Battery Upgrades

[RubiconTrail]

Originally Posted by Fattman-Litlboy

We've decided to order Lifeline batteries,
P/N: GPL-4ct, which come with a 5yr warranty, compared to 2yr with Fullriver DC224. Lifeline is used by the US Coast Guard, and pass rigorous Mil-Std testing. I'll pay the extra for the quality, reliability, and warranty.
GPL-4CT - Lifeline Batteries

Same thing I did in our anthem. LOVED the Lifelines. Cured my battery problems until we traded the coach in. Killed me to trade the Lifelines in with the coach, but what can you do?

[FreshAir]

I have been using 4 Lifeline GPL-6CT's for about a year and am really happy with them. They are 300 AH for a total of 600 ah. They are 13.5" tall and will fit the Aspire 4 battery tray.

On an interesting note, I talked with Lifeline the other day re the GPL-6CT to confirm my Magnum settings and was told Tiffin is now using them for an upgrade to 6 of them for a 900 ah battery bank. Lifeline said they are having a hard time keeping up with the demand from Tiffin on the 6CT's. Lifeline also mentioned they were designed to be the highest AH battery on the market to fit the standard 10.3" x 7" footprint.

pat

[MRUSA14]

I ordered my Lifelines from the outfit listed below.

Gary Sutch
Tri State Battery
107 Albe Drive
Newark, Delaware 19702
Tri-State Battery Warehouse :
PHONE
800-852-9700

Got a very good price which was less than I've seen advertised online, and because I will pick them up in Delaware, there is no sales tax or freight. I have a bad back and can't easily lift heavy objects, so they will install them for me three weeks from now for a small additional fee.

I have purchased from these folks before (10 years ago) and I was very happy with their service.

[757driver]

Originally Posted by Fattman-Litlboy

We've decided to order Lifeline batteries,
P/N: GPL-4ct, which come with a 5yr warranty, compared to 2yr with Fullriver DC224. Lifeline is used by the US Coast Guard, and pass rigorous Mil-Std testing. I'll pay the extra for the quality, reliability, and warranty.
GPL-4CT - Lifeline Batteries

Very nice Jim! Lifeline are excellent batteries and the extra capacity of 880 AH total vs. 828 AH will be nice to have.

[Fattman-Litlboy]

Installed my Lifeline batteries today. So pleased with these Mil-Std batteries. Lifeline batteries are American made and used by all the DOD agencies...even on the F16, F35, and F22 fighter aircraft. EQUALIZATION is done once a year at 15.5V for 8hrs, and they come with 5yr warranty vice one year for Discover (Chinese made) batteries. Bought them through Batteryguys.com in Glendale, Az, with free shipping (2-3days) and no tax for $299 per battery. Here's a photo of the install.

[757driver]

Very nice Jim!!

[gizmo123316]

Really nice! That's exactly what I am about to do. Just when is the question, but sooner than later. Thanks for the post and pictures.

[Fattman-Litlboy]

FYI I neglected to state that the Lifeline setting is AGM 1.

[brobox]

Jim, thanks for posting the price and place to purchase for the Lifelines. Good price.

[Tom n Sandra]

I have decided to swap to four of these LiFeBlue batteries. Does anyone know of a reason this does not make sense?

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by Fattman-Litlboy

FYI I neglected to state that the Lifeline setting is AGM 1.

Jim, you did good. Also, as you may already know, besides the AGM 1 setting you'll want max. charge at 100% and charge time at 2.5 hrs. A charge rate of 13.1 or 13.2 V in float is perfect. An interesting thing I found out about Equalizing Lifelines. Last fall I happened to have a long talk with the owner/developer of Lifetime batteries and instrumental with the design of the Magnum system. He owns a 2013 Tiffin and said he has never Equalized his Lifelines. We were talking in general about Lifeline AGM's so I'm thinking it apply's to all Lifeline AGM's. FWIW.

Also,in most police cars packing an additional battery it will likely be a Lifeline. So I'm told by Lifeline?

[757driver]

Originally Posted by Tom n Sandra

Attachment 175938
I have decided to swap to four of these LiFeBlue batteries. Does anyone know of a reason this does not make sense?

Tom,

I am looking at the same batteries. The only potential problems I see are,

1. Space- these batteries will take up a larger footprint that the 4 L-16's that are factory so modifications will need to be made.

2. Charging- These LifeBlue batteries recommend a charge of 14.6v and a Float of 13.9v. The closest you can get with the Vegatouch settings is AGM2 which will give you a charge of 14.5v and a Float of 13.5v. Check with Larry at Starlight Solar to see if he thinks this will work satisfactorily.

3. Absorb Time- Once lithium batteries are at their full charge voltage they do not like to be charged at this voltage for very long. For these batteries once they reach 14.5-14.6v they should only be held there for about 10 minutes prior to going into Float charge. In the Vegatouch panel Absorb time is determined by battery amp hour size (ie 800 AH). An 800 AH setting will give an Absorb voltage of around 2 hours which is way too long. Experimentation would need to be done to see how low of an AH setting would yield an Absorb time of approximately 10 minutes. Perhaps 50-100 AH setting would work I do not know. I also do not know if the Absorb time will be able to be dialed back that far below the 800 AH setting and if dialling it back will yield a low Absorb time.

[Tom n Sandra]

Originally Posted by 757driver

Tom,



I am looking at the same batteries. The only potential problems I see are,



1. Space- these batteries will take up a larger footprint that the 4 L-16's that are factory so modifications will need to be made.



2. Charging- These LifeBlue batteries recommend a charge of 14.6v and a Float of 13.9v. The closest you can get with the Vegatouch settings is AGM2 which will give you a charge of 14.5v and a Float of 13.5v. Check with Larry at Starlight Solar to see if he thinks this will work satisfactorily.



3. Absorb Time- Once lithium batteries are at their full charge voltage they do not like to be charged at this voltage for very long. For these batteries once they reach 14.5-14.6v they should only be held there for about 10 minutes prior to going into Float charge. In the Vegatouch panel Absorb time is determined by battery amp hour size (ie 800 AH). An 800 AH setting will give an Absorb voltage of around 2 hours which is way too long. Experimentation would need to be done to see how low of an AH setting would yield an Absorb time of approximately 10 minutes. Perhaps 50-100 AH setting would work I do not know. I also do not know if the Absorb time will be able to be dialed back that far below the 800 AH setting and if dialling it back will yield a low Absorb time.

Don do you know who we can contact to get this info?

[757driver]

Originally Posted by Tom n Sandra

Don do you know who we can contact to get this info?

Tom,

For question 1 it is a matter of modifying the space.

For question 2 contact Larry at Starlight Solar.

For question 3 I don't think Firefly or Entegra would know. Someone with a 2017 or a 2018 with Vegatouch could discharge their batteries to 12.3v, reduce the battery AH setting to 50-100AH (if possible) and then let it go through a charge cycle and see how long it is in Absorb prior to going into Float.

One other thing I thought of that PJ at Entegra or someone at Firefly could possibly answer is with the 2018's there is possibly an automatic Equalize charge that occurs monthly that would ramp the voltage up to 15.5v that would shut down the LifeBlue batteries and eventually do harm.