Community Forums

gazingm42 · 05-31-2015, 08:52 PM

So any suggestion when looking to replace your RV battery?

Skip426 · 05-31-2015, 11:19 PM

Were you happy with the performance of the one you replacing ?
Did they last as long as you wanted them to when boon-docking?

12volt deep cycle ? Pair of 6 volt golf cart batteries? What did you have?

DBL Z · 05-31-2015, 11:30 PM

Trojans!

chboone · 05-31-2015, 11:41 PM

Costco is now carrying Interstate batteries, 6 V golf cart battery $83.99 at my local store. While am not big fan of interstate batteries, for the price if I get at least 5 years out of them I'll be very happy.

wa8yxm · 06-01-2015, 06:29 AM

Primary suggestion is DEEP CYCLE,, not MARINE/Deep cycle.

Deep cycle are much better.

GC-2 (six volt golf car (GC) batteries are DEEP CYCLE and give the most performance for your investment..

AGM can be DEEP CYCLE (Or other types) and are very expensive but need no maintenance to speak of.

Brands: There are many brands but few companies that make them..MOST batteries are either Johnson Controls or US battery and they are close enough to say "No difference" LIFELINE (AGM) and TROJAN (Flooded wet) are considered leaders though there are a few "Super Brands (Concord?)

DEKA (also MK) are made in the USA from lead smelted in the USA (only such brands far as I know,, which is admittedly not far).

Friends of mine suggest avoiding Excide.. I can not argue with them..Not my favorite battery either

Sams Club,Costco, Wal-mart all Johnson Controls or US Battery depending on where you are buying.

gazingm42 · 06-01-2015, 08:07 PM

So 2 questions now folks.

1. Difference between deep cycle vs deep cycle Marine vs deep cycle rv.
2. Advantages of using 2 6v golf in series (to get 12 volt) vs 12 volt deep cycle?

**pasdad1** · 06-01-2015, 08:30 PM

Question 2.

If you have the room, the two 6 volt batteries provide more amp hours of capacity than most 12 volt batteries. They have the added convenience of being easier to handle, since the weight is split between two cases. There are exceptions of course. Economies of scale is also a positive, since so many 6 volt batteries are produced for golf carts, that their price is usually lower than the other batteries sizes produced in lessor quantities.

BendOR · 06-02-2015, 09:22 PM

Q #1:

Last updated

wa8yxm · 06-03-2015, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gazingm42

So 2 questions now folks.

1. Difference between deep cycle vs deep cycle Marine vs deep cycle rv.
2. Advantages of using 2 6v golf in series (to get 12 volt) vs 12 volt deep cycle?

1: True DEEP CYCLE are designed to survive well when run down to as low as half full (50% state of charge) and promptly re-charged. MARIN/deep cycle are not so hardy and like a much higher state of charge minimum.

Going below the minimum state of charge seriously shortens the life of the battery.. Full starting batteries below 25% are generally considered toast.. I ran my Factory DEEP CYCLES down way farther than that a few times.. when they were young and they lasted 9 years.

2: SO LONG AS THEY ARE BOTH DEEP CYCLE there is no technical difference. Zip, Nada none.
HOWEVER: Golf Courses from sea to sea and beyond order six volt GC-2 (GOLF CAR) batteries by the pallet load.. This makes them one very very popular battery size.

The more popular the less often the factory has to re-tool the line and the lower the unit cost.. Thus when it goes to the distributor and he 2.5's it it's lower still, then to the dealr who 2.5's it again and thus baring one heck of a sale the Six Volt Pair is your best BANG for your BUCK.

Second "Advantage" (was eliminated by the SO LONG AS line) is that True DEEP CYCLE 12 volt batteries are still a bit rare.. Though the GC-12 (Golf Car-12 volt) is starting to become more popular.

J Birder · 06-03-2015, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gazingm42

So 2 questions now folks.

1. Difference between deep cycle vs deep cycle Marine vs deep cycle rv.
2. Advantages of using 2 6v golf in series (to get 12 volt) vs 12 volt deep cycle?

1. True deep cycle batteries have much thicker plates than do starting batteries. The starting battery is intended to supply a large current for a very short period of time. The deep cycle battery is intended to supply less current for much longer periods of time. The Marine / deep cycle is a hybrid that is about half way inbetween. It doesn't do either job as well.

2. There is no performance advantagw of two 6v deep cycle batteries vs. a single 12v deep cycle of the same amp-hour rating. However, the 12v can be hard to find, will be more expensive than two 6v batteries, and (due to the size & weight) will be more difficult to install.

Joel

timetogo · 06-03-2015, 09:41 AM

I bought Interstates about 3 years ago. So far so good. Keep them charged and full of water.

Mtn Dave · 06-06-2015, 10:06 PM

I have had several interstate battery's. very good service from all.

shepd · 06-15-2015, 02:45 PM

Two 6v deep cycle batteries are better than one 12v battery, or even two 12v batteries (assuming your goal is the same number of Ah). With the 12v batteries, you're either going to have one battery that's about twice as heavy as each 6v battery (and thus you might need helpers when you want to replace it) or you'll have twice the number of battery cells to inspect and maintain.

Also, with any 12v battery, you have twice the chance of a single cell failing (due to having double the number of cells) and causing the battery to be trash.

The ultimate would be a 2v single cell battery (thus meaning the least weight to lift, so you could have 6 very large single cells, all replaceable), but of course that basically doesn't exist.

Mr_D · 06-15-2015, 02:52 PM

Our '02 DSDP had Interstate U-2200's, they lasted 10 years so when I replaced them I went with four more of them.
The present MH has 4 8D AGMS and boy are they heavy and expensive (About 160#'s and $500 each). Thinking about going to 8 of the GC-2's and rewiring the bay.