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11-18-2017, 09:55 AM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: LA, Lower Alabama
Posts: 2,430
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6v vs 12v, flooded vs AGM
Last week did some battery research at a store, a Battery Source. Being clueless how big a 6v golf cart battery is I need to see them up close and personal. Quite tall, got measurements, but haven't measured the clearance on the tray. As I recall the 6v were 210 ah. They also had 12v golf cart batteries that also were 210 ah. Heavy!! Around 80 pounds is what they said. With my back I wasn't going to try to pick up. Both the 6 and 12v were flooded cell. Based on size I could probably fit 3 12v for the house BUT I'm concerned about the weight. That would be about 240 pounds on a try that currently houses 3 GP 29 cheap ass flooded cell deep/starting batteries that probably weigh around 60+- pounds each.
They also had the AGM in standard sizing but those were dual purpose, not dedicated deep cell type. Don't recall the ah or CCA.
I read and hear a lot of folks convert to the 6v golf cart batteries but has anyone gone with the 12v versions. I looked a several versions and don't remember the costs, but think a 12v was more than a 6v but not twice the $$. Going the 12v route would mean I wouldn't need a jumper between the 6v, the tie down clamps would fit better, etc. Same ah.
Floded vs AGM means keeping track of water but I keep up with my maintenance anyway.
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11-18-2017, 10:05 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: E WA or S TX
Posts: 4,046
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__________________
04 Horizon QD, 12 Ford Flex, Excalibar, Brakemaster, Winter Texan, RVin! since 1974
Norm, Donna & Tinker Kat(RIP) 01 Z3
Life is a Timed Event, you only get One Go Around!
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11-18-2017, 10:07 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Hartwell, GA
Posts: 240
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Recommend 6 volts - breaks the weight up in more manageable chunks. Regarding weight, the heavier your total battery system is, the more deep cycle amps you have.
I like AGMs: they charge faster, self-discharge slower, and are maintenance-free. They make your battery tray and immediate environment maintenance-free too. They do cost 2X.
Best deal I know are Duracell’s from Sams. Made by Penn. Only available eastern US.
__________________
2005 Monaco Diplomat 40PDQ
Hartwell, GA
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11-18-2017, 10:21 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Lenexa KS
Posts: 2,037
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I like 6V and go sealed if you can afford them. I currently have Interstate 6V rated @ 235 AHC flooded and I thought the weight was more like 45 lbs. per batt.
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Bill & Kelli 2015 Dutch Star 4366
2002 Safari Zanzibar 3906
1995 Fleetwood Bounder 36JD
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11-18-2017, 10:21 AM
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,519
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The weight for any given amount of amp-hours @ 12v will be the same for any & all lead acid batteries. That is dictated by the chenistry of the lead acid battery. You need two of the 6v's to get 12v, so it actually takes about 120-124 lbs of 6v batteries to get those 210 AH at 12v. I think you will find a 12v that produces 210 will weight just about the same.
Whatever they told you, an 80# 12v battery won't produce anywhere near 210 AH. A 12v with a size 4D case (roughly double the usual size) weighs about 100# and can deliver around 190 AH. You may have been looking at a GC12 size, which is a 12v deep cycle that weighs around 85 lbs and can produce about 150AH at the standard 20 hour rate.
Be careful of advertised amp-hours - some ads tout big numbers but the fine print shows that it is not measured using the 20-hour rate that is the standard for comparing batteries.
AGMs are often rated as dual purpose because they can handle deep discharging well regardless. Just having a CCA or MCCA rating doesn't mean the battery can't deep cycle too. However, the best AGM deep cycles will have a relatively low CCA compared to a similar size battery designed to crank engines.
This web page has the dimensions of the standard (BCI) battery case sizes.
Battery-Web.com - BCI Group Numbers, Dimensional Specifications, Polarity and Terminals
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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11-18-2017, 10:50 AM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 63
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I won't try to compete with the excellent answers already posted but do want to add quick points:
For uses where multiple batteries are a given, 6V is better because there's less packaging in each battery. Fewer plate/separator combinations means (slightly) higher energy density.
Most any truck service shop can add reinforcement to your battery trays, if needed, for a trivial charge. I was about to do my own but once the truck shop said $100 it wasn't worth dusting off my welder (and living with my relatively ugly welds). In my situation it was more about gaining the required height for GC2 battery cases than adding strength.
Try to go with AGM if there's anything near the batteries that can be adversely affected by corrosion. I stuck with flooded on my old Trek since they're all alone underneath and things were already "aged". Will be going AGM or taking the Lithium plunge for our newer rig.
Good luck!
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11-18-2017, 01:01 PM
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#7
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Moderator Emeritus
Nor'easters Club Workhorse Chassis Owner iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 30,785
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I replaced my two 6 volt wet cells with two 12v AGM's from SAM's, did a lot of dry camping from MA. to FL., dry camping in Cracker Barrel Restaurants 4 times down and back during JAN & FEB months, plenty of heat and lights during stops over night.
