house batteries

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house batteries

May 18, 2006, 10:05:43 pm

I have one bad batterie and am planning to replace both on my '03 Allure. Would like to hear some input on GelCel vs AGM batteries! Any help would be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: house batteries

Reply #1 – May 19, 2006, 09:56:24 am

Yahoo Message Number: 22915

On my '99 Allure, I had my two house batteries (wet cells) go bad after 2 1/2 years. This also happened with my '87 CC and kept replacing the wet cells every 2-3 years. When the batteries went bad on the '99 I replaced them with the Lifeline Batteries and two years later replaced the chassis battery with a Lifeline. Have not had any problems with them since then.

Back in March, was boondocking in Colorado, had to run the suburban heater, TV, lights, Microwave, hairdreyer etc and only ran the gen a couple of hours everyday to bring the batteries back to full charge.
The house batteries will be six years old next month. Will replace these when they go bad with Lifelines again.

Egon

'99 Allure #30321
'02 Tahoe Z71

Quote from: dutchhe

Re: house batteries

Reply #2 – May 19, 2006, 11:58:28 am

Yahoo Message Number: 22919

I just replaced wet cells on my 2002 Allure. Got four years out of them, but I frequently checked water level and equalize charged them every 10 to 12 months.
Also, I didn't replace them until absolutely necessary since we were not doing a lot of dry camping. So maybe I only really got 3 1/2 years.

I sprung for AGM's despite roughly 2x cost. Have not really put them to a dry camping test yet, but my understanding is the AGM's will perform similar to wet cells in terms of the length of time the battery will support a given load. But the life of the AGM is significantly longer than wet cells and they require no maintenance. So if you like your coach and are planning on keeping it AGM is the way to go. If you plan to trade it in 2 years anyway, then I would think about wet cells, since it might be difficult to recover your value in the trade, although a knowledgable buyer should see the AGM's as an advantage. Can't guarantee that idea!

The only negative - I think I will particularly miss the acid holes in my favorite shirts!!!

Bob 2002 Allure 30760

--- dutchhe dutchhe@...> wrote:

Quote

I have one bad batterie and am planning to replace > both on my '03

Allure. Would like to hear some input on GelCel vs > AGM batteries!

Any help would be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >

Re: house batteries

Reply #3 – May 19, 2006, 01:05:05 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 22920

I agree except for one item. Never let the AGM battery run down and stay down for a period of time. In my case I got sick, and was not able to run the gen. every month, will the AGM would not recover no matter how many times on "equalized". I then replaced batteries but added solar and I have been good to go every since. Solar keep batteries up all winter wilthout ever running gen.

I admit I live in CA, but it does rain. ha ha

Thank you,

Jim Spivey

Re: house batteries

Reply #4 – May 19, 2006, 01:16:11 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 22921

I replaced the 3 wet cells with Lifelines when my chassis battery died. The AGM batteries are better than expected. When I store the coach, they will still show a 90% charge even after a month! As far as I am concerned, they are the best thing since sliced bread. I would never go back to a wet cell, gel included, since using the AGM. They cost almost 3x that of a wet cell and they weigh 2x as much but in my opinion they are worth it. No more fooling around with filling cells and ruining shirts, just install them and forget them. Just make sure your charger controller will support the charging requirements of the AGM.

Don

'02 Intrigue #11427

Quote from: dutchhe

house batteries

Reply #5 – May 26, 2006, 11:40:32 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 23026

Thanks to all who responded to my problems with the house batteries. I bought and they installed 2 AGM batteries , it has been 10 day's and the coach is in storage, checked on the status of the batteries and lost .2 volts. So they seem to be doing a great job! Again thanks for all the input............!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: house batteries

Reply #6 – May 27, 2006, 12:09:25 am

Yahoo Message Number: 23027

This is what I have been telling people. These AGM batteries just don't drop voltage like a lead acid battery does.

