Battery advice.

[Mike Leary]

Hi all....We're heading down to Malhuer N.W.L.R in southeast Oregon next
week...first spring cruise! The campground, Page Springs, is dry camping.
My question is, how do I know when the batteries need replacing (other than
the obvious!)? "Bess" has been on shore power all winter, the AC Delco
batteries are about three years old. Is there something I could do with my
V.O.M. to tell if they're holding a strong charge? Thanks, Mike

[overlander63]

A battery 3 years or older should be replaced, don't let an old battery ruin your weekend.
You can take them to a battery dealer that has an electornic tester, and if the batteries are showing less than their rating, they should be replaced.

[Road Ruler]

Our Walmart Energizer gave out after 4 years and I bought a new one at Walmart yesterday. The big "850" was on sale for $49. Can. A good deal for a large Deep cycle battery.

The old battery had bulging sides and had trouble holding a charge.

[rickandsandi]

I would go with AGM Absorbed Glass Mat Technology
Some of the main differences between the old vented lead acid batteries and the LIFELIINE AGM valve regulated sealed lead acid batteries are:
Non-Spillable: The electrolyte is absorbed in a glass mat (AGM) separator in the LIFELINE and it is spillable in the flooded or vented type.
The cells have pressure relief valves in the LIFELINE that are designed to keep positive pressure in each cell. The older vented or flooded type battery cells are open to atmosphere through the vent cap holes (should the vented battery be tilted or inverted, the result can be electrolyte (sulfuric acid/water mixture) spilled all over your equipment, a highly corrosive and potentially dangerous condition).
The cell groups in the old vented type batteries are loosely packed and thus have high plate separation. In contract, the LIFELINE AGM marine battery has every square inch of positive and negative plate material tightly packed and compressed with the AGM and supported by the walls of each cell. With this type of construction, LIFELINEs offer much lower internal resistance ... greater starting power (particularly in cold temperature) ... and a much higher degree of protection against shock and vibration than the old flooded type.

[Turtle]

What if it isn't a LIFELINE AGM?
Jamie

[Smokin Camel]

I have been using a pair of group 24 Delco Voyagers from a tornado siren. They were warrentied (sp?) for four years but the county replaces them between 2 an 4 years. I have noticef the lifeline group 24's are a bit heavier, probably heavier plates and would last longer but the Delcos seem to have alot of reliabilty for recharging.

Look into Trojan batteries as well. There are a lot of decent batteries out there. for exended boonie stay, a good lifeline might be a better choice than what I am using, but mine were perfectly good and would have headed to the battery cracker if I hadn't asked for them. The batteries are now four years old but have not got that much use on them. I will replace them in a few years. Read up on some of the members comments. Use the search to find comments on different brands.

[Mike Leary]

Just bit the bullet & bought 3 AC/Delco batteries...best I've used in thirty
years of running commercial rigs....twelve years w/"Bess", our '83 310 Diesel.
Coach got 2/M27MF, starter got a 34H. Off to Malhuer on sat. this week,
still cold in the high desert...sleep better hearing the suburban & not worry!
Oh yass.....$300.00!

[davidz71]

I really liked the two AC Delco Voyager grp 27 batteries I put in my '77 Excella 500. They were going strong after 4 years before going over to Germany to the trailer's new owner. I've heard of some lasting up to 10 years with proper care.