Batteries

[FiverBob]

Here is a great resource for some practical information on batteries. Well written and easily understood.

Batteries -- and Other Electric Stuff by phred

After doing this stuff for 40 years (holy smoke, that long??? HORRORS. LOL), I can vouch for the double GC batteries outlasting the typical RV/Marine 12v by about 3 times as long. I dry camp a lot and use a 2000w inverter. I just replaced my Trojans that were 7 years old. I have run these now for the last 20 years in both my motorhomes and now, the fiver - - much better.

Bob

[JohnBoyToo]

Jeeze - so much angst in this thread it was hard to pick out the useful information...

let's see - is my url rv.net ?!?

[biron]

Originally Posted by FiverBob

Here is a great resource for some practical information on batteries. Well written and easily understood.

Batteries -- and Other Electric Stuff by phred

After doing this stuff for 40 years (holy smoke, that long??? HORRORS. LOL), I can vouch for the double GC batteries outlasting the typical RV/Marine 12v by about 3 times as long. I dry camp a lot and use a 2000w inverter. I just replaced my Trojans that were 7 years old. I have run these now for the last 20 years in both my motorhomes and now, the fiver - - much better.

Bob

You said your Trojans, two 12 volt parallel or two six volt in series?
Thanks

[clyon51]

Originally Posted by biron

You said your Trojans, two 12 volt parallel or two six volt in series?
Thanks

Trojan does make 12v deep cycle, but the "GC" designation refers to 6v Golf Cart batteries.

[FiverBob]

Originally Posted by biron

You said your Trojans, two 12 volt parallel or two six volt in series? Thanks

They are 6v. Contrary to some opinions, it seems the experts all tell us that parallel batteries need to be balanced. In other words, if a parallel battery shorts out (and you catch it quickly before it ruins the other one) and it has some age on it, you are probably best replacing both batteries. You do not necessarily need to replace both 6v batteries is one goes south. My experience with them is you can take the GC 6v down much deeper in discharge without hurting the unit. I have read, and find this true in my usage, that you can go deeper in discharge that the RV/Marine and recharge as much as ten times as many recharges in the life of the battery. Much tougher battery. Pick up a Trojan 105 and a RV/Marine of the same size - - the Trojan will be much heavier due to the thicker plates. That should tell us something. Try them - - ya'll will like them.

Bob

[MattC]

Johnboytoo,

It isn't so much Angst....
Those of us with bad experiences are trying to help others avoid the same bad experiences. Cleaning up after a battery explosion qualifies as a bad experience.

My regular advice to people that insist on paralleling "Marine" "Deep Cycle" batteries is to have baking soda on hand to clean up the acid.

In the little (smaller than 4D) world,
"Marine" means it has wing nuts and
"Deep Cycle" means it costs more.

I'm done doing work on other people's boats after 50+ years.

Matt

[biron]

Originally Posted by MattC

Johnboytoo,

It isn't so much Angst....
Those of us with bad experiences are trying to help others avoid the same bad experiences. Cleaning up after a battery explosion qualifies as a bad experience.

My regular advice to people that insist on paralleling "Marine" "Deep Cycle" batteries is to have baking soda on hand to clean up the acid.

In the little (smaller than 4D) world,
"Marine" means it has wing nuts and
"Deep Cycle" means it costs more.

I'm done doing work on other people's boats after 50+ years.


Matt

My new trailer came with two deep cycle marine batteries in parallel, go figure. I am interested though in the GC system. Thanks

[clyon51]

Originally Posted by biron

My new trailer came with two deep cycle marine batteries in parallel, go figure. I am interested though in the GC system. Thanks

Anything that says "Marine" is a hybrid and not a true deep cycle. Same for any battery which displays CCA or MCA. A true deep cycle will be rated in AH. Two 12v marine batteries in parallel is not bad and you could do worse. It's just if you want more AHs for your $$ and more time before the need to run the genny, then a pair of GC-2s are for you.

