School Me on Batteries, Please - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

School Me on Batteries, Please

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry:

If you replace the batteries with the same type - i.e. Wet Cell or AGM and the same TOTAL amp hour rating (does not matter if the batteries are 6 or 12 volts as long as the AH rating is the same) don't touch a thing. No changes are required in the Xantrex just because you install new batteries as long as the batteries are the same in all regards. Brand doesn't matter. TYPE matters - Total battery bank amp hour - AH rating - matters. (Obviously the new batteries must be connected in the same way to end up with "12 volts.")

Based on the age of your batteries and how well they have lasted, 8 years is very good, if it were me, I'd put in exactly what you have now and don't touch the Xantrex. "It ain't broke, don't fix it."

Bill

LarryW21 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Eight years is terrific. What brand are they?

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

They are a brand that I haven't found available yet. The brand name is Mighty Bruin, GC-110. I guess from something I read on one forum, Mighty Bruin are/were generic type batteries used for putting in RV's when they are brand new. Likely not listed as a top quality battery. To add to the aspect of them lasting 8 years, all I've ever done with them is add distilled water ONCE a year.

That said, I was reading the manual on the Xantrex inverter/converter this morning, and I guess that device does an excellent job of managing the electricity. One of the lights on the control panel is supposed to indicate when batteries get low, and that light has NOT come on, even though I have a "step light" in the bathroom with an incandescent bulb in it that is very dim. Now, it seems that even the rope lights could be getting dim.

Terry

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry, a couple of points here. Honestly, your application puts almost zero strain on the batteries. You are always connected to shore power and have a high quality charger so I doubt those batteries have discharged more then 25% a dozen times in their lives. That's one reason they have lasted. If you were to boondock a lot and discharge the batteries to the 50% point a lot they most likely would not have lasted quite as long. Also they would not maintain the same level of capacity if they were put under a heavy load at this late time in their life.

One reason the lights may "dim" is when the charger goes into float and the charger voltage drops down a bit from the bulk / absorption higher voltage levels. Same thing happens in my rig when the charger goes to full float or total "silence" which occurs when the charger turns totally off when the proper time occurs during a 24 hour period.

Sincerely, in your application, I would select the exact same size (amp hour) battery in the lead acid type and replace them. I like Concord / Lifeline batteries because we boondock and "use" the batteries. However, in your application I don't think the extra cost is worth it. A reasonably priced deep cycle battery of the exact same ratings will should work well in your specific, low duty cycle, application.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bill,

Actually, our lights don't dim on occasion. They are constantly dim. And yes, we'll replace with lead-acid batteries because of the cost savings. (We've already had to replace six F450 tires this year. The previous ones were bought new in 2009, but had very little tread wear. They began to crack in the treads.

I'll have to look again, but I was thinking I read somewhere that batteries that get exercised down to 50 percent regularly actually last longer, but you are right in that we are almost ALWAYS hooked up to electricity. Your advice that I don't need to do anything special when I replace the batteries is definitely good news. Thanks a lot.

Terry

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

Being an Old Golf Cart Technician, I'd Opt for the Trojan batteries of the same rating! I've seen Golf Cart Packs last up to eight years if they were maintained properly like you've done, might get more than 8 yrs. The carts from 2008 up went over to EXide, but I have not much experience with them! And you need to replace all because a weak one will not let the others charge fully!

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

PIEERE wrote:
Being an Old Golf Cart Technician, I'd Opt for the Trojan batteries of the same rating! I've seen Golf Cart Packs last up to eight years if they were maintained properly like you've done, might get more than 8 yrs. The carts from 2008 up went over to EXide, but I have not much experience with them! And you need to replace all because a weak one will not let the others charge fully!

Hi, Edd.

Good to hear from you and to know you are still hanging around.

I got in touch with a friend that is part owner of a dealership and does his own RV repair and set-up work. He recommended a Trojan battery. My phone is unavailable (with his text message), so I'll need to look into those. Thanks for your comments. And yes, when I replace, all four will be replaced at the same time.

Terry

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo wrote:
PIEERE wrote:
Being an Old Golf Cart Technician, I'd Opt for the Trojan batteries of the same rating! I've seen Golf Cart Packs last up to eight years if they were maintained properly like you've done, might get more than 8 yrs. The carts from 2008 up went over to EXide, but I have not much experience with them! And you need to replace all because a weak one will not let the others charge fully!
Hi, Edd.
Good to hear from you and to know you are still hanging around.
I got in touch with a friend that is part owner of a dealership and does his own RV repair and set-up work. He recommended a Trojan battery. My phone is unavailable (with his text message), so I'll need to look into those. Thanks for your comments. And yes, when I replace, all four will be replaced at the same time.
Terry

Your Welcome! I also believe DEKA and Interstate make the best engine starting batteries!

Cummins12V98 · RV-Dreams Family Member

The Trojans on our 36' MS made it 8 years. When these no name batteries go bad on our 15 MS I will be buying Trojans!

Watch out some of the Interstate batteries are Mexican made.

dmorse68 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Terry,

I'll be in the market for some more dually tires soon. What brand, make and model tire did you choose for your F450?

-David

Anytimethererepair · RV-Dreams Community Member

Wow 8 years that is pretty impresive

CraigAs · RV-Dreams Community Member

Not sure what a dealer would charge, but Amazon has the Trojan 225ah for about $250 + s&h.

Has anyone considered using the fairly new lithium Ion batteries? They are quite expensive, but take deep discharge well and are all position with no maintenance required.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

CraigAs wrote:

Has anyone considered using the fairly new lithium Ion batteries? They are quite expensive, but take deep discharge well and are all position with no maintenance required.

Do keep in mind, most lithium batteries are not "drop in" replacements as concerns the battery charger. A whole different set of rules and requirements. So if going lithium one must look at the complete package required.

LarryW21 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Generally “knocking” Mexican batteries (or products) isn’t fair or accurate, Cummins.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks, Everyone. Got four new Trojan T-105's put in day before yesterday. We've left Utah to go back to Oklahoma for a while. Our youngest son needs surgery to get some broken ribs to heal properly, and since he isn't married, he doesn't have a "live-in" nurse. So, mom and dad have come back to help him out during his recovery process. On our way to our new location (Sulphur, Oklahoma), we stopped at Elk City, OK to friends there that are DRV Suites dealers and had the batteries put in.

Terry

dmorse68 · RV-Dreams Community Member

God bless you Terry & Jo for going to take care of your boy. Praying for your travels (if still), and for your son's surgery to go perfect with a rapid recovery.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have been set up in Sulphur, OK for a couple of days now. We could be here a few months or perhaps even up to a year, but the wife is encouraging me to "go east of the Mississippi" in some of our travels. Neither of us have been in the southern states much. A friend on a firearms forum suggested that he "would REALLY like to see some pictures taken by me" of the Natchez Trace Parkway area. Looking at where that is and some of the pictures on Google Images, I think I want to hit that area in the Fall for the changing of the leaves.

However, it probably won't be this Fall, unless we just get lucky with the son's recovery from surgeries.

Terry

arcaguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just a hint on the fall colors. I live in Michigan and we generally have good fall colors with oranges, reds and yellows. I went to the Ozarks a few years ago to see the colors all of the locals had been telling me about. Frankly I was fairly disappointed. While they were nice they didn't seem to have the variety of colors that Michigan and the more northern tier of states has. I think it's due to the lack of maple trees as these give off the red and orange colors. I guess what I'm trying to say is you may want to go further north and east to get better colors. Just my thoughts.