6volt batteries

[Ricky D]

I'm going to switch from 12v to 6v. What brands of 6v batteries do you recommend? Thanks in advance for the advice. Currently 2 12v, thinking 2 6v. don't have room for four batteries.

[Old Trucker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricky D I'm going to switch from 12v to 6v. What brands of 6v batteries do you recommend? Thanks in advance for the advice. Currently 2 12v, thinking 2 6v. don't have room for four batteries.

I do not think there is a great deal of difference in the brand. I would consider Walmart or Interstate brand, only because of being readily available if there is a warranry problem. old trucker

[H. Miller]

Purchased 4 from Sam's 2 days ago........$78 and change (each)

[Barrier2]

Hi All,H.Miller which Brand were you able to buy at Sam's Club? Where are you located?
Robert

[Bruce and Mary Sue]

We bought our Lifeline AGM Batteries (four 6 volt) from the NH factory 5 1/2 years ago and continue to be well pleased with them. There is absolutely no maintenance with them -- no water to add -- no cable corrosion.

It was one of the best purchases we ever made.

[wa8yxm]

There are basically 3 brands.

TROJAN is considered by many to be the Cadillac of batteries, That said I've heard rumors of "Slipping quality" (Applies to all of them though)

Intersate (Made by either Johnson Controls or US battery) is a very popular brand and is original equipment in many motor homes.

SAM's CLUB Energerizers (Also made by Johnson Controls) are the least expensive up front.. While I can't tell you how long they last.. I suspect they are right close to Interstate in quality, and thus very likely the best "Bang for your buck"

Hopefully they do not, however, go BANG.

[cummins-n-grey]

IF it was me, I'd go with the Lifeline-AGM's (for the reasons stated, above); the 6v versions that fit in my box cost $270 each (I am limited to the 4CT size)... and it has almost double the amp-hr capacity of equivalent 12v solution): 492 (6v) vs 300 (12v).... for *my* space allotment. You can check your space and battery sizes here: Lifeline Batteries - Marine & RV Deep Cycle Batteries

IF you wanna stick with wet-cell batteries (remember to check and top-off the water level monthly, like a religion), go with the ones that get you the easiest warranty coverage -- just in case -- like Sam's club, etc. Me, I'd get Interstate from my local guy (for approx. $100 each), similar capacity (225 aH each) to the AGM's (from Lifeline) just need the monthly care-and-feeding to last 5+ years.

For me, the 6v wet vs. AGM comparison is 460 vs 492.

Good luck!

-Don

[Mr_D]

My Interstate U-2200's have lasted 9½ years but the cases are bulging and my starting batteries went dead last Friday so it looks like I'm going to replace them.

The U-2200's list for $168.95 and MSRP is $138.95. They are good batteries judging from the life I got, but if quality is slipping.......

Anyway we don'[t have ANY Sams club around here but we do have Costco's. Our local one doesn't carry them so I have to go to the next one which is out of state. They sell for around $80-90 and weigh 66#'s or so. If I can get 6½ years out of them I'm money ahead over the Interstate's.

Going to start calling golf courses and see what they have.

[chaunclm]

I don't think there is much difference whether one uses 6 volt or 12 volt. I would recommend the use of AGM batteries. We have two Lifeline 6 volts and two Interstate 12 volts. The six volt batteries are wired in series with the two 12 volt bats wired in parallel. There are many old wise tales about batteries, but the batteries and electrical energy will figure it all out.

The great thing about AGM batteries is that they are maintenance free no water checking or adding, no hydrogen gas, no corrosion, and no worry about position. Put them in upside down or sideways or end on.

[greyt-parent]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cummins-n-grey IF you wanna stick with wet-cell batteries (remember to check and top-off the water level monthly, like a religion), go with the ones that get you the easiest warranty coverage -- just in case -- like Sam's club, etc. Me, I'd get Interstate from my local guy (for approx. $100 each), similar capacity (225 aH each) to the AGM's (from Lifeline) just need the monthly care-and-feeding to last 5+ years. -Don

One way to ease the use of wet-cell batteries and the task of checking water levels is the use of a 'battery watering system' like Trojan's Hydrolink system:
http://www.trojanbattery.com/pdf/Hyd...LowRes_001.pdf

It will automatically top up each cell to the correct level in seconds. I can do all 4 of my batteries in a total of about 30 seconds , without having to actually peer into each cell. As you press on the pump, the cell caps automatically close when the water level reaches the correct level.

[cummins-n-grey]

I went with the Lifeline 4CT's, hoping to solve sulfation, watering *and* gassing issues, so won't need to lift the access panel to inspect but maybe twice a year. Ife ever I go back to the wet-cells, that Trojan watering system is the way to go! Thx!

-Don

[wa8yxm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Trucker I do not think there is a great deal of difference in the brand.

I'm with trucker, There only a few companys making them, many paint jobs (Brand labels) In the old days Trojan's were considered #1, but I've heard rumors about Trojan's lately.

When mine give up the ghost I plan on visiting a Sam's Club and re-newing my membership there.

[450Donn]

WHY?
Do you do a lot of boon docking? Or do you spend 99.5% of your time in full hookup sites? Unless you actually need that much power there is absolutely no reason to go with 6V batteries. It is simply a waste of money.
Having said that I replaced my 4 12 VDC batteries last spring with 4 Deka 6VDC golf cart batteries and could not be happier. But we spend about 80/20 split boon docking vs full hookups.

[cummins-n-grey]

SINCE you ask, YES, we do alot of boondocking --- we love the Pacific coast, so every chance we get, we park on the ocean, with no hookups; we're good for (almost) a week at a time if we're careful with the water.

PLUS, we are currently in the AZ desert at Q, where it costs $40 for two weeks (includes as much dump & water as one desires). An example: last night, ran the generator for 30-minutes, brought voltage to absorption-level (12.6+), on battery overnight with TV 'til midnight & furnace set at 53º (didn't fire-off until 7am), voltage level was 12.35; raised thermostat to 62, went for 3 mile hike, sun rose, took a shower (ran water heater on propane for 45-minutes), turned on TV & DVR, voltage is now at 12.55 and holding. Two solar panels keep pace most of the day (until around 3 or 4pm); haven't needed the generator this morning, but after 4pm, voltage drop with sun dropping, we'll run it once or twice for half-hour shots to bring up to go from bulk-charge into absorption for overnight TV & lights use.

AND, when traveling to get somewhere, we use Wal-Mart and Flying J, etc. as safe haven overnight -- with our solar and FOUR 6v batteries, we can use TV-DVR, lights & furnace up to 8 hours overnight, no problem (now that we've got the new batteries).

So, we CAN go off the grid for weeks at a time, so long as we can refill the water; I have a 45 gal. bladder that we *could* use to refill fresh water, and a "blue boy" to relieve the gray tank --- and can do two weeks between black-tank dump needs. BUT, here in Q, we are close enough (less than half-mile) to the dump, we'll just pull the rig to dump-and-fill every 5 or 6 days,,, so we don't have to be "super" conservative on the fresh & gray tank usage. (We've been off-grid since Sunday, it's now Friday, still have a day or 2 capacity in both fresh & gray; black could go another week, easily!)

-Don