Interstate Battery to gel cell

[promine]

Any one have a cross over number from a Interetste # U2200 to a gel cell type battery?
thanks

[Shadowcatche]

The group size is a GC2
What you are probably thinking of is an AGM i.e. the Lifeline GPL4CT Lifeline Batteries - Marine & RV Deep Cycle Batteries

[wa8yxm]

You do not want to put any kind of GEL battery in an RV.

Now, AGM (Which is NOT GEL) is expensive, but OK, and I see you have a link to that.

I will describe several types of batteries and their advantages and disadvantages

Flooded wet cells (Such as you have) Lowest cost, highest maintenance THIS SIDE UP
These batteries do require venting and regular washing to prevent corrosion of the surrounding metal stuff, Keep away from electronics.

Maintenace free; Slightly higher cost, Low maintanance and THIS SIDE UP Venting recoomended but not as critical as above.

AGM, Way higher cost, Low maintenance (Same as Maintenance Free) no THIS SIDE UP. Lifeline and, I suspect Optima, can take a faster charge (NOTE: Not confirmed on Optima) IF YOU HAVE THE CONVERTER TO DO IT. Venting recommended but not as critical as above.

OPTIMA: bad choice due to capacity, Most expensive AGM, however only 60% the capacity of the standard "Retangular cell" types like Lifeline. Venting: See AGM

GEL: Slow charge, very particular, no "This side up" Venting same as AGM

Also, life of the battery (From install to replacement) Batteries (Save for AGM/OPTIMA which are the same) are listed in order of life from best to worst. AGM's do not last as long as wet cells types, and Flooded wet, where you can replace lost water, with proper maintenance, outlast maintenance free types

Sources: Life of battery: Company web sites, LIfe listes as number of charge/discharge cycles.

Source on venting, assorted forum posts.

Sorce on charge rates, Xantrex Prosine 2.0 manual for most of it, Lifeline web page on Lifeline AGMs. NOTE that faster recharge seems to apply ONLY to Lifeline, and perhaps Optima,, With Optima I did not do the full research because I dismissed them due to lower capacity. We need amp hours, lots of htem and that is NOT what Optima has.

AMP HOURS: For any given size battery They are all within 10% of each other except for OPTIMA which is way smaller.

Pound for pound, they are dang near identical. All sizes, all types, 50 pounds of battery will have the same capacity as 50 pounds of battery.. NOTE: with six volt you need to put two of them on the scale to compare with 12's but the 50 = 50 will hold.

[gewilli]

From years of experience, 6 volt cells are the best deal for house batteries. They take the discharge and survive much better as well as last many more years. Costco has a great price on the golf carts.

Good luck.

[promine]

I purchased 4 AGM from Interstate yeasterday.$269 each, but I will not have to redue my battery compartment due to acid rust again.
Now on to replacing the refrige.
Thanks

[cmpncrsaider]

That's great info wa8yxm thank u for posting it. I'm probably going to replace chasis batteries in the spring. Just not holding charge very long towards the end of the season. I have 2 but there's room for 3, gonna call Freightliner see if it's advisable to add 1 more in that compartment.

[wa8yxm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by promine I purchased 4 AGM from Interstate yeasterday.$269 each, but I will not have to redue my battery compartment due to acid rust again. Now on to replacing the refrige. Thanks

What size or what amp hour capacity are those 4 AGM's.

The GC-2 battery, which is 220 amp hour at six volt, (So you need to buy them in pairs) 4 of them would have given you 440 amp hours at 12 volts, slightly more than 4 Group 29's and they are closer to 69 dollars each (I think in the 70's) saving you nearly 800 bucks.

Now that..... Is why I prefer flooded wet cells to AGM..

OH, and with proper care, they would last longer. Saving you even more.

[Stretch]

I have 5 8D size AGM (advanced glass mat) batteries. They were new in late 2004 and still going strong. Battery compartment and terminals are just like new. Only way to go

[buck62]

Quote:

Originally Posted by promine I purchased 4 AGM from Interstate yeasterday.$269 each, but I will not have to redue my battery compartment due to acid rust again. Now on to replacing the refrige. Thanks

That one of the reasons I love my 12V AGM batteries, my battery compartment looks like the day it came off the factory line. Totally zero maintenance put them in and forget them. Mine came from the factory with 4 12V AGM's and it seems like most of the manufacturers are moving to AGM's. Last year my friend's Phaeton and my neigbors zepyhr has AGM batteries. Fleetwood in also putting AGM's in their American Coach line.