Which AGM Battery and Other Related Questions

[JDT]

Batteries are a frequent topic and I hate to start a new one, but I wll. My house batteries are over 7 years old and are still working but since we put in a new Samsung 197 fridge last fall thought I would change them out before our next trip in March. Doing a lot of research and not sure I want to spring for the AGM because of cost. If I do I'm not sure what I need and I see various ones on line for a variety of prices. How do I determine which one I would need? What would be a good brand and where could I get the best prices?

Right now we have 4 Workaholic U2200 batteries that came with the coach. The rating at 20 amps is 232 minutes, if I am reading and stating it correctly. Do I need to find something similar or will less work with the AGM types?

We rarely dry camp (once in 6 years) so not too concerned with needing a whole lot of reserve capacity. The only reason I am looking at AGM types is I am getting tired of cleaning out the white frosty stuff from inside the battery compartment. If I could figure out how to win that battle I would go with flooded cell to save the money. The last time I cleaned out my battery compartment I sprayed it with some bed liner type stuff but I now have a spot on the wall next to one of the batteries. It looks like the liner was eaten away and the white stuff sprouted. Any suggestions?

[336muffin]

Just replaced my AGM's that were seven years old with Lifeline AGM GPL-27T. We have the original Nocold Refer with the Amish upgrade. I like the AGM batterys for the lack of maintenance. The only reason I had to replace them was my charging system cooked the originals. Not the battery's fault. The Bats were $264.95 at Battery's Plus, They did not charge any shipping and had them the next day.

[sdennislee]

$264.95 is a good price. Have not often seen them under $289.00.

[The Danes Are Coming]

Yesterday I replaced the 4 Workaholic U2200 batteries that came with the coach. They were only 4½ years old.

We also rarely boondock so I went with 4 Energizer 220AH from Sams Club. $78 a piece plus Tax. I can now change these between 3 and 4 times and pay the same as for 1 AGM battery. I think this is better for me.

[The Danes Are Coming]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDT The only reason I am looking at AGM types is I am getting tired of cleaning out the white frosty stuff from inside the battery compartment. If I could figure out how to win that battle I would go with flooded cell to save the money. The last time I cleaned out my battery compartment I sprayed it with some bed liner type stuff but I now have a spot on the wall next to one of the batteries. It looks like the liner was eaten away and the white stuff sprouted. Any suggestions?

This worked for me:

Clean all batteries with a mix of water and baking soda. Once clean and dry, spray all terminals and connections with Battery terminal protector.

If it doesn't work it will have cost you about $4 and a bit of "elbow grease", and furthermore, you may be able to save a lot of money by buying cheap batteries like mine.

[William Willard]

Put 2 onces of mineral oil in each cell, & that will stop the off gasing -- I did that the first time mine needed water about 5 years ago -- No more corrosion -- I`ve heard arguments that mineral oil will not work & will ruin your batteries -- But, it works for me -- Bill Willard

[JDT]

Bill, glad you admitted to putting in the mineral oil. I did the same thing probably 4 years ago and most of the gassing was eliminated but I still have some. I mentioned the mineral oil thing quite a while back on this forum and got a well-intentioned lecture on why I should not do that. My thoughts are, if I don't get the AGM's, I will go with the wet cells and do the same thing, after they are out of warranty, which is only 6 months for Interstates.

I'm wondering if the Samsung will like the AGM's better or does it even care. I guess the better question is will my inverter like them better or does it care. My guess is it makes no difference as 12 volts is 12 volts.

I did check the voltage level on the old ones today. It was 13.47 and the charger was in float mode. Hate to get rid of good batteries but 7 plus years is probably good enough. We are planning more and longer trips this year. Sent in an application on the 1st for us and two other couples to hike the Grand Canyon rim to rim. Starting to worry we may get selected. None of us are under 60.

Will check with Batteries Plus in Tulsa to see what they have.

[wa8yxm]

Advantage AGM: Low maintenance (No battery is truly maintenance free) can be mounted in any position (No "This side up")

Some (LIFELINE) can be recharged faster if you have the converter to do it with.

Disadvantages: Higher cost and if you believe the "life expediency" charts on the battery maker's web sites. Shorter life span.


Advantage flooded wet cells (like the popular GC-2 six volt pairs)

Lowest cost, longest life, Disadvantage, high maintenance.

Personal experiene.

Batteries in this coach fall into several age brackets.

Older than the motor home (Had 2, now one one died, however ... There is a story behid that. it was getting very week and I took i tout to try and bring it back using a trick or two on the internet.... Did not work)

Original Equipment Interstate U-2200 GC-2 Flooded wet cells... Starting to show signs of age but still strong (Rig was new may of 2005) have been abused.

pair of Group 31 AGM's. MK brand (Made by East Penn) REPLACED, these puppies were basically paper weights NO remaining measurable capacity. They were (Up to the date they were replaced) he NEWEST batteries in the coach, and treated better than the Interstates as well.

