Community Forums

takepride · 12-17-2010, 11:29 PM

Jim:

I'm surprised (and hopeful) about Jim at Lifeline having recommended using four GPL-6CT batteries mixed with two GPL-4CT batteries. That is the exactly perfect mix to fit my tray, too.

However, a previous discussion tended to lean to not mixing sizes, that they would prey upon each other and not charge/discharge evenly. I do not know that to be true or false. Certainly the owner of Lifeline would know.

I have held off buying new Lifelines until I can figure out what configuration will work best for me. BTW, here is their specification chart:

Lifeline Batteries - Marine & RV Deep Cycle Batteries

Answers anyone? Mr. Lifeline?

wa8yxm · 12-18-2010, 09:35 AM

The folks who claim that parrallel batteries of different sizes won't charge/discharge properly do not know what they are talking about.

Now if you put 4-CT and a 6-CT in series.. Then you have a problem.

But if you take two pair, one 4 and one six (each pair is two 1 12 volt battery made up of two six volt batteries) and then put the two pairs in parallel.. They will always charge and discharge at precisely the same rate if measured by STATE OF CHARGE.. they will charge and discharge at different amp rates (The larger battery providing a greater share of the current) but always at exactly the same STATE OF CHARGE rate... They can do nothing else.

Why (they ask)

If one battery is discharged to a lower state of charge then it will have a lower voltage at the terminal.. This means the battery with the greater charge (State of charge wise) will have more .. Shall we say.. PUSH.. and will thus push all the current till the charge voltages match..

Likewise when charging the battery with the lower state of charge will suck all the current.

Thus they always remain at exactly the same state of charge.. Does not matter what that state is , but so long as they are either charging or discharging they will always be at exactly the same state of charge.

swansnest · 12-19-2010, 12:57 AM

Monty - I am so glad to hear that you really like the Delco Remy Alt and that everything is running better!

When our coach was being built, we bought the Lifeline batteries from Jim and took them up to the factory. WRV credited us for the OEM batteries which was 3/4 the cost of the Lifelines - it was a wise move on our part. Having the wrong Alternator for 6 months ruined the house Lifelines so we replaced them over 2 years ago and have not had a problem with them since. Having the AGM settings at the correct time is another big factor (not letting the batteries discharge too far down). Our first 24 hours dry camping the batteries don't need charging for nearly 20 hours and then it starts up to charge daily for 3 hours with a 30 minute boost just before "Quiet time".

gator67 · 12-23-2010, 05:23 PM

I feel the need to defend the Interstate U2200 batteries and autofill system. I have had these batteries for 5 1/2 years, and a recent check showed them to still be going strong. I think I'm going to replace them this spring, anyway, when I can do it on my terms. I am fairly anal about keeping them clean. There is some corrosion build-up around the bar between the batteries, but other than that, they are pretty clean. I clean them off every 2-3 weeks. Part of my problem, from what I've been told, is that the stems for the autofill system are from the old U2400 batteries so they are 2 mm shorter than they should be, so the water level is higher, and therefore, there is more gassing. My autofill system seems to work fine and, to me, is extremely convenient.

Largeandy · 02-17-2011, 03:04 AM

Mike, met you in quartzite this past Jan. Two quick questions 1. I have 6 wet cell house batts in my 2003 FDTS Alpine, they are a hassle to fill. How expensive are the AGM's and where is the best place to buy them? Thank you.

Just Cruising · 02-18-2011, 08:12 AM

Hi,

Jim at Lifetime was great! I have cleaned up the mess from the wet batteries, repainted the whole compartment, and installed 8 Lifetime batteries. Things look great at this point, but have not been out on a trip yet, but I expect they will work well. Jim even walked me through the inverter settings as I do not have a manual on my inverter and spent over six hours on hold at Xantrex trying to get one to no avail. Again, Jim at Lifetime was a great asset and went far above and beyond to help fix my problems. Thanks for all who answered my original post.

Largeandy · 02-19-2011, 07:23 AM

Could you provide jim's contact info please? I could use his help over the rather confusing subject of RV battery systems in general. The only thing I am sure of is that I do not want to have to "baby sit" my battery system with continual cleanings etc. every 2 to 3 weeks. Another pro lem is that the batteries are hard to fill and the watering systems seem to present a lot of problems. Thank you.

Dale777 · 02-19-2011, 04:45 PM

Largeandy,

Jim at Lifeline can be contacted at:

LIFELINE MARINE & RV BATTERIES
955 Todd Avenue
Azusa, CA 91702
Tel. 626-969-6886
Fax 626-969-8566

See my post # 3 above in this thread.

wa8yxm · 02-19-2011, 06:32 PM

I will say this: GEL is a very bad choice, Of the three main types of small 12 volt batteries out there GEL is the worst, it's very fussy about chargind and discharging, do not go to fast or too far, and GEL batteries are not common (And thus expensive) in the larger capacities we need.

AGM, on the other hand is often confused for Gel.. They do share a lot of features,, Both are VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead Acid) Both can be installed in any position (No "This Side Must Be Up) and both are Maintenance free.

HOWEVER where Gel is the LEAST forgiving of a fast charge.. AGM is the MOST forgiving of a fast charge.

And thus a far far better choice for RV use. They are also more common in the sizes we use and thus ... a bit cheaper.

However unless you have one great big whomping converter the odds are there are no benefits over traditional liquid filled Maintenance free (Or unless you need to mount them other than "This Side Up")

And flooded wet cells (Where access is not an issue) are the lowest priced,,, Generally.

That said: Get a good sale and price comparisions go by by

TechWriter · 02-19-2011, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Largeandy

How expensive are the AGM's and where is the best place to buy them?

I just bought my GPL-4CTs from Lifeline GPL-4CT Battery $282.00 Delivered for $282 each which includes shipping.

Lifelines can be shipped UPS since they are a "non-spillable" battery.

TOJOS · 02-20-2011, 03:14 PM

We replaced all our batteries (8 coach & 2 engine) with AGM's in Sept. to include cables. The Zantrex was reprogramed and seems to work a lot better then before. The only time I open my battery compartment now is to show them off. The only maintance is to dust then off. I enjoyed throwing the auto refill system in the trash.