Battery replacement

[masterfly]

Bitter state batteries dead after 2.5 years on 2013 FC; any recommendations on good replacement?

[rodsterinfl]

In the flooded variety I would highly recommend the Everstart Maxx Marine Deep Cycle at Walmart made by Johnson Controls. They have a two year full replacement- if you can get your hands on one/two. They go as fast as they get them in. Make sure it is the Maxx or the best tier one of the Everstart brand. Johnson Controls cannot be beat for the price/performance.

[kscherzi]

May need to modify your battery box but now is the time to replace with two golf cart 6 volt batteries in series. Get a sizeable increase in storage capacity.

[TNExcella]

I went with rodster's recommendation. I wanted to use the existing battery boxes so I'd be ready to go.

[alano]

2.5 years isn't very long for flooded batteries. Are doing the following:

1. Not checking battery fluid levels from time to time?
2. Overcharging your battery with your single-stage converter?
3. Allowing your battery to deplete from a full charge by more than 50%?

Avoid these things and perhaps you'll get longer life.

[Lumatic]

The question is what do you want to pay and how you use your trailer? You can get reasonably priced batteries that will last a couple of years. AGM batteries that last twice as long but cost at least twice as much and dont require maintenance, or lithium batteries that hold a charge for a long long time but cost a small fortune

[alano]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

AGM batteries that last twice as long but cost at least twice

There's no intrinsic reason that AGM batteries should last longer than flooded batteries. Similar quality flooded and AGM batteries will last the same time.

The real advantage of AGMs is that they don't require maintenance and they can be installed inside the trailer as they don't outgas hydrogen.

[rodsterinfl]

You can get reasonably priced batteries that will last a couple of years. AGM batteries that last twice as long but cost at least twice as much and dont require maintenance, or lithium batteries that hold a charge for a long long time but cost a small fortune

Exactly. That is why if they are in the batt box, those Johnson Control batts are great for the price and warranty. Their amp hour rating is not bad at 92 amp hrs either. BUT if you where putting them inside then the AGM would be a better choice. The $1000 lithiums are nice but wow. I can buy 24 years of fully warranted batts for that.

[Lumatic]

Masterfly,
My recommendation to you is take the information presented here as a starting point and do your own research. Don't take the opinions expressed by anyone (including myself) on this forum as gospel. I suggest you talk to the guy (I forget his name) at Best Converter.com or one of the several professionals on this forum. Also check out the battery shelf life specs.

My bottom line is the batteries I have in my Tradewind are inside and are AGMs made by Universal (Chinese) they are at least 5 years old and still OK. Lifeline AGMs have a 5 year warranty. When I replace them I will use AGMs because they are inside. My Excella has common flooded batteries in sealed battery cases. They are 3 years old and need replacement. When I replace them I will use cheaper flooded batteries.

[rodsterinfl]

Yes, do your own research. On all things electrical I have always asked my father as he is, to me, a most trusted mechanic and electrical engineer. What anyone shares is opinion. BTW, Lifeline's warranty is one year replacement. Their pro rating is 5 years. There are like four battery companies in the US and they make all the branded batteries. Dad has gone through dozens of batteries trying Deka, Interstate, Diehard, etc. They buy them for private mansions indoors in Naples to hospitals and generator units all over. His opinion on the subject is that there is variance in durability whatever brand you buy- like runs of good and bad and, he always tells me cost and warranty rule over brand name. Lifeline 24 $299 1 year free replacement 80 amp hr or Everstart Maxx 2 years free replacement 92 amp hr $99. They also make AGM batteries with 3 year full replacement and 5 yr pro rated but in few sizes.

[handn]

You must upgrade your charger to a multi stage one to get any reasonable life out of your batteries.
The stock single stage Paralax battery frier which is stock factory installed equipment in Airstreams will kill any battery in two years of less assuming you are plugged in for any significant time.
If you upgrade your charger to a good multi stage one with a setting for charging and maintaining agms, you will get approximately double number of discharge and recharge cycles out of an agm compaired to a drowned cell, assuming your solar system doesn't overcharge your batteries while being plugged in.
The battery box must be modified to contain two golf cart batteries as they are higher than group 24 batteries which are stock equipment. You can install two group 27 batteries in the stock box with some squeezing.

[rodsterinfl]

Good points Handn. Something I was reading is about charge cycles and battery types. Flooded DC can take a beating and are proven. The article recommended that flooded be allowed to go down to 50% or so before recharging. The reasoning is to gain the most use for each charge cycle. IOW, don't run the batts down only 20% then charge them up as each time is a cycle- as per the read. The converse is true also not to run them dead.

[KJRitchie]

Purchase the PD4655 3 stage charger $200, and the two new batteries suggested above and you should be good to go. Don't discharge below 12.2V, disconnect the negative cable while in short term storage and pull the batteries out during winter storage and put on a smart charger.

Kelvin