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Battery replacement

Yahoo Message Number: 20459
I know this subject has been visited before but I'm setting here with 2 house batteries that each have a couple of weak cells as indicated by my tests with a hydrometer and voltage tests. Problem is the 2 batteries that I need to replace don't have a manufacturers name on them but they do say they are deep cycles. They are only 24 months old but were replaced by the previous owner so I don't have any info. Right now we are in Mission, TX and I have been everywhere but nobody has any 8D deep cycle batteries available nor can they get them when they call their suppliers. They either want to cell jel cells at 300 bucks each or use regular 8D replacements which several suppliers have said would work just as well and I can buy them here at a local Sams Club for 109 a piece. I'm just not sure of which is the best way to go. I've also read/heard that the jell cells while maybe a little better aren't that much better given the huge price difference. Looking for some discussion/experiences on the battery issue. The suppliers and dealers that say the regular 8D's work just fine say the the large size of these batteries make the deep cycle feature pretty much irrelevant.
Thanks

Ron 98 Allure 30185

Re: Battery replacement

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20460
Well, if they want that much ($300) for jells, I would seriously consider AGMs (Absorbe Glass Matting?). IMO, AGMs are a much better battery and I think you can get them for a similar price. You need to tell your inverter that you have AGMs though, because as I understand it, the AGMs can't stand the charge rate of lead acid batteries.

Larry, 2003 Allure #30856

Quote from: Ron Schonscheck\[br\
] >

I know this subject has been visited before but I'm setting here

with 2

Quote
house batteries that each have a couple of weak cells as indicated

by my

Quote
tests with a hydrometer and voltage tests. Problem is the 2

batteries

Quote
that I need to replace don't have a manufacturers name on them but

they

Quote
do say they are deep cycles. They are only 24 months old but were > replaced by the previous owner so I don't have any info. Right now

we

Quote
are in Mission, TX and I have been everywhere but nobody has any 8D

deep

Quote
cycle batteries available nor can they get them when they call

their

Quote
suppliers. They either want to cell jel cells at 300 bucks each or

use

Quote
regular 8D replacements which several suppliers have said would

work

Quote
just as well and I can buy them here at a local Sams Club for 109 a > piece. I'm just not sure of which is the best way to go. I've

also

Quote
read/heard that the jell cells while maybe a little better aren't

that

Quote
much better given the huge price difference. Looking for some > discussion/experiences on the battery issue. The suppliers and

dealers

Quote
that say the regular 8D's work just fine say the the large size of

these

Re: Battery replacement

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20461
Ron,

Gell cells require a special set up to use and cannot be substituted for wet cells. Gell cells must be monitored for temperature (using a temperature probe - which you don't have). If they are overheated while charging they will be damaged.

There is a difference between "starting" batteries and "deep cycle" batteries. Starting batteries are constructed to deliver a huge amount of power for a short period of time and not be discharged more than 10-20% before recharge. Deep cycle are constructed for moderate discharge up to 50% before recharge. Within a given size "deep discharge" batteries will cost more than "starting" if for no other reason than the quantities produced although deep discharge will have thicker plates spaced farther apart. Bottom line - there is a difference. Keep looking for "deep discharge".

You can also use AGM's - they are the best, but very expensive, but that's another discussion.

Arthur Block
Intrigue 11332

Quote from: Ron Schonscheck\[br\
]
I know this subject has been visited before but I'm setting here

with 2

Quote
house batteries that each have a couple of weak cells as indicated

by my

Quote
tests with a hydrometer and voltage tests. Problem is the 2

batteries

Quote
that I need to replace don't have a manufacturers name on them but

they

Quote
do say they are deep cycles. They are only 24 months old but were > replaced by the previous owner so I don't have any info. Right

now we

Quote
are in Mission, TX and I have been everywhere but nobody has any

8D deep

Quote
cycle batteries available nor can they get them when they call

their

Quote
suppliers. They either want to cell jel cells at 300 bucks each

or use

Quote
regular 8D replacements which several suppliers have said would

work

Quote
just as well and I can buy them here at a local Sams Club for 109

a

Quote
piece. I'm just not sure of which is the best way to go. I've

also

Quote
read/heard that the jell cells while maybe a little better aren't

that

Quote
much better given the huge price difference. Looking for some > discussion/experiences on the battery issue. The suppliers and

dealers

Quote
that say the regular 8D's work just fine say the the large size of

these

Re: Battery replacement

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20463
My original coach batteries (regular 8D's) went dead in about two years, I replaced them with the Life Line AGM batteries and have been very happy with them. Yes, they are pricey, but they are going on four years now. With the no Maintanence I think it has been money well spent. Bought the third one, for the chassis about three years ago. No adding of water etc. ;-))