Don

'02 Intrigue #11427

Quote from: dutchhe

house batteries

Reply #7 – June 04, 2010, 02:39:32 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 59998

Hi there,

I need to replace my house batteries, and was wondering if anyone had suggestions on the best batteries to install. I don't know much about batteries, and due to the expense, I would like to do this right the first time.
Thanks for all responses in advance,

Jerry Keller

2006 Allure #31347

Re: house batteries

Reply #8 – June 04, 2010, 03:06:47 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 59999

My opinion only, but AGM Gell cells are the best, and most money. They have a 5 year warranty, and seem to work well for at least that long. I had them on a previous coach, and will replace the wet cells I have now when they go bad with AGM's. I feel they are worth the difference.

Dale Morris 91 Savanna #4702

Re: house batteries

Reply #9 – June 04, 2010, 04:17:15 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 60005

Jerry, I replaced the wet cells in my coach back in '04 with Lifeline AGM's. I consider it the best upgrade to the coach I have made yet. The AGM has a low internal resistance so the charging is faster and the self discharge is less. I do work them pretty hard as we dry camp a bit and I run a freezer in the basement all the time. I can go to bed with the batteries at 95% and the next morning they will be at 88 to 90% depending on ambient temps.
One way to judge a battery along with amp hour ratings is by weight. The wet Champions installed by CC weighed approximately 90 pounds, the AGM's weigh 162 pounds.
In '04, I paid $290 each then the price of lead went up and they sold for $600 or so. They are back to a more "reasonable" price of $400 or so.

Don

'02 Intrigue #11427

Re: house batteries

Reply #10 – June 04, 2010, 04:28:42 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 60006

I went the opposite direction 2 years ago and replaced the 4 original AGM's with 6 Trojan wet cells based on the recommendation of the battery shop in Yuma. More power, faster charge, less money, etc. It was all BS. I now have massive corrosion (must be cleaned every 4 months) and the gassing is unbelievable. Everything in the battery compartment is gassed whenever we are plugged in. One of the battery terminals broke off after 4 months. Next time it is back to AGM's.

D Bradley

04 Intrigue #11830

Re: house batteries

Reply #11 – June 05, 2010, 10:19:43 am

Yahoo Message Number: 60019

We prefer the AGM's -- currently have 4x8D's for the house.

No corrosion, no checking/adding water, high charge rate, etc.
Their only downside is the $$$ vs the wet cells; but to us it is well worth it.

Re: house batteries

Reply #12 – June 05, 2010, 01:57:42 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 60030

Jerry- I'm running AGMs and love them. They are the closest thing to a no brainer there is in batteries. The cost is crazy higher than regular flooded. I set the charging parameters on my Xantrex inverter and checked to see the charging was going as it should, then promptly forgot about house batteries. I open the compartment from time to time- zero corrosion, no gassing, no muss, no fuss. They should last 8 or 9 years.
The next best alternative is to get flooded batteries of some type (Trojans are the best regularly available brand that I know and probably the most expensive) and float about 1/4" of mineral oil in each cell. The mineral oil will grab back most of the water as the gassing bubbles rise thru the oil, and will eliminate practically 100% of the bubbling splash. Folks who have tried the mineral oil trick report minimal issues w/corrosion and practically zero need to add water (you never need to add more mineral oil. Here is a thread that discusses mineral oil in lead acid batteries: http://www.irv2.com/forums/f86/my-batteries-now-have-mineral-oil-65596.html (depending on your word wrap defaults you may have to splice that back together for the proper link) You want pure mineral oil, no added fragrance, color or other foo-foo.
This will not be no maintenance like AGMs, but oil users report substantially improved results over regular flooded w/out oil. This method has been around since T.A.Edison sold lead acid batteries and "battery oil" a hundred years ago. Battery mfgr's frown on the practice but won't say it doesn't work; you be the judge of why they frown. Mike

Re: house batteries

Reply #13 – June 05, 2010, 09:55:29 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 60052

On the subject of batteries. . . Does anyone have a good "rule of thumb" on topping off flooded cell batteries? I understand the use of distilled water, but not clear on just how full each cell should be. thanks.

