Community Forums

SeattlePirat · 07-23-2018, 07:55 AM

I told the DW that I believed our house battery's were not holding a charge and may need to be replaced. We installed hydro caps on this set of battery's and I believe that they are 6 years old.

I'm wondering what kind of battery life others are getting.

Roadfrog · 07-23-2018, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattlePirat

I told the DW that I believed our house battery's were not holding a charge and may need to be replaced. We installed hydro caps on this set of battery's and I believe that they are 6 years old.

I'm wondering what kind of battery life others are getting.

While I have gotten more than 6 years out of batteries before, I would say that 6 years is darn good and likely it's time for new batts.

vettenuts · 07-23-2018, 09:30 AM

Just replaced mine with Trojans T105's at 7 years.

Not sure what hydro caps are, but if they are the watering system that goes into each cell with a single feed tube the place where I bought my batteries recommended not to use that system. He told me that some of the tubes can clog resulting in under-filling some cells. I have just water mine manually, but interestingly the caps on the Trojans seem to keep the water in as I have not needed to add anywhere near what I did with my prior Interstates. Not sure if that is because they are new or their cap design.

Note that I have never used that watering system, only passing on what I was told from the golf cart dealer where I bought my batteries.

Mr_D · 07-23-2018, 09:40 AM

I got 10 years out of a set of Interstate U-2200's in our last rig. With the present rig, bought used in 2015 I'm on my second set. Original set was AGM and at least one was bulging. Due to circumstances we wern't going to need batteries at all. To compound the problem I ordered the wrong batteries. Got 4-8D starting batteries rather than deep cycles. Replaced them last month with 8D Lifelines. I'm 71, late wife died 2 yrs ago so I'm figuring the batteries will last till I have to hang up the keys.

SeattlePirat · 07-23-2018, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vettenuts

Just replaced mine with Trojans T105's at 7 years.

Not sure what hydro caps are, but if they are the watering system that goes into each cell with a single feed tube the place where I bought my batteries recommended not to use that system. He told me that some of the tubes can clog resulting in under-filling some cells. I have just water mine manually, but interestingly the caps on the Trojans seem to keep the water in as I have not needed to add anywhere near what I did with my prior Interstates. Not sure if that is because they are new or their cap design.

Note that I have never used that watering system, only passing on what I was told from the golf cart dealer where I bought my batteries.

hydro caps are single caps that plug into each cell and when gassing occurs during charging, turn the gas back into liquid that trickles back in the cell, prevents the dreaded low acid level in batterys. Used them on my sail boat with great results. On the motorhome we have to add very little water.

keger · 07-23-2018, 09:48 AM

I just replaced my batteries which were 4 1/2 years old, but this was due to my inattenative in my maintenance routine. Lesson learned for the new set.

SeattlePirat · 07-23-2018, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

I got 10 years out of a set of Interstate U-2200's in our last rig. With the present rig, bought used in 2015 I'm on my second set. Original set was AGM and at least one was bulging. Due to circumstances we wern't going to need batteries at all. To compound the problem I ordered the wrong batteries. Got 4-8D starting batteries rather than deep cycles. Replaced them last month with 8D Lifelines. I'm 71, late wife died 2 yrs ago so I'm figuring the batteries will last till I have to hang up the keys.

Sorry you lost your wife.

deandec · 07-23-2018, 11:47 AM

Batteries likely fail through lack of maintenance or too many discharge cycles for that specific battery, not age.

So each owner may get a different life from the house batteries.

vettenuts · 07-24-2018, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattlePirat

hydro caps are single caps that plug into each cell and when gassing occurs during charging, turn the gas back into liquid that trickles back in the cell, prevents the dreaded low acid level in batterys. Used them on my sail boat with great results. On the motorhome we have to add very little water.

Thanks. I actually had those in my Interstates, but decided to see how the new Trojan cap did prior to re-installing in the Trojans. To date I haven't seen the need to use them as the batteries have been very good on losing water.

Soppy · 07-24-2018, 05:47 AM

There are many factors that will contribute to a batteries life . The type of battery , the number of cycles and depth of discharge, the recharge time from when they were discharged , the temperature of the battery, (batteries last longer in cooler climates) , general maintenance (watering and cleaning) , float charge voltage and storage time.
At 6 yrs, your batteries are reaching the end of their life. An average lifespan can be between 4 to 10 yrs.
Hydro caps work great and reduce watering down to once or twice a yr.

OLYLEN · 07-24-2018, 08:42 AM

Batteries last as long as batteries last. Depends on use and charge cycles. Too many other things to worry about. I use a 5 year rule on batteries, if they hickup at 5 years or more I replace. But I've not had a no start or cold night because of batteries. I use this rule for all my rigs and never sit anywhere when I want to go.

LEN

RovinOn · 07-24-2018, 05:24 PM

Just replaced a set of USA2200 batteries that were not a year old. I was told they were as good as the Dekas I was replacing which were 6 years old.
Because of the situation in regards to those batteries no warranty was going to be given.
Under the circumstances the owner of the company gave me a fresh set of Trojan T105’s
The original Trojans lasted 7 years, the Dekas lasted 5
I have a roof top solar panel for charging plus I turn off the master switches.