Community Forums

JDT · 10-09-2018, 07:10 AM

I have 2 6 volt Interstate batteries that came with the Winslow. I know they run the 12 volt stuff in the coach but they also run our Samsung fridge thru a 1000 watt pure sine wave inverter. We have an automatic transfer switch which changes from shore to inverter and vice versa. The batteries are finishing their 7th season. When we left in early September there were no signs of any problems. We sat in the same spot for over 4 weeks and when I unplugged the shore power the monitor on the inverter showed 11.4 volts. On shore power it showed 13.6. At our first stop the batteries were at 12.4 volts and I had no more issues the rest of the way home.

This tells me the converter and the charging line from the truck are working fine and the batteries are beginning to show their age, right? I'm thinking I will just get a couple of conventional golf cart batteries from Costco or Sam's but I know there are other options, for more money, of course. Any suggestions?

rockintom · 10-09-2018, 07:24 AM

Short answer - I'm with you on the Costco or Sams batts for the money. You can go to Trojon and get a more physically heavier duty construction batt but I think you'll be fine with the Costco for what you use the batts for in a rig.

rarebear.nm · 10-09-2018, 06:32 PM

I agree that your batteries are aged/worn out. Seven years is good on a set of batteries.

I suspect that the GC batteries from SAMS/Costco are made by Deka, a good maker. Deka also makes the GC batteries for Batteries Plus. I've bought these for three RVs and have been very happy with them. Not saying anything bad about buying from SAMS/Costco just another option for your information.

UFO Pilot · 10-09-2018, 06:48 PM

Our local Costco no longer sells Kirkland (house) brand batteries. All of their batteries are now Interstate. Just a FYI.

rockintom · 10-09-2018, 06:49 PM

I think I jinked myself 'cause my bride got up early to go to a 7 AM doctor's appt she's had for 5 weeks. The batt in our 4 year old car was stone cold dead. I had to run to WM to get a fresh one. Still had to cancel her appt. Damn! Life is so interesting with stuff like this, how could anyone get bored?.....it's ALWAYS something. Or as Vaughn Peterson used to say...Oh Lord, what's next? I'm 'bout due for a flat tire or blowout. Now back to the subject!!!!

JDT · 10-09-2018, 07:01 PM

Sorry, Tom. I mention batteries and look what happens. I won't even ask about tires. If Costco sells Interstates now, and I will look next time I'm there, that will probably be my choice.

rockintom · 10-09-2018, 07:31 PM

Yeah, I have no problems with Interstate batts.

babock · 10-09-2018, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UFO Pilot

Our local Costco no longer sells Kirkland (house) brand batteries. All of their batteries are now Interstate. Just a FYI.

Interstate made the batteries for Costco before so they are basically just the same batteries with a different label.

drfife · 10-10-2018, 07:18 AM

I have four 6V golf cart batteries that I bought 4+ years ago at Sam's. No problems or complaints. We too have residential fridge running off inverter when we're off shore power.

Max1 · 10-11-2018, 04:48 AM

If all cables and grounds are tight I would think batts could be load checked at any parts store for the real story.

JDT · 04-11-2019, 09:25 PM

Resurrecting this because I decided to wait until we started traveling before replacing the batteries. I'm thinking about AGM's this time around simply because of the reduced maintenance. My Winslow came with an Inteli Power 9260c converter with the Charge Wizard, a 4 stage charger which will supposedly handle the AGM's. Other than increased cost any reason not to use AGM's? I will need two 6 volt versions which mainly run our Samsung fridge when going down the road. We've never dry camped in 7 years of use and have no plans to start.

rockintom · 04-11-2019, 09:41 PM

Jim,

Thanks for posting something.....this forum is really slow lately. I think you'll be fine since you checked out your converter and it is AGM approved. I've heard AGM's are fussy that way. I never considered AGM as my old school lead 6Vs took just a little water about 3 times a year and that's FTing. That ain't much maintenance to me. So to me, the cost difference wasn't worth it. Just my thoughts. Thanks for listening!!!

rarebear.nm · 04-11-2019, 09:55 PM

I'm with you Tom. We have four 6 volt GC batteries (460AHr) in the 30RSO. In four months in Alaska last summer we never dropped below 89% SoC. The standard lead acid batteries does everything we need plus. So why drop bucks on an upgrade that does not really gain me anything. With that said I understand some people use/need/want all of the capacity they can get so going AGM or lithium makes sense to them.

The 1050 watts of solar has provided 100% of all 12v power for over a year now. The converters are off at the breakers. I like.

IMO- the type of battery that is best depends on your particular energy use patterns.

JDT · 04-12-2019, 07:23 AM

I've always had some issues with the mess the lead acid batteries can make which I guess comes from off gassing. It was really bad when we had 6 batteries in our previous motorhome. I had to sand and repaint the battery compartment before I sold it. When I got the Winslow in 2012 I added some Thermoil to each cell and haven't had too much of an issue other than some gunk building up around a couple of the terminals. We don't dry camp and don't have solar. The only time the batteries get any real use is when towing and the Samsung fridge is running. I have 50 amp service in my rv garage and keep it hooked up year round. I was thinking more about the mess lead acid can make but maybe the AGM idea is not necessary as I think about it.