House Battery

[Rkesselus]

Just wandering around trying to find a thread about House Battery.
Looking for recommended brands/models and why.

[vsheetz]

Wet batteries are cheapest and get the job done. Trojan 105 and Interstate GC2 are common. Downside is you have to check water monthly and top up as needed.

AGM batteries perform about the same as wet, but require no maintenance. At about twice to three times the price of wet batteries. Lifeline are probably the best. Duracell are lower cost and popular.

[wanderso]

We went with Lifeline AGMs. I really like: none of the corrosion, no fluid levels to worry about, added safety, only loses 1% of charge per month when stored vs up to 10%, etc. We found them at a good price at a local wholesaler.

[Gary RVRoamer]

I've written an article on that subject - the pros and cons of various RV battery types. Basically it's pay me now or pay me later - the cheapest ones last a couple years and the more expensive grades last much longer. The other factor is maintenance requirements, basically none vs regular. If you aren't reliable about maintaining your batteries, a no-maintenance AGM may be worth the premium price.

Read more at Choosing a battery

[Mr_D]

My Interstate U-2200's in the previous Dutch Star lasted 10 years. The OEM AGM's in my present rig were bulging after 6 years. I replaced them with wet cell batteries in 2015. Will go to Lifeline AGM's next.

[Spk64]

I just replaced 4 house batteries and the 2 coach batteries. Old batteries were Trojan T105 with ProFill watering system. I never had any issues with corrosion and watering was a 5 minute task. Old batteries were 9 years old and going strong slight bulging. Replaced them due to age and long trip this summer. I stuck with the same Trojan T105 and a new Profill system.
The cost was my main reason along with no issues from wet cells.

[Mynascar48]

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

I've written an article on that subject - the pros and cons of various RV battery types. Basically it's pay me now or pay me later - the cheapest ones last a couple years and the more expensive grades last much longer. The other factor is maintenance requirements, basically none vs regular. If you aren't reliable about maintaining your batteries, a no-maintenance AGM may be worth the premium price.

Read more at Choosing a battery

We are relative newbies in RVing and I could use your help. You. Recommend lifeline atm batteries. Could you tell me the specific type and the best place to purchase? Ours aren't holding a charge and only 2 1/2 years old. We also would like to know what is the best tool to check the charge. Any advice will be helpful. Thank. Linda Chandler.

[DAN L]

Originally Posted by Mynascar48

We are relative newbies in RVing and I could use your help. You. Recommend lifeline atm batteries. Could you tell me the specific type and the best place to purchase? Ours aren't holding a charge and only 2 1/2 years old. We also would like to know what is the best tool to check the charge. Any advice will be helpful. Thank. Linda Chandler.

We need to know more about your rv.
Plz add this info to the signature portion of your profile.
I purchased my batteries from bd batteries online about 9 years ago.
They are still working well.
There is a post in the archives of this forum with pictures.

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by Mynascar48

We are relative newbies in RVing and I could use your help. You. Recommend lifeline atm batteries. Could you tell me the specific type and the best place to purchase? Ours aren't holding a charge and only 2 1/2 years old. We also would like to know what is the best tool to check the charge. Any advice will be helpful. Thank. Linda Chandler.

You don't give any history of use on your 2 1/2 year old batteries, but changing to AGM, or any other type, is not going to change how long they last. You need to care for them well.

Long battery life depends on how you treat them, not the price.

All batteries need to be stored at full charge or with a float charger running. Many MHs have items running that discharge the batteries, even with the switchs off. If you store your MH, use it every few weeks, and find it with dead batteries, that needs to be addressed.

In use, they should only be discharged to about 50% and then recharged to, minimum, 80% to 90% before the next discharge cycle. If you run them until lights get dim and charge them for an hour or two, they probably are going to fail quickly.

My advice is to replace with inexpensive batteries and add a battery monitor ( and disconnect switch if stored without power ), with the savings. That will give you a good picture of the batteries state of charge, in use. Then you will learn how to make them last, at least, twice as long as your first set.

[jimbo2013]

you can't beat the T-105's, just get the watering system.

AGM's are not what they are cracked up to they go bad too at 3X the cost

[Mynascar48]

Dan L. Thank you for your response. I have updated my signature. I have a 2015 Miramar bunkhouse. I had it in the shop for repair and they let the batteries die. I have four house batteries. We are not traveling often, but plan to in the future. I have had problems with the auto start since purchase, but mainly because no one at Camping World could educate me properly. Now I know how to set it, but it requires me to set it very high and it comes on more often than it used to. I noticed the battery problem on my last trip when my fridge was turning off and not coming back on. I could hear it click and nothing would happen.

[lanerd]

Selecting house batteries is dependent upon how you use your motor home. If you do a lot of dry camping, multiple 6-volt high quality batteries are a must. However, if you seldom dry camp and use shore power most of the time, you can reduce the quantity/quality of the batteries.

Many here are satisfied users of the Interstate GC2 batteries sold by Costco. Typically only about $85 each.

Ron

[Mynascar48]

Originally Posted by twinboat

You don't give any history of use on your 2 1/2 year old batteries, but changing to AGM, or any other type, is not going to change how long they last. You need to care for them well.

Long battery life depends on how you treat them, not the price.

All batteries need to be stored at full charge or with a float charger running. Many MHs have items running that discharge the batteries, even with the switchs off. If you store your MH, use it every few weeks, and find it with dead batteries, that needs to be addressed.

In use, they should only be discharged to about 50% and then recharged to, minimum, 80% to 90% before the next discharge cycle. If you run them until lights get dim and charge them for an hour or two, they probably are going to fail quickly.

My advice is to replace with inexpensive batteries and add a battery monitor ( and disconnect switch if stored without power ), with the savings. That will give you a good picture of the batteries state of charge, in use. Then you will learn how to make them last, at least, twice as long as your first set.

We have 4 (I think) 6 volt batteries. Two came with the RV and I can't see any voltage, just a AE314P designation on battery. We added two 6 volts when we purchased RV. They are Exide Xtra 135 mins. @75 amp, 226 AH @20 hour rate. Is it better to have two 12 volts? Also, what brand of battery tool to check them to see if they are discharging too fast? I don't know half of what i'm talking about. lol

[Kenc1325]

We have a Thor Tuscany 40xte I want to replace the four house batteries. I would prefer the maintence free . What should i look for or is there ones better than others.

Thanks
Ken