Replacing OEM house batteries with AGM, need advice

[TMan59]

Lifelines in our Alpine.
Doubt at this point I would use anything else.
Just our experience

[vito.a]

We had two Lifeline 8D deep cycle batteries in our Executive. They look great and are 0 work, but declined after 2 years.
I prefer the true deep cycle T-105 Trojan. They lasted 10 years.

[757driver]

Originally Posted by vito.a

We had two Lifeline 8D deep cycle batteries in our Executive. They look great and are 0 work, but declined after 2 years.
I prefer the true deep cycle T-105 Trojan. They lasted 10 years.

An 8D battery even from Lifeline is more of a starting battery than a deep cycle battery, no wonder it failed after 2 years.

[vito.a]

Originally Posted by 757driver

An 8D battery even from Lifeline is more of a starting battery than a deep cycle battery, no wonder it failed after 2 years.

I agree, but they are a factory installed option on several high end coaches.

[jharrell]

Originally Posted by 757driver

An 8D battery even from Lifeline is more of a starting battery than a deep cycle battery, no wonder it failed after 2 years.

Lifeline does not make a 8D starting battery that I know of they are the same true deep cycle as the others. They all have the same life cycle plot, about 1000 cycles at 50% DOD.

Not sure why they only lasted 2 years, if charged correctly they should last as long if not longer than any Trojan.

[Kodiakan]

The absolute best thing for your batteries is a state of the art "Smart Charger". Do not let them discharge over 50 %. If you run them flat most of them are either not long for this world or DOA.

[jharrell]

Here is Lifelines cycle plot, this is for all of their deep cycle batteries including the 8D.

As you can see it is rated at 500 cycles even at 80% DOD.



Here is Trojans for a 105, pretty much the same at least in stationary use:

[757driver]

Originally Posted by jharrell

Lifeline does not make a 8D starting battery that I know of they are the same true deep cycle as the others. They all have the same life cycle plot, about 1000 cycles at 50% DOD.

Not sure why they only lasted 2 years, if charged correctly they should last as long if not longer than any Trojan.

When a battery starts listing a CCA rating I think it is a dual purpose battery at best, not a true deep cycle battery.

[757driver]

Originally Posted by jharrell

Here is Lifelines cycle plot, this is for all of their deep cycle batteries including the 8D.

As you can see it is rated at 500 cycles even at 80% DOD.

Attachment 234304

Here is Trojans for a 105, pretty much the same at least in stationary use:

Attachment 234303

Trojan shows 750 cycles at 80%DOD, a lot better than Lifeline at 550 cycles at 80% DOD. What am I missing?

[jharrell]

Originally Posted by 757driver

When a battery starts listing a CCA rating I think it is a dual purpose battery at best, not a true deep cycle battery.

So I guess by that definition Lifeline doesn't make deep cycles because it list CCA on all their batteries including my 6V GPL-4CT's.

Not the normal definition of deep cycle though.

[jharrell]

Originally Posted by 757driver

Trojan shows 750 cycles at 80%DOD, a lot better than Lifeline at 550 cycles at 80% DOD. What am I missing?

So that's from their signature line of stationary use solar batteries, they are more expensive than the standard 105 battery, not design for mobile use. Thats also assuming they are kept watered properly.

Unfortunately for some reason Trojan does not publish the cycle plot for their normal 105 deep cycle.

Even so it would not explain why a Lifeline 8D would only last 2 years in a house application as it clearly can be deep cycled.

[757driver]

Originally Posted by jharrell

So I guess by that definition Lifeline doesn't make deep cycles because it list CCA on all their batteries including my 6V GPL-4CT's.

Not the normal definition of deep cycle though.

I would much sooner put 6 GPL-4CT’s in for a house battery bank than 2 8D’s.
Money much better spent in my books for what you get.

[757driver]

Originally Posted by jharrell

So that's from their signature line of stationary use solar batteries, they are more expensive than the standard 105 battery, not design for mobile use. Thats also assuming they are kept watered properly.

Unfortunately for some reason Trojan does not publish the cycle plot for their normal 105 deep cycle.

Even so it would not explain why a Lifeline 8D would only last 2 years in a house application as it clearly can be deep cycled.

Absolutely, all batteries can be deep cycled, some will take it better than others in terms of years of use and life cycles.

[CountryB]

RVGeeks just did a presentation on batteries.
They compared Flooded, AGM, and Lithium. Very nice presentation.

Start watching around the 30:00 mark to get the summary. For me, I'll go with the deep cycle AGM next time (however Lithium may be best buy if you can afford the high initial cost).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ7HMRReZKY