Tell me again about how "long lived" AGM's are. I don't believe it. I believe the manufacturers who say they don't last as long as Maintenance free which do not last as long as Flooded wet cella.

[Refuse1]

I put mineral oil in my Interstates 2 years ago. They are 6 years old now and work just like new and NO mess. I know it defies logic. If it works, why doesn't Interstate or the other battery companies do it? I understand the arguments against it, but IT WORKS ! I know there are good reasons to buy AGM's, but not for my situation.

Jeff

[Diplomat Don]

JDT......My coach came with the Interstate batteries and I always had acid buildup. I bought Thermoil online and added it to my batteries along with the battery caps that are suppose to recycle the acid. It reduced the acid issue by about 75%.

Last year I removed the batteries, cleaned and painted the bay and replaced the 4 house batteires and the 2 start batteries. I went with the same Interstates. During this time, I had received information that my Magnum Inv/Chrg was not set correctly.

I replaced the batteries and installed the automatic watering system. I called Magnum and they told me I had been overcharging my batteries for years. They gave me the new settings and now my battery bay is DRY and DUSTY. About every three months I connect the bulb to the watering system and the batteries take a couple of ounces of water.

I'm big on installing the best, but the AGM's were just too pricey. I just couldn't see the performance increase for the price in my situation.

If you have a Magnum Inv/Chg, you may want to call them to make sure your system will properly charge the AGM's and what settings you should use. They're very helpful when it comes to battery power.

[JDT]

Don, I do have the Magnum converter/2000 watt MSW inverter/charger. We bought the coach in July 05 and it has only been off shore power when on the road. Batteries were 7 years old last October and still going strong so it must be set right but will make sure when I get the new batteries. Even though the AGM's are tempting (and I think I remember seeing an AGM setting on the Magnum panel inside the coach) I will probably just stick with the wet cells. I will call Magnum when I get the new ones just to be sure.

336Muffin, I checked the batteries you mentioned and they are shown to be 12 volt. I have 4 6 volt batteries. There probably is a way to use 12's but not sure how that works. Am I missing something?

[336muffin]

J D T you are correct, they are 12 v. I failed to mention that and sorry. My coach was specd that way from the factory with 4four 12v batteries. This has served us very well, my battery bay is like new because of the AGM's. No maintance except for the dust from the driving which I can deal with LOL.

[BryanL]

For buying batteries, find a retailer who sells a lot to folks who use them like you do and stands behind what he sells. Then go by specifications, costs, and warranty.

Quote:

he only reason I am looking at AGM types is I am getting tired of cleaning out the white frosty stuff from inside the battery compartment.

To me, this is the key issue to address. Cover-up efforts like mineral oil don't get at the underlying problem. Leaving that problem existing and moving to AGM (or other SRLA battery) just moves the expression from crud to battery abuse.

The crud is likely due to either overcharging over time or heat. Since you seldom dry camp, the odds are you spend most of the time 'on-grid' and that puts an emphasis on an RV converter or charging system that has a good maintenance mode. That means one that maintains a fairly low float coupled with a good sulfation inhibiting technique.

Float only maintenance chargers, even if temperature compensated, are walking a very fine line between not enough and too much and will often show this with electrolyte loss, corrosion problems, or sub-optimum battery performance.

Trying to avoid electrolyte loss or leakage - which the crud shows is happening - by getting a sealed battery is just trading one problem for another, potentially more severe, one. Sealed batteries are more sensitive to storage charge maintenance than wet cells by their very nature (once gone, you can't add electrolyte like you can with wet cells).

AGM's are nice batteries but its questionable whether they are cost effective or not in most RV applications from what I have seen.

[azstork]

I'm with Bill Willard on this one - When we bought our coach used 3 years ago, the inside of the battery compartment was badly corroded with the white powdery "growth" on most metal surfaces. I removed and washed the batteries, roller tray and walls, wirebrushed the metal parts, and coated all with a rubberized paint, like bedliner. Within a month, I had liquid on the tops of the batteries and several locations in the compartment - I was not a happy camper! I checked my Magnum output - it was as recommended and it was set for the proper batteries and capacity. Then I put 2 oz mineral oil in each battery well of the house batteries - (Not the "sealed" chassis batteries). My battery compartment has been dry since, I have noticed no change in performance of the batteries, and I notice I now need to add much less water when I check the batteries despite our desert location. So despite what the naysayers say, I am a believer in the mineral oil, and personally would not pay the large difference to get AGM's when I need new batts.