[wa8yxm]

Originally Posted by SultanGris

How about those optima gel cell batteries? Anyone know anything about those?

No such battery exists.., Optima is not GEL

Optima is AGM

And this is what I know about them.. For any given battery size class (IE: Group 27) Optima has about 60% the capacity of the same size Lifeline, or Interstate or ______ retangular cell battery.

They also cost more

This makes them the WORST bang for your buck, and a poor choice for RV use.. Less the RV is a 4-runner type or wave runner type run-float about that is going to be slamming over ruts, rocks bumps or waves and driven in the manner not suitable to RV driving.

(The optima is a very "Sturdy" design able to take more phsical punishment than other batteries)

I do not recommend them for RV use due to the capacity issue.. EXCEPTION... I have read from one poster for whom the WEIGHT of a standard battery was a problem but the optima being lighter, was not.

Still, way too muich money for way too little Amp hours.

[SultanGris]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

No such battery exists.., Optima is not GEL

Optima is AGM

And this is what I know about them.. For any given battery size class (IE: Group 27) Optima has about 60% the capacity of the same size Lifeline, or Interstate or ______ retangular cell battery.

They also cost more

This makes them the WORST bang for your buck, and a poor choice for RV use.. Less the RV is a 4-runner type or wave runner type run-float about that is going to be slamming over ruts, rocks bumps or waves and driven in the manner not suitable to RV driving.

(The optima is a very "Sturdy" design able to take more phsical punishment than other batteries)

I do not recommend them for RV use due to the capacity issue.. EXCEPTION... I have read from one poster for whom the WEIGHT of a standard battery was a problem but the optima being lighter, was not.

Still, way too muich money for way too little Amp hours.

Fair enough, I'm no battery expert. Learning lots from this thread. All I know for sure is that they can be mounted anywhere, even upside down and last 100x as long as a regular car battery. Not sure why they wouldn't just use a deep cycle one for stereo systems if they last longer. I had one 10 years ago and was told it was gel instead of lead acid which is why you can mount them upside down or under the back seat without issues.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by SultanGris

Fair enough, I'm no battery expert. Learning lots from this thread. All I know for sure is that they can be mounted anywhere, even upside down and last 100x as long as a regular car battery. Not sure why they wouldn't just use a deep cycle one for stereo systems if they last longer. I had one 10 years ago and was told it was gel instead of lead acid which is why you can mount them upside down or under the back seat without issues.

Our 2002 OEM batteries (Interstate U-2200's) lasted 1 month short of 10 years and actually had life left but we were headed out on a trip and I didn't want trouble on the road. In 2004 I added 4 oz of mineral oil to each cell too.

[Enokie]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Our 2002 OEM batteries (Interstate U-2200's) lasted 1 month short of 10 years and actually had life left but we were headed out on a trip and I didn't want trouble on the road. In 2004 I added 4 oz of mineral oil to each cell too.

was beginning to unwind the confusion ... almost there... then here you are with a new twist (to me)

Why the mineral oil? also how often and do you just add distilled water on top of it?

No one else has mentioned this and my thought is things won't rust... if they can..

[Westwind]

Check out Interstate ECL Pro series, new product, I'm in the market to replace the battery on our FW and if I like what I hear I'm going to try one.
My Exide is chewing thru water like crazy. My buddy across the street is having the same problem with his. My previous Interstate would only need water once maybe twice a year. I'm putting water in the Exide every 4 weeks. My Progressive converter checks out so the battery is the problem.

[Stan.Birch]

Originally Posted by Westwind

My Exide is chewing thru water like crazy. My buddy across the street is having the same problem with his. My previous Interstate would only need water once maybe twice a year. I'm putting water in the Exide every 4 weeks. My Progressive converter checks out so the battery is the problem.

When you say that your "converter checks out"; does that mean that your converter is maintaining your batteries at 13.5 volts??

You have to add water every 4 weeks, summer and winter??