New Trojan Batteries

[crockwood]

Hello all: I always had issues when boondocking and batteries wouldn't hold up. I used costco deep cycles 12volt. 4 of them. Says 115 amp hour. But they are not True DEEP CYCLE.

I can't fit the 6volt Trojan T 105's in because tray is divided and snugly fits group 27's.

So, I went with 4 Trojan 27tmh Deep Cycle. These things are heavy, probably 10 lbs heavier than the costco batteries. .

Has anyone used these? I know that everyone says go 6 volt, but I couldn't and hope these hold up well....
Chris

[NHRA225]

Typical listings for Group 27's are 180 Amp hours and the T-105's are are 225 Amp Hours. It all depends on how your going to use them and for how long before re-charging, for Dry Camping you should be ok for a day maybe more depending on your amp draw.

[crockwood]

Thanks for the reply nhra. . Yeah, I was tired of having dead batteries all the time. I wish I had the space for the 6volt Trojan. But hopefully, the 12volt hold up. I could have had the tray built, but with the cost, plus cables.. seems better sticking to the 27's chris

[CountryFit]

if you have a deep pocket, consider lithium batts read this heated debate http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/lith...es-227301.html

[crockwood]

country fit: Yeah, well that seems too pricy for me, lol. I had a hard time letting go of $800 for 4 batteries. I just hope these last like the 6volts seem to do. I don't dry camp much, and remove my batteries when RV is parked. I just want them to work when I need them to.

Chris

[wa8yxm]

Originally Posted by NHRA225

Typical listings for Group 27's are 180 Amp hours and the T-105's are are 225 Amp Hours. It all depends on how your going to use them and for how long before re-charging, for Dry Camping you should be ok for a day maybe more depending on your amp draw.

I would believe 80 for a Group 27 or did you mean for two of them?

To the O/P. There are many ways to comput amp hour ratings on batteries. the "Standard" we use here is the C/20 method That is how many amp hours if you discharge at a rate that will take it from Full to Empty in precisely 20 hours.

For a Group 27 that is just under 100 amp hours, (90 is good, I usually use 95 for my estimates) That is each

For the T-105's you do NOT add when you pair them (you add voltage since you put 'em in series)

Wal*mart uses the 1 amp rate,, how many hours will it take if you draw power at 1 amp. this gives a much larger number for most batteries,, Some use a 5 amp rate, some more, some less,

Very confusing.. I can never remember the name of the person who discovered that the slower you discharge them the longer and then some they last (Plunket or Perket or something liek thiat) but there are web sites devoted to it.

You are right that a true deep cycle is better than a MARINE/deep cycle.

If you can not find Trojan,, Interstate sells a good GC-2 size battery, My Work-a-holic U-2200s lasted 9 years.

DEKA also makes and sells one,, DEKA is an all USA battery, even the lead is smelted in the US. No comment yet on how good the batteries are but man are those G-20's heavy. (Their model number for the ones I have 230 amp hour model).

[crockwood]

Wa8xym, thanks for your reply. The battery says 115ah @20 amps.. it's their highest rated group 27 deep cycle. I read that if discharged to 50

%, they will last longer. I'm
guessing that would be around 12.2v??

Aren't the Trojans made in So Cal? Who knows these days, probably built in so cal with Chinese parts. Hahaha
Chris

[BendOR]

You'll be fine with those group 27's. Just follow Trojan's charging recommendations and keep them watered. Yes, 2 g27 12v can be considered equal to 2 6v GC's, plus or minus a bit.

Got something other than a voltmeter or silly status lights to monitor usage and charging?


ETA: If this is in your '87, might look into upgrading the charging system. You'll need 14.8v and 75-100 amps at the batts.

[TQ60]

14.8 in float will boil them.

13.5 better BUT....

Have your dealer print a spec sheet for the batteries and then circle the section relating to charging voltage for float.

It is their responsibility to provide this as it is critical to long life and performance of the batteries.

Get a good quality voltmeter and verify its accuracy then confirm your voltage is correct.

[chboone]

Attached is the data sheet for the 27TMH.
Daily charge 14.8

Float 13.2

Equalize 15.5

[chboone]

As suggested, if you haven't done it you should update the charger to a 3 or 4 stage that can match Trojan's recommended charging perimeters.

[wa8yxm]

Originally Posted by crockwood

Wa8xym, thanks for your reply. The battery says 115ah @20 amps.. it's their highest rated group 27 deep cycle. I read that if discharged to 50

%, they will last longer. I'm
guessing that would be around 12.2v??

Aren't the Trojans made in So Cal? Who knows these days, probably built in so cal with Chinese parts. Hahaha
Chris

SO they are using the 20 amp rate. 115/20=5.75 hours, Humm, they may be higher capacity than 115 then at the C/20 rate.

DEEP CYCLE can go to 50% with little loss of life, MARINE/deep cycle can not, they need to be fuller, Also heaven forbid a "OPPS" Level discharge (Say to 10 percent state of charge) DEEP CYCLE are more likely to recover.

As to where Trojan's are made.. I do not know. I do know however I am told that there is only one Lead Smelter left in the US. And that owned by East Penn battery company, (MK and DEKA and I assume some 3-rd party labels) so I would assume the lead is imported.

[chboone]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

SO they are using the 20 amp rate. 115/20=5.75 hours, Humm, they may be higher capacity than 115 then at the C/20 rate.

Foot notes from data sheet,
A. The number of minutes a battery can deliver when discharged at a constant rate at 80°F (27°C) and maintain a voltage above 1.75 V/cell. Capacities are based on peak performance.

B. The amount of amp-hours (AH) a battery can deliver when discharged at a constant rate at 80°F (27°C) for the 20-Hour and 100-Hour rates and 86°F (30°C) for the 5-Hour rate and maintain a voltage above 1.75 V/cell. Capacities are based on peak performance.

The "A" is for foot note is for Capacity Minutes and "B" is Capacity Amp Hours.
Trojan actually does make higher capacity12V thick plate true deep cycle battery. They are slightly larger and heavier the 27TMH. They are T-1275 and the J150 and J185. Interesting fact I found out from Trojan support is thin plate Marine/RV Deep Cycle Batteries have a charge life of 600 cycles. Thick plate true deep cycle batteries have a charge life of 1200 cycles. Don't let anyone tell you that Marine/RV deep cycle batteries are the same as true deep cycle batteries. As wa8xym said Marine/RV batteries can not take the same deep cycling as a true deep cycle can. Marine/RV deep cycles are starting battery with characteristics of a deep cycle battery. If you see a battery with CCA rating it is a starting battery. True deep cycle do not have CCA rating because they are not a starting battery.

[crockwood]

Chboone, thanks for your reply. I'm using cheap float chargers for now. I'm gonna order the genius 4 bank charger this weekend. I talked to NOCO, and they said the G4 will work fine.

The inverter is a xantrex freedom 458 2500watt.. it's a 3 stage charger with 130 amps

Also, the battery is listed as deep cycle, and only gives ah rating.. I went to interstate battery store, and the guy tried to sell me a hybrid battery. I said no thanks. Lol