Jim Hodges

2007 40' Inspire 360
#51969 C-9 CAT

Re: house batteries

Reply #14 – June 05, 2010, 10:23:54 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 60053

Buy the battery fill kit
Best thing I did

Fills all the cells to the right level in a minute Mike 2004 allure 31021

Re: house batteries

Reply #15 – June 06, 2010, 04:15:42 am

Yahoo Message Number: 60058

I second the battery fill kit. No more bending over into the battery compartment with a flashlight to see if it needs water.

George

'04Inspire 51061

Re: house batteries

Reply #16 – June 06, 2010, 07:03:14 am

Yahoo Message Number: 60060

Jim,

I do it the old fashioned way - with flashlight and pitcher. I fill until I can see the meniscus formed when the water touches the split tube inside the opening of each cell.

Nate Richards
04 Allure 31043

Re: house batteries

Reply #17 – June 06, 2010, 07:57:32 am

Yahoo Message Number: 60061

Jim.

The battery fill bottle is a little cheaper alternative to the battery filler kit. It automatically stops filling @ the correct level. You can find one here: http://golf-carts.buggiesunlimited.com/search?asug=&w=battery+fill+bottle&x=0&y=0&gclid=CNrxrJWzi6ICFRAMDQodK1pjTQ and other internet vendors.

Dave Trotter

01 Intrigue 11215

Re: house batteries

Reply #18 – June 06, 2010, 08:05:20 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 60082

Jim,

check out www.rvpowersupply.com for battery fill kits for your batteries, even the 8D type.

The correct water level is to fill just to the bottom of the slot.
A question for mineral oil users: If wet cell batteries were meant to have mineral oil why wouldn't they be sold that way?

Mary-Ann

2000 Magna 5856

Re: house batteries

Reply #19 – June 07, 2010, 11:35:09 am

Yahoo Message Number: 60099

Mary-Ann, If I were the sceptical type, I would suggest that the process might reduce the number of batteries sold. But I can't guess the motives of battery builders. I do know I had a set of batteries at one time that came from the factory with the oil over water. they worked fine for 6 years or so until I sold the coach. From my point of view, it just makes sense to control the amount of evaporation coming out of the batteries and by so doing reduce the amount of corrosion in the battery compartment. Also, I believe a lot of batteries are damaged by going dry from lack of attention, so this may prolong the life of batteries on that front also.

Jim

2007 Inspire

PS thanks for the battery fill kit tip.

house batteries

Reply #20 – July 23, 2010, 01:47:34 am

Yahoo Message Number: 61605

hi, we have a question about the house batteries for our country coach...
we currently have two 8D deep cycle gel batteries that need to be replaced, at $600 each

is this the only and or best option??? thanks, for your help!!!
trg

Re: house batteries

Reply #21 – July 23, 2010, 09:35:22 am

Yahoo Message Number: 61609

You asked a loaded question with lots of answers.
In general wet cell batteries are the cheapest to buy and operate but require, must have, periodic maintenance to maintain electrolyte levels. Your charging system would also need to be adjusted for this type of battery.
AGM bateries are the most expensive but have near zero maintenance (cleanliness is always important) and the charging system needs to be set for this type of battery.
Gel cells are in between, maintenance free like AGM, but I believe they are not as durable as the other two styles and are somewhat more sensitive to charging methods.
There is a great deal of information on the internet, google RV batteries and start reading.
There is no one answer to fit all situations - or there would only be one type of battery. Others will post useful info for you here as well I am sure.
FWIW I use wet cell batteries from Sam's Club - great prices and the current 8D has lasted, so far, 4 years. Had to take the rig for roof coating yesterday after sitting since late March, cranked like a mother and started immediately.

Bob (rthandren@...)
'05 Inspire 51178