Re: Interstate vs Lifeline AGM
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 95583
This thread, and most threads about batteries, always points out that different usage of coaches provides solid reasons for differences of battery types.
As pointed out, if your Plug In to Plug In RV Parker travelers, the a set of wet cells will do you well. I too liked the Pro Fill for ease of use, having used them on two Trojan T125's in our Bounder.
If you sometimes boondock, of full time boondock, many valid reasons to consider the extra costs of AGM's. After reading up on the subject, I went with Lifeline's. Royce (more commonly found in boating) would have been my second choice, and Deka a close third.
We are just now starting our retirement related extended travels. We hope, time will tell if this happens, transition to a mix of 50/50 between boondocking and Plug In to Plug In usage.
So, I went ahead a bumped up our batteries to X's 4 Lifelint L16's for 800 AH bank. (Came close to following Dallas, as he snuck in 1100AH's of 8D's in the same size compartments, with some modifications to allow fit. But my calc's on usage showed that 600AH would support us with no problem.) That 800 provides me a safety edge on top of what I felt 600AH would more then cover us.
We added 1200W of 48V Soar Panels, going with Sharp/Panasonic panels that had higher output at lower angle of sun, and less loss of output due to different temps. I did not tilt them, thus the reason for the overkill on the SP's. My calcs reflected 800W would have supported us well, so beefed it up again to avoid tilting, and also for bad solar days or partial shading days. Feeding the SP down thru Midnight Classic 150 controller, with their Whiz Bang Jr added module, that compensates well for temp changes. At the same time, we upgraded to the PSW Magnum 2800 unit. For the Pure Sine Wave (Feeding my stereo fix 'Got Tubes?' and coffee pots (have burned out three over the years on MSW.))
I mentioned the Magnum, because going to AGM's requires chargers that can be programmed to charge to support them. Both the Magnum and Midnight Classic 150 have established programs for charging both AGM's, and Lifeline's. The Lifelines have a different set of values then other AGM's.
Sure, the normal no gassing is nice with AGM. But it is the faster recharge times that I was going after, as well as the deeper discharge levels, when justifying the added costs of AGM's.
We just spent 6 days boondocking over Victoria Day at Muncho Lake's Strawberry Flats. We were fully charged by 11:00 -11:30AM, even with AM usage of coffee pot, microwave, and stereo. (I've seen outputs of +48AH's into the batteries from the SP bank.) We turned the generator on onetime during this 6 days, when my wife cooked in the Convection Oven for an hour. I waited 30 mins to see how fast this this the battery bank, and it did consume some juice:)!
So for us, so far, Lifeline AGM's have been good. We replaced a set of Deka AGM 8D's that the previous owner had installed, 4 years before we bought the coach. They had been neglected, so their short life I feel is a reflection of this lack of care, over ability of the Deka.
No right or wrong on wet vs AGM, or Deka vs Lifeline vs Interstate vs Etc. Just go pick out what will work for you, and have some fun...
Best to all,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017
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