House Batteries

[JimGraves]

Does anyone have any experience with Optima Blue Top 27M batteries?

My Discover EV27A-As are officially dead beyond recovery and O'Reilly is suggesting the Optima Blue Tops at $238 each.

I gather Lifelines (assume the GPL-27T is the equivalent) are about $60 more each ($308 vs. $238).

Are Lifelines really worth the extra bump?

[okmunky]

I prefer golf cart batteries and buy them at Costco for $85 each. It seems to me that you are paying for the next set of batteries ahead of time when you pay that much for "lifetime" batteries. And any warranty is only good for the lifetime of the company that makes them. How long do you plan to keep this RV?

[JimGraves]

Lifeline is the manufacturer of the battery. Warranty is the standard 12/60 not "lifetime".

I was looking at the straight forward replacement of 12V AGM sealed batteries to replace the OEMs that came with my unit. That is a drop in solution.

Local auto shop recommended Optima Blue Tops but I saw some bad reviews on Amazon on Blue Tops and checked here and saw a lot of folks liked Lifeline AGM batteries.

Don't you have to do some modifications to your battery box and wiring to switch to 6V golf cart batteries?

What I want is simple, and reliable.

Oh, I also plan to keep this as long as I am driving. It is a 2015 unit and just the right size for me.

[TUCK55]

I get mine at costco also they work just great dont let them go dry on you must check water ever two months.

[vsheetz]

Optima blue top is a combo marine battery, not a true deep cycle.

[twinboat]

You need to compare specs, not the glossy brochures.

A deep cycle battery is rated by Amp Hours ( AH ) or Reserve Capacity ( RC ). You want the highest rating for your money. You also want it to say Deep Cycle, not dual purpose or have a Cold Cranking Amp ( CCA ) rating as a selling point.

If the Optima has " round " cells, you are paying for air space not lead, the thing that makes a battery more powerful. Check the weight.

[TwelveVolt]

I used the blue tops on the boat because I do not want to deal with liquid acid in that environment. They have performed well. In fact, I have one that has been in storage for five years with no charging. I was surprised to see that it took a full charge and is back in business (YRMV). Note that they come in several sizes.
Now that they are aging out, I have tried the Duracell AGMs from Sam's Club. The first one was DOA, the second I just returned for a free replacement at 17 months under the 18 month warranty. I always bring my CCA tester when buying batteries, or ask to borrow theirs. A good brand will show consistency among units on the shelf. A poor brand will show a variety of readings.
On the RV my preference is four 6-volt golf cart batteries, plus an installed watering kit. Squeeze the watering bulb a few times every couple of months and they work fine. When asked if AGM batteries are a better value, I have yet to meet the qualified rep who can truthfully answer "yes".
You will have to configure your charger for regular lead-acid or AGM because the charging voltages are different. Mixing types is not recommended.
Always check the date-of-manufacture sticker. You don't want to buy two year old batteries.

[pcurt23]

Originally Posted by JimGraves

Lifeline is the manufacturer of the battery. Warranty is the standard 12/60 not "lifetime".

I was looking at the straight forward replacement of 12V AGM sealed batteries to replace the OEMs that came with my unit. That is a drop in solution.

Local auto shop recommended Optima Blue Tops but I saw some bad reviews on Amazon on Blue Tops and checked here and saw a lot of folks liked Lifeline AGM batteries.

Don't you have to do some modifications to your battery box and wiring to switch to 6V golf cart batteries?

What I want is simple, and reliable.

Oh, I also plan to keep this as long as I am driving. It is a 2015 unit and just the right size for me.

Don't you already have 6v batteries. You should stay with the AGM type you are currently using. Trojan, Interstate, Lifeline are reliable brands.

[coachmanjay]

True deep cycle battery will have its specs listed as AH (amp hr) or RC (reserve capacity). For batteries in the same group size the one with the highest weight should have the better specs and longer life, more lead (thicker plates). As stated above Trojan, Interstate, and Lifeline are good brands, but their relative specs can vary by size.

[Winemaker2]

CGs are the lowest $/AHr available due to volume.
They are rugged and will have a long life if treated well.
Rewiring shouldn't be a big deal...you need to interconnect batteries either series w 6V or parallel w 12V.
Sams Club or Costco are usually around $85 ea...hard to beat for 220 AHr for a pair of 6V GCs

[toyotech358]

Have lifeline in my truck camper we DRY camp only never any hook ups , solar charger only , 8 years going strong