Egon

'99 Allure #30321
'02 Tahoe Z71

and the little kids with their fur coats

Quote from: Ron Schonscheck\[br\
] > > I know this subject has been visited before but I'm setting here with 2 > house batteries that each have a couple of weak cells as indicated

by my

Quote
tests with a hydrometer and voltage tests. Problem is the 2 batteries > that I need to replace don't have a manufacturers name on them but they > do say they are deep cycles. They are only 24 months old but were > replaced by the previous owner so I don't have any info. Right now we > are in Mission, TX and I have been everywhere but nobody has any 8D

deep

Quote
cycle batteries available nor can they get them when they call their > suppliers. They either want to cell jel cells at 300 bucks each or use > regular 8D replacements which several suppliers have said would work > just as well and I can buy them here at a local Sams Club for 109 a > piece. I'm just not sure of which is the best way to go. I've also > read/heard that the jell cells while maybe a little better aren't that > much better given the huge price difference. Looking for some > discussion/experiences on the battery issue. The suppliers and dealers > that say the regular 8D's work just fine say the the large size of

these

Re: Battery replacement

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20465
Hi Ron,

I went through this about 6 months ago. I decided to switch over to Trojan T-125 Deep Cycle "golf cart" batteries. It was an easy switch for me. The 4 Trojan T-125's fit in my existing battery compartment with a little space left over. I built a small box in the extra space for my battery water and tools. Worked out well. I do not know if your coach has the same size battery compartment.
Cost of the batteries was approximately $80 each. I did have to buy a couple of cables to complete the setup. As I recall I was into it for about $400 total. I actually bought the batteries from a golf cart repair facility. If you call a golf course they should be able to direct you to a local repair facility in the area. Hope this helps. At the least it should give you another option.

Michael

01' Intrigue #11224

Quote from: Ron Schonscheck\[br\
] >

I know this subject has been visited before but I'm setting here

with 2

Quote
house batteries that each have a couple of weak cells as indicated

by my

Quote
tests with a hydrometer and voltage tests. Problem is the 2

batteries

Quote
that I need to replace don't have a manufacturers name on them but

they

Quote
do say they are deep cycles. They are only 24 months old but were > replaced by the previous owner so I don't have any info. Right

now we

Quote
are in Mission, TX and I have been everywhere but nobody has any

8D deep

Quote
cycle batteries available nor can they get them when they call

their

Quote
suppliers. They either want to cell jel cells at 300 bucks each

or use

Quote
regular 8D replacements which several suppliers have said would

work

Quote
just as well and I can buy them here at a local Sams Club for 109

a

Quote
piece. I'm just not sure of which is the best way to go. I've

also

Quote
read/heard that the jell cells while maybe a little better aren't

that

Quote
much better given the huge price difference. Looking for some > discussion/experiences on the battery issue. The suppliers and

dealers

Quote
that say the regular 8D's work just fine say the the large size of

these

Re: Battery replacement

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20466
Ron,

I did some battery research about a month ago. I looked at various configurations. I have two 8D's (std tractor batteries). I compared them to four 6 volt golf cart batteries (the trojan t-145's) in a series parallel configuration. What I found is that is that there is little or no difference in the Reserve Capacity of both configurations. I think that the Reserve Capacity (RC) is the number that we need to consider when looking for an RV type battery.
Reserve capacity is the number of minutes a battery can maintain a useful voltage under a 25 ampere discharge. Two 8D's in parallel yields a RC of about 900 minutes. The four T-145's in a series parallel configuation gave about the same, but the price for the t- 145's would be about twice as much. But what about the battery quality? That's a tough question and I don't have a good answer for that. In my vehicles....I've had expensive ones go bad fast and cheap ones last forever???? Since I am kind of a "cheap charlie", I came to the conclusion that I would purchase two Champion 8D's from Sam's the next time I needed coach batteries.

For what it is worth.

