Community Forums

cb5300 · 02-16-2010, 12:21 PM

I'm looking to replace my house batteries (6 V wet cell) with AGM's. I emailed Monaco asking what model battery did they use and the reply I got stated it was a 12 V battery. Since I have 8 house batteries do I get 8 AGM's or a different number?

Any body have a Signature with the factory AGM's? If so, how many did your coach come with?

I also looked at my inverter's set up and I see the wet cell setting, but it has 2 AGM settings...AGM 1 and AGM 2. What would be the difference?

Mandys Man · 02-16-2010, 04:39 PM

Charles,
Since you have 8 batteries already, you would replace with 8 AGMs. The # of batts coming from the factory depend upon the options installed. With a residential fridge, you would normally get 8. Make sure the new batts are physically the same size (depending on how much room they gave you)
What inverter do you have?? Magnum 2812 or 2 separate ones.?

wa8yxm · 02-17-2010, 09:19 AM

I will say this again. The major advantage of MOST AGM's is low maintenance requirement. IF maintenance access is not an issue, I would (And will) stick with flooded wet cells. The second advantage is low gasing.. If your batteries are NOT properly vented, then AGM may be your only option.

The reason by the way is simply cost. Flooded wet cells are a fraction of the cost of a comparible AGM.

Now, to your question AGM-1 or AGM-2.

You will need to read the owner's manual for your inverter and see what the current and voltage limits are for the two settings

Then read the product info on the AGM battery maker's web page (Whatever battery you choose) and pick the setting that best matches what they say there.

Alas Setting 1 and Setting 2, means nothing to me without the manual for your batteries in hand

I can give you some generic info.. This is from teh Xantrex Prosine 2.0 manual for the most part.

The Prosine asks you to specify the capacity of the battery (20 hour amp hour rate) and the Generic AGM setting sets the max charge rate at 30% of that figure (If, that is, it can.. The Prosine only does 100 amps peak)

LIFELINE, as I recall from visiting their web site, Recommends 30% as the MINIMUM initial charge rate (up to 300% as the maximum)

Lifeline is the only battery I've seen recommending that fast a charge

Which is why I say you need to know what the settings mean in terms of voltages and current,, and what the battery maker suggests

one final comment.. From the inverter's point of view, it don't matter if you put 12 volt batteries in parallel, or pair up six volt in series and put the pairs in parallel

IT's all one big 12 volt battery far as the inverter/converter is concerned.

cb5300 · 02-17-2010, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mandys Man

Charles,
Since you have 8 batteries already, you would replace with 8 AGMs. The # of batts coming from the factory depend upon the options installed. With a residential fridge, you would normally get 8. Make sure the new batts are physically the same size (depending on how much room they gave you)
What inverter do you have?? Magnum 2812 or 2 separate ones.?

This is what I was thinking, however, Monaco used (4) 12 volt AGM's in their AGM battery upgrades. The 12 volt AGM's are almost twice the physical size as the 6 volt wet cells. What I wanted to know was if I used (8) 6 volt AGM's that were the same physical size as my wet cell batteries would it cause me any problems or would it give me any benefits. Bob at Monaco came back and stated that the 6 volt AGM set up that I am looking to do would almost double my amp hours vs the wet cells I now have...This may be a worth while up grade after all.

DCTENT · 02-18-2010, 06:53 AM

What BRAND Of AGM's did Monaco Use?>

Mike Canter · 02-18-2010, 07:06 AM

Monaco uses Lifeline AGM batteries

DCTENT · 02-18-2010, 07:45 AM

Thanks Mike, I think That's what I'm Going with!.

DCTENT · 02-21-2010, 01:35 PM

I wii be replacing My Interstate Batteries with AGM's. I Have Three Compartments, 1 For Starting Batteries & Two For Coach. I have Electric residential Fridge.
My Question, One Compartment For Coach batteries Has 4 - 6Volt Batteries With Heigth Of 13' Where I can Use battery with 300 Amp Hrs, In The Other Compartment containing 4 - 6 volts as well, I do not have the Height to use the same Battery, Can I Replace These 4 with Same Brand battery But Smaller Size with 232 Amps?.
Is This Ok too do?.