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08-05-2015, 06:22 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Gulf Coast, Alabama
Posts: 2,450
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How to tell GOOD BATTERIES??
Another thread got me to wondering about those large 6V batteries; some with brand names that mean nothing to me. So is there a way for a common man to compare them?
Would the one that weighs the most be the best (amount of lead in it)?
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Rick and Sandy
2003 American Eagle, 59K miles
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08-05-2015, 07:45 AM
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#2
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,201
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Google is the tool I use to research which is best 😃
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08-05-2015, 08:00 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SW FL
Posts: 31,733
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bamaboy473
Would the one that weighs the most be the best (amount of lead in it)?
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Yep. the more lead the more amp hours they can hold. There are only a couple of battery manufacture in the USA with lots of different labels stuck on them. Trojan makes about the heaviest batteries on the market, but if you find a heavier one, buy it.
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Chuck in SW FL
Digital 2021 Cornerstone "B"
A "Digital" 2019 Cornerstone "B" Traded
A "Classic" 2014 Anthem 42 RBQ---Sold
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08-05-2015, 08:12 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake County, IL
Posts: 1,584
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Although, there are many brand names around, there are really not that many manufactures. If you go with Trojan, U.S. Battery, or interstate you can accept the amp-hour rating as a good way to compare them.
Joel
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Retired electronics engineer. Avid paddler & birder.
2011 Silverado 2500HD, diesel, 4x4,crew cab, 8' bed
Palomino Puma 253FBS (27' 5er) & '94 19' Class B
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08-06-2015, 03:30 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Kansas City, MO./Pollock, LA.
Posts: 1,556
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They are all good. If you are trying to compare batteries, you have to compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges.
Use the Amp Hour rating to compare. In my opinion, what I have seen is that 6v - GC2 batteries have ratings from around 210 AH to 240 AH.
Personally, it is about cost and ease of warranty replacement, That is why Sam's club or Costco sells GC2's for around $85 each and will warranty them anywhere in the US.
My 4 year old $78 GC2 batteries from Sam's club are still working well. I just spent a week Boodocking in Oshkosh for a week and drained them to 60-80% SOC (State of Charge) daily with no problems. I also have 4 OZ of mineral oil in each cell and have no corrosion issues. I do have to wipe an oily film every 2 to 3 months, but no corrosion. My 4 GC2 batteries use about 1.5 - 2 quarts of distilled water every 2 to 3 months, and have since they were new, but I full-time in my RV.
Old school battery filler that works well.
http://www.amazon.com/Plews-75-030-C...battery+filler
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06 Hurricane 34FT WH W20 Chassis 8.1L 132K, Steersafe, Koni Shocks, DIY Trac Bar, Tri-Metric 2025RV Battery Monitor, 4-6V Batteries, Scan Gauge 2, Crossfires, 735W Solar Morningstar MPPT-60, WG T4 In-Motion Sat, XM Radio, 07 Chevy Malibu Maxx Toad, Falcon 2, Brake Buddy, Escapee
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08-06-2015, 04:31 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club National RV Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: St. Charles MO
Posts: 4,920
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I like to use the squeeze bulb type it allows me to see into the filler opening while adding the water. Also allows me to suck it out if I over fill slightly. Any auto parts have them.
Sent from my iPad using iRV2 - RV Forum
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2002 Monaco Windsor 40PST 2019 Equinox 1.5L, Blue OX Aventa LX tow bar, Roadmaster EZ5 baseplate, SMI Stay-In-Play Duo, TireSafeGuard TPMS
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08-06-2015, 05:21 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Gulf Coast, Alabama
Posts: 2,450
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mgscott4
T. I also have 4 OZ of mineral oil in each cell and have no corrosion issues. I do have to wipe an oily film every 2 to 3 months, but no corrosion.
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Can you explain that for me? Mineral oil, like what you get at the drug store?
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Rick and Sandy
2003 American Eagle, 59K miles
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08-06-2015, 08:49 AM
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#8
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,201
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08-07-2015, 09:12 AM
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,704
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Most all 6v golf cart (GC2) batteries are made in the same couple of US factories, regardless of the label. They are all good quality. The ones with more lead (weigh more) should be rated for more amp-hours, if that's what you need, but more AH doesn't mean better quality. It's like a bigger gas tank - more but not better (unless you run out of fuel all the time).
AGM batteries have excellent long term reliability and near-zero maintenance, but they typically have a slightly lower amp-hour capacity than flooded cell batteries of the same size. That's due to the internal design differences of AGM vs flooded cells. AGM is "better" if low maintenance is your priority, but the flooded cell type may be better if maximum AH capacity is your goal.
Confused now?
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Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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08-07-2015, 09:26 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Dayton, Nevada
Posts: 298
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer
Most all 6v golf cart (GC2) batteries are made in the same couple of US factories, regardless of the label. ....
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Maybe not anymore. I bought 2 Interstate golf cart batteries in January of this year, and they're marked right on top, "Made in Mexico". They seem to work just fine, so I have no problem with that, but time will tell.
I bought them at our local Costco store. I tried to look up the model number from my batteries on Interstate's web site, but was unable to find it. Maybe these are a proprietary battery made just for Costco? I don't know.
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AC7FM
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08-08-2015, 05:33 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 46
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How are we telling when battries are down to 60% charge ?
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08-08-2015, 06:03 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Kansas City, MO./Pollock, LA.
Posts: 1,556
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I can tell 60% SOC because of my battery monitor. Every RV should have one of these, 3 idiot lights don't count. Mine is the older 2025 model but the 2030 has a few more features. With this monitor I can see exactly how much power is coming in or going out of my batteries.
TriMetric Model Descriptions, Present and Past | Bogart Engineering
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06 Hurricane 34FT WH W20 Chassis 8.1L 132K, Steersafe, Koni Shocks, DIY Trac Bar, Tri-Metric 2025RV Battery Monitor, 4-6V Batteries, Scan Gauge 2, Crossfires, 735W Solar Morningstar MPPT-60, WG T4 In-Motion Sat, XM Radio, 07 Chevy Malibu Maxx Toad, Falcon 2, Brake Buddy, Escapee
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08-09-2015, 03:11 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 46
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I've seen the 2030-Rv model as low as $150.00 but says I need a separate 100-500 amp shunt. How much do they run ?
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08-09-2015, 03:18 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 2,296
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Many different brands out there, however in our 20 years RV'ing we've had excellent service from Trojan's & Interstates.
Good luck with yuour choice...
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Jim & SherrySeward
2000 Residency 3790 v10 w/tags 5 Star tune & Banks system Suzuki XL7 toad
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