By the way.....you been out racing? I ran 8.14 sec at 161 mph in my dragster about a month ago. Very happy about that. New heads make more power.
Mike

'95 Intrigue 10061

Quote from: Ron Schonscheck\[br\
] >

I know this subject has been visited before but I'm setting here

with 2

Quote
house batteries that each have a couple of weak cells as indicated

by my

Quote
tests with a hydrometer and voltage tests. Problem is the 2

batteries

Quote
that I need to replace don't have a manufacturers name on them but

they

Quote
do say they are deep cycles. They are only 24 months old but were > replaced by the previous owner so I don't have any info. Right now

we

Quote
are in Mission, TX and I have been everywhere but nobody has any 8D

deep

Quote
cycle batteries available nor can they get them when they call

their

Quote
suppliers. They either want to cell jel cells at 300 bucks each or

use

Quote
regular 8D replacements which several suppliers have said would

work

Quote
just as well and I can buy them here at a local Sams Club for 109 a > piece. I'm just not sure of which is the best way to go. I've

also

Quote
read/heard that the jell cells while maybe a little better aren't

that

Quote
much better given the huge price difference. Looking for some > discussion/experiences on the battery issue. The suppliers and

dealers

Quote
that say the regular 8D's work just fine say the the large size of

these

Re: Battery replacement

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20468
Hi Folks,

I tend to agree with Mike; plain old 8Ds are the best bang for the buck and you can use the deep cycle for the start battery. Interstate 8Ds are $170 in California and $130 in Ohio as reported by a member of this group recently. The big issue is the tie solenoid rated (underrated) at 200 amps, should be more like 500 amps for a boost tie to start the engine when the start battery is discharged. Boost tie can be done but it takes time and procedure. I got 5.5 years out of the start battery and the house batteries are still better than 90% probably due to use of a desulfator across each battery and good battery maintenance.
Fred Kovol

2000Allure30593

Re: Battery replacement

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20470
Fred, 5.5 years out of the batteries in an '04 coach? That is as good as some of the mpg ratings I have seen posted. ;-)) I never could get more than two years out of the 8 D batteries, that is the reason for the switch to the Life Line. Never did care for all of the maintanence work on the batteries. Did that for too many years on the ranch. No, the horses did not have batteries but every other thing seemed to have batteries and always needed charging or replaceing.

Egon

'99 Allure #30321
'02 Tahoe Z71

and the kids in their furry coats

Quote from: fredkovol

Re: Battery replacement

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20472
Ron;

Here's my suggestion.

In Pharr, Tx is Interstate Battery of Texas Valley. 1-956-781-1504.,Located of HWY 281 East Frontage between Nolan and Owasa? I'd get the 8D-MHD batteries. Is the heavier duty version of the 8D. I just bought two of these last week in Columbus, Ohio for $126 a piece, plus tax plus installed ($290).
You should get 36 months out of them.
I'd go for jel, but don't see them as being any better for cycles, just don't have to do as much maintenance. Also the cost.
If you do the 8D-MHD, ask about the manufacturing date. By the way, the 8D-XHD are ok, just lighter lead plates, less cycles, etc.

Steve

95 Magna 5220

Re: Battery replacement

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20473
Hi Steve,

That's what I purchased to replace the chassis battery in our 2000 Allure. Over filling is the number one problem with premature failure.
Back in the late '60s, I was assigned the task for developing the maintenance procedures for all floated lead acid batteries in the US Air Force inventory - it took a year and was then published in the field and overhaul maintenance Tech Orders. I try to provide the best information to this group based on research and experience.
Fred Kovol

2000Allure30593

Re: Battery replacement

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20478
Thanks Steve I'm going to give them a call in the morning and I'll let you know how I make out.
Ron 98 Allure 30185

stephen burdick wrote:

Re: Battery replacement

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20487
Ron,

You might want to take a look at some photos I posted a few years ago on my battery installation. They are T145 Trojan's that have been working great for over three years. I did allot of dry camping on my Alaska trip this year and they did not give me any problem. I perfer the wet cell batteries and do not mind the maintenance. I think they are the best bang for the buck and are very common to find. I personally would not use a starting battery in place of a deep cycle battery.

Not sure what condition your batteries are in as to SG readings. If there are only slight variations between cells and no one cell is showing up dead, then equalization could recover the batteries.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: Ron Schonscheck
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