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11-18-2017, 03:46 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
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With the exception of OPTIMA batteries which have about 60% the amp hour capacity of same size Retangular cell batteries..
Most all Same size batteries. Flooded, Maintence free or AGM will have within 10% of the same Amp hour capacity, not enough differenct to even considfer.
The differencce is MOST non-golf Car (GC) batteries are NOT Deep cycle and do not like 50% State Of Charge at all. They like to be 70-80% full or fuller.. This ids a major BOOST for the GC type DEEP CYCLE batteries
For house. that is what you want. DEEP CYCLE
Agm'd do have the advantage of no "This side up" requirement but are also very expensive.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
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11-18-2017, 07:11 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Western NY
Posts: 6,113
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Good advice above - I absolutely agree.
The linked article is worth a read - very well done
12V GC's are available - however - I think you will find the $/ AH is higher when you go with the 12V vs 6V version. ($ below based on Sams Club FLA Duracell / East Penn - AGM have advantages but are 2-3x$$$)
6V GCs are the most common and I'm guessing the hi volume sales help price
a 4 6V GC2's ( $350-$400) will give you roughly the same AH as 3 12V GC's ($600)
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Don & Marge
'13 Newmar Ventana 3433 - '14 CR-V TOAD
'03 Winnebago Adventurer 31Y - SOLD
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11-19-2017, 05:19 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
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I need to replace all 4 of my 105 AH AGM house batts. We don't dry camp much but just got this coach in March and may find we will on our out west trip next summer.
I'm considering replacing the AGM's with flooded to save some $ but my 2 chassis batts are also AGM's and I don't think my battery charger (Magnum inverter/charger) will handle 2 types of battery charging.
__________________
Tim
Leesburg, FL '07 American Tradition 40Z Cummins 400 ISL
Towing a '14 Honda CRV Both sold
2021 Vanleigh Beacon 41LKB 5th wheel
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11-19-2017, 07:20 AM
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#11
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,519
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The difference between the charge profile for AGM vs Flooded is not a big deal. Real world usage factors tend to wash out the small difference that can be shown in laboratory measurements. Besides, your engine alternator does the charging while you are driving and it doesn't manage the charging voltage at all - it just pours in whatever amps the batteries can accept and at a fairly high voltage as well. ANd does the same to both house and chassis.
You are correct that the inverter cannot handle the chassis differently than the house batteries. It simply isn't wired to do that. The house and chassis batteries are charged in parallel, whether the charge source is the inverter or the engine alternator.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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11-19-2017, 07:24 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Western NY
Posts: 6,113
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Quote:
Originally Posted by timjet
I need to replace all 4 of my 105 AH AGM house batts. We don't dry camp much but just got this coach in March and may find we will on our out west trip next summer.
I'm considering replacing the AGM's with flooded to save some $ but my 2 chassis batts are also AGM's and I don't think my battery charger (Magnum inverter/charger) will handle 2 types of battery charging.
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If you are leaning towards FLA for house... I think you have 2 options.
1) If house battys are bad how long will chassis battys last? Similar date code?
You could replace house and chassis w FLA and probably still save $ vs AGM or break even and have all new.
2) Replace house w FLA now and set charger for optimum FLA profile. I don't believe that will kill an AGM but will shorten life some. When chassis battys need replacement then switch to FLA.
Just a few thoughts to consider.
I'm guessing your 105 AH are 12 V
I would strongly recommend considering 6V GCs for house use.
At $85 ea $170 pair (Sams Club) and 210-225 AH they are hard to beat on a $/AH/ life cycle basis.
Take a look at the link in this post if you have questions about 6V GCs advantages.
http://www.irv2.com/forums/showthread.php?t=365954
__________________
Don & Marge
'13 Newmar Ventana 3433 - '14 CR-V TOAD
'03 Winnebago Adventurer 31Y - SOLD
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11-19-2017, 07:55 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
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My take. More capacity in a pair of 6v vs a 12v. AGM and wet provide about the same capacity and longevity, wuth AGM at 2x to 3x the purchase price. AGM require no maintenance - periodically adding water or cleaning batteries/tray area.
I don't mind the maintenance, so have stayed with wet batteries.
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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11-19-2017, 12:32 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Fortuna Foothills, AZ
Posts: 189
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Bigger is better
After 35 years in the electrical industry I decided to get the biggest 12v AGM's I could lift. At 136lbs a piece two of these gives me a lot of AH for dry camping. I also installed a Blue Seas battery selector switch to switch between my stock coach batteries nd these monsters. I also had to buy a charger with a 25 amp output to fully charge these to 12.8v after the float charge dissipates.
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