Community Forums

Aerostar251g · 08-25-2021, 04:40 AM

I have an Entegra Anthem from my understanding they could last up to 10 years they are behind the panel in the very back in the basement on my coach are you sure you are not having an inverter problem mine has 2 inverters in it that run different sections of the coach coach let me know how you make out David

MRUSA14 · 08-25-2021, 06:00 AM

Lead-acid battery life is highly dependent on how they are used, charged, and stored. For best life they should not be discharged more than 50%. A battery should always be stored fully charged. Many coaches are left to sit on factory or dealer lots while not plugged into power. In just a few days, the battery is dead or nearly so. While it may appear to come back after this mistreatment, many have been permanently damaged with their life greatly shortened. You might not notice it at first, but the battery will fail prematurely.

I have had great results with Lifelines. On my previous coach, the original batteries died after 3 years. I replaced with Lifelines and they were still working like new 7 years later. But I always store my coach plugged into power, which keeps the batteries fully charged.

toddyshop · 08-25-2021, 08:43 AM

I need to change mine as soon as they get a new DEF head installed. I’ve looked at how they are buried and not sure I want to handle 120# batteries in that tight of a location. What secret did you come up with.

Rdr1 · 08-25-2021, 02:34 PM

Anyone had experience with Optima batteries? Thinking about replacing house batteries in my 2006 Newmar Ventana

wolfe10 · 08-25-2021, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rdr1

Anyone had experience with Optima batteries? Thinking about replacing house batteries in my 2006 Newmar Ventana

Please tell us what your current battery configuration is.

Alfalfa1 · 08-26-2021, 06:09 AM

Removing and reinstalling batteries in newer Entegra's is super easy. Sliding on the carpet makes it an easier job. I changed mine a few months ago and it was pretty painless.

RedRaider93 · 08-26-2021, 06:27 AM

I have a Foretravel and not an Entegra, but since both are on a Spartan chassis, maybe this will still be relevant. My coach is almost 6 years old now, and last time I had it at Foretravel, they informed me that my house batteries were actually cracked and needed to be replaced (they sent pictures showing the cracks). Sadly, I hardly ever even open the battery bay door, so I didn't realize that had happened. I'm not sure if they cracked due to age, or if it may have happened during the extreme freeze we had in Texas last February.

Anyway, my coach had 5 batteries that needed replacement, and I went ahead and had Foretravel replace them for me, since I didn't totally trust myself to do it correctly, and I wanted to make sure they were wired properly. They charged me about $800 for each battery (they are AGM), so it wasn't cheap. But hopefully the new ones will last at least 6 more years, which is probably longer than I will own the coach.

nella1129 · 08-26-2021, 06:28 AM

2018 Anthem, the first to get the great new Relion batteries. Deader than a door nail waiting three months for lifelines.
Mid September I hope, this has really curtailed or travel plans. Next question is how to install them.

brobox · 08-26-2021, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nella1129

2018 Anthem, the first to get the great new Relion batteries. Deader than a door nail waiting three months for lifelines.
Mid September I hope, this has really curtailed or travel plans. Next question is how to install them.

There are many mobile and marine RV techs in our area that can assist if needed. Where do you store the coach? I may have the name of someone close by.

The link in post five will show the replacement but you do not need the part of adding 2 more batteries.

nella1129 · 08-26-2021, 10:29 AM

Thank you. I am In upstate New York presently.

brobox · 08-26-2021, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nella1129

Thank you. I am In upstate New York presently.

Yeah, the travel expense for my guy in No. Ft Myers might be a little steep.

tschupp · 08-27-2021, 09:28 AM

Has anyone used Interstate ?
I have had good luck with their Chassis batteries and house batteries on my last Coach.
Thanks

RayandWendy · 08-27-2021, 10:01 AM

I had thought about them but their price wasn't more than $5 cheaper than the Lifelines I got from BatteryGuys.

Later...
Ray

jestal · 08-27-2021, 10:11 AM

Kenny, I've been thru this several times with my coach and some friends. The change out is not difficult but is a PIA for s variety of reasons.

If you can make yours live until you get to Wilderness I can help you with the change out.

By then maybe the Lifeline AGM's will be available and you can order those from the Battery Guys and have them delivered directly to your site

Cardinal rule to remember when getting into the house battries is to disconnect the POSITIVE leads to the inverters and 12 system FIRST. Disconnecting the grounds can cause the system to try and ground thru some circuit not capable of handling the load which will destroy that tiem and wiring. From a safety standpoint I was always believed in disconnecting the grounds first but this is NOT the case with the inverters. Always disconnect the red leads to the inverters FIRST. And attach them last of course.

Take a lot of pictures of the existing wiring on the batteries and use colored tapes or tags to confirm routings and connections.

If the Lifelines are not available you might consider going to Discount Battery and getting the appropriate DEKA batteries for replaement. DEKAs are make in Pennsylvania and they make batteries for many, mamy brands (including Interstate.) DEKA is their house battery brand. I have had excellent experience with DEKA batteries in my cars, mowers, etc. Their are at least 10 DEKA batteries around my place and I have not had one fail yet. I believe you can get a regular DEKA maintainence free lead acid battry as a replacement that should be cost effective and as reliable as anything. I have two of this type DEKA batteries for chassis /cummins strting batteries snd they have been completely trouble free for 4 years now. One of them was involved in my thermal incident last year when the exhaust drossover broke in half. It got so hot it melted the DEKA label off! I pulled it out and hsd the local Discount Battery store charge and load test it and it was fine and has been OK for 2 years now. The last I checked you can get an AGM from DEKA but they do not make it. That may have changed, BTW>

Most Discount Battry stores (if they are on the ball) will take your old lead acid batteries and charge them aggressively (which amounts to an "equalization cycle to get the sulfur out of the plates) and then load check them. If you are parked for a bit you could pull the batteries out and have them equalized and checked at a Discount Battery.

They did this to the two factory discover chassis starting batteries and I used them for an additional 2 years before they started to act up again and then i put the DEKA batteries in.

Al Cline