in common use in 1994. The battery charger must have a setting to re-charge AGM batteries vs flooded-cell batteries. This may have killed your present battery, and will kill future AGM batteries unless you have the proper charger. Otherwise, your last paragraph sounds reasonable to me.

reference: https://www.knowyourparts.com/techni...agm-batteries/

Ray,IN · 09-01-2019, 09:34 PM

I forgot to address an important subject. Never mix battery types on the same charging circuit, one type will be charging incorrectly.

followingsea · 09-01-2019, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abqdan

,,,,do better in desert locations - is that true? And the website also said they need special charging systems - what is special about it?

Budget is going to be around $250. Anyone have a favorite deep cycle AGM (or Gel) battery in that price range?

Can you put a number on better?

Funny how people selling something that is 'better' have a hard time putting a number on better to justify the cost.

twinboat · 09-02-2019, 05:48 AM

Actual GEL batteries are good batteries but will fail after 1 overcharge event. The gel gets hot and moves away from the plates.

With a MH, and its chassis charging system also charging the house battery, a standard alternator will overcharge a gel battery.

Mixing flooded, maintance free and AGM is not perfect but OK. That happens in MHs all of the time. The charging voltages are close enough where you may just lose a small amount of life, in the long run.

Don't go by the glossy brochures in shopping for a battery. Even the biggest old fashion flooded battery, you can fit in there, will give you years of service if you keep water above the plates and don't run it down to dead.