Community Forums

Sunsetranch · 12-25-2016, 05:15 PM

I'm thinking of replacing my almost dead AGMs with Interstate GC2 batteries.
Has anyone replaced the AGMs with golf cart batteries, as the height on the upper battery shelf is very tight?

vsheetz · 12-25-2016, 05:35 PM

Are you thinking of going from a sealed battery to a wet battery? If so, and the fit is tight, will you be able to access to check/add water? If not a watering system us recommended.

buddy110 · 12-25-2016, 06:48 PM

Why switch? The AGM's are far safer

FreshAir · 12-25-2016, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunsetranch

I'm thinking of replacing my almost dead AGMs with Interstate GC2 batteries.
Has anyone replaced the AGMs with golf cart batteries, as the height on the upper battery shelf is very tight?

Your AGM's under normal usage should last you a lot more than three years. Possibly something else may be causing you battery problems? Unless you can recall a situation that may have damaged your batteries I would suggest a thorough check of your coaches battery charging and maintenance systems if you haven't already done so.

brobox · 12-26-2016, 04:48 AM

There have been several 2014's that have had to replace batteries already, mine included. That winter had a long spell of 30 below temps that closed the plant several times as the roads were closed. The plant was the small one back then a it's my belief that several of the 14's were exposed to that cold sitting outside not plugged in.

Mine sat on the delivery lot for 3 weeks waiting for weather to clear before my coach could be delivered to FL. No question in my mind why my batteries didn't make it for a year.

Sunsetranch · 12-26-2016, 08:43 AM

Exactlly Chuck, we've equalized them and always had them pluged in when in our care. There was a time at the paint shop for warranty paint that they were supposed to keep it plugged in but can't be sure what happened there. At this point we cant make it throught the night on battery

Wish I had come to this conclusion while under warranty they were already weak then but I thought I could refresh with equalizing appears not. I hate it to be about the dollar, but AGMs are over $300 each and GC3 at Costco approx. $85 each for similar amp hours. Yes, I will have to check and refill water and that is a pain for sure...
Biggest concern is the clearance the GC3 are almost an inch taller. Thought by now someone would have come to this issue, on their dollar. Just can't help but think of the many things we can do with the $2000 difference...

brobox · 12-26-2016, 09:26 AM

Doug,
My batteries were not holding a charge on our first trip. Entegra said the inverter/chargers were setup incorrectly by "who knows" and did an over the phone setup. It never helped. Thankfully the batteries totally quit on our way to our PDI. Any type of batteries will not take 30 below, not plugged in for any amount of time like they had in the winter of 13/14 in Middlebury.

I know the AGM's are expensive, but the benefits almost out weigh the costs. No matter what I did, I could only get 3 years out of golf cart batteries with our heat in FL. If the AGM's last longer like they are suppose to, that would cut the price in 1/2.

select55 · 12-26-2016, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddy110

Why switch? The AGM's are far safer

safer?? LOL at that ideal ;; in what way?

MRUSA14 · 12-26-2016, 10:23 AM

Chuck, cold weather in itself does no harm to the batteries. Given identical treatment, they will last longer in cold temperatures than in hot temperatures. The problem with your batteries sounds like it was that they were allowed to discharge for weeks without charging, not the cold weather.

To me the AGM batteries are well worth the premium. I have had premature failures with flooded batteries followed by more than twice the life using AGM's. The ease of maintenance and squeaky clean battery compartment was a bonus. But I cannot understand Entegra's instruction to equalize AGM's. To me that is just wrong, and nearly every AGM manufacturer says so. I think the equalizing may have contributed to the failure of the OP's batteries.

757driver · 12-26-2016, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunsetranch

Exactlly Chuck, we've equalized them and always had them pluged in when in our care. There was a time at the paint shop for warranty paint that they were supposed to keep it plugged in but can't be sure what happened there. At this point we cant make it throught the night on battery

Wish I had come to this conclusion while under warranty they were already weak then but I thought I could refresh with equalizing appears not. I hate it to be about the dollar, but AGMs are over $300 each and GC3 at Costco approx. $85 each for similar amp hours. Yes, I will have to check and refill water and that is a pain for sure...
Biggest concern is the clearance the GC3 are almost an inch taller. Thought by now someone would have come to this issue, on their dollar. Just can't help but think of the many things we can do with the $2000 difference...

Doug,

I feel your pain, $300 each vs. $85 is a big difference when it is our dollar. If you do not mind the watering and the cleaning there is nothing wrong with putting flooded batteries back in. The Discover AGM's are sapposedly 10.8" tall so careful measurements would need to be taken to see if the new Interstates would fit. While most flooded batteries can't take the higher charge rate that AGM's can you can buy a lot of generator run time for $2000.

757driver · 12-26-2016, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRUSA14

Chuck, cold weather in itself does no harm to the batteries. Given identical treatment, they will last longer in cold temperatures than in hot temperatures. The problem with your batteries sounds like it was that they were allowed to discharge for weeks without charging, not the cold weather.

To me the AGM batteries are well worth the premium. I have had premature failures with flooded batteries followed by more than twice the life using AGM's. The ease of maintenance and squeaky clean battery compartment was a bonus. But I cannot understand Entegra's instruction to equalize AGM's. To me that is just wrong, and nearly every AGM manufacturer says so. I think the equalizing may have contributed to the failure of the OP's batteries.

Marc,

I can't understand it either. While the batteries very well may have been abused prior to OP's getting the coach I do not think the equalizing helped.

select55 · 12-26-2016, 11:29 AM

Quote:

I feel your pain, $300 each vs. $85 is a big difference when it is our dollar. If you do not mind the watering and the cleaning there is nothing wrong with putting flooded batteries back in. The Discover AGM's are sapposedly 10.8" tall so careful measurements would need to be taken to see if the new Interstates would fit. While most flooded batteries can't take the higher charge rate that AGM's can you can buy a lot of generator run time for $2000.

where can anyone buy uc2200 series 6 volt GC batterys for 85$
u can buy a cheapo Costco 6 volt for 85$
the high amp us battery 2200 series are usually in the 150$ range

also to note lifeline agm can be equalized

buddy110 · 12-26-2016, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by select55

safer?? LOL at that ideal ;; in what way?

In the event of a rupture, they don't spew acid everywhere

twinboat · 12-26-2016, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by select55

where can anyone buy uc2200 series 6 volt GC batterys for 85$
u can buy a cheapo Costco 6 volt for 85$
the high amp us battery 2200 series are usually in the 150$ range

also to note lifeline agm can be equalized

Lifeline calls it " Conditioning " and only done when capacity has noticeably dropped, not as a routine.

I like my cheapo Sam's Club batteries. Run them from 80% down to 60% every day for 6 months. Last 4 or 5 years and swap them out.