There is a Group 31 sticker on each of (3)house batteries, but I don't recall any name brand; I'll have to look again. I did check Sam's club today per one suggestion and they had some Gp31 batteries, but they also did not have anything about AH, and only said CCA--I don't want/care about the engine battery at this time. Doubt these were even deep cycle, but am looking for what the Group 31 is really telling me.
Here's another question: If the dual 6volts are so much better than 12's for house use, why aren't any of the manufacturers using them?
Group 31 should be 110 to 130 amp hours. The group number is the physical size. Group 29 is esentially the same and a bit more common (WM or Interstate).
2001 F150 SuperCrew 5.4 Lariat Offroad 4x4 Tow Package 4.10 Truetrac
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
12K SuperGlide, KGE3000Ti 2.3kw rated 2.6kw max
Frank's voltage booster, Prosine 1800 powered by 4 GC2 batteries
Several RV mfgs use 6v batteries as OEM. And who says their better ?
Amp hour capacity is basically the same,....no matter what you mite hear or read. But if one can read specifications, then one knows that already.
Reports have shown longivity to favor the 6v batts. But I believe, if maintained properly, and not abused, 12v batts to be just fine as house batts in RVs. The 12v deep cycle in my boat (a blem name unknown) is going on 8 yrs old, and still working fine. But it has been on a float charger 24-365, and has never been low on water.
My opinion is that the original 12V batteries were whatever the manf could find at inexpensive price. Standard size, standard voltage, standard box, etc.
If replaced with golf cart batts, they are slightly larger (hold a few more amp-hours for that reason) and they are made to last longer than the previous 12Vs were, so they do.
IOW, I don't think the same kind or quality of batteries is being compared.
Ok, thanks all, I'm going to replace with 12's again.
Now: I'm leaning toward same standards vs. Gels (i.e. can replace them twice for price of gel) -- I do like the maintenance free part though.
Kinda leaning toward Interstate or Wally World, just because of availablity on the road?
Deep cycle batteries use different plate composition than starting batteries.
Amphour capacity is directly related to the quantity of lead in the battery, and CCA capacity is related to the surface area of the plates. The result is starting batteries have a lot of thin plates for max surface area and deep cycle batteries have a larger volume of lead in fewer plates.
If a battery has a CCA and/or MCA rating it is a starting battery, deep cycle batteries won't have these ratings. Some dual purpose will have both, and be optinal for neither task.
If you don't do much dry camping, or don't mind running the genny a lot, amphour capacity is not so important. On the other hand; we're currently on the road and haven't had shorepower for six days, we will find a dump station tomorrow, but no power for another two days. Just another adventure in battery management.