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Bubby's RV

CA

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Joined: 07/22/2003

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Posted: 05/15/08 08:08pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I was able to fit two Lifeline 6-volt AGMs under our step. They are not as tall as the wet-cell 6-volt batteries. I was also able to fit two more in a small compartment next to the step. The wet-cell 6-volt batteries wouldn't fit through the compartment door and the Lifelines were a squeeze, but they don't need to be looked at.

If you go the AGM route, you had best make sure your converter charge voltages match the AGM requirements. They can be ruined by overcharging because you can't add lost water back.


John, Winnebago Minnie 24V


PapPappy

Wilmington, NC

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Posted: 05/15/08 10:33pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I finally figured out how to post the picture of how my batteries are...go back to my previous post, as I've edited it, and added the photo. Hope that it works for you.

Bill


DH Bill / DW Claudia / DD Jenn / DS Chris
The Paps! Sophie, Abby, Brandy, Kahlie and Annie
2000 Winnebago "Minnie" 31C, Ford V-10
Purchased April Fools Day, 2008
The Pets


Cool Mike

Mendocino. Calif.

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Posted: 05/15/08 10:39pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I went with two 12V Lifeline AGMs, because that's what I had one of, and with room you can add 12V Batt all day long, but with 6V your limited to adding them in pares, plus they take more room and weigh more.
With Lifeline AGMs I mounted my second Gr-27 to the floor under the front dinette seat, as it was just storage, and its right over the generator.
So it was easy to drop two cables down through the floor, a ground and the hot through a 50A CB to the batt side of the generators starting solenoid. Its heavy cable is directly connected to the other battery's + terminal.
The install took less than an hour.
And I have room for two more, but dont think I need them, I also have a little solar. But I dont run out of power now.


2001 27' Four Winds Class-C E-450 V-10.
Buick Park Ave Ultra, Ford Ranger PU, JD 500 backhoe.
1941 Farm All "A"

ct camper

ct

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Posted: 05/16/08 08:54am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I have had good luck with the golf cart batteries from sams club. I am on my second motorhome and it was the first upgrade I did to the new one.

They had excide before but now carry energizer. Time will tell if the energizers hold up as well as the excides did.

GC2 (6V battery)
Amp-Hour at the 20 hour rate: 225Ah
Minutes at 75 amps:
110 minutes
Minutes at 25 amps: 447 minutes
This is manufactured by Johnson Controls Mexico.

* This post was edited 05/16/08 09:01am by ct camper *

Dusty R

Charlotte Michigan 48813

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Posted: 05/16/08 09:11am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Remember this, if they are not AGM's they must be vented low to the out doors, hydrogen gas is heavy, and sealed from inside the coach.

Caseydon

Simonton, Texas

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Posted: 05/16/08 09:16am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Dusty R wrote:

Remember this, if they are not AGM's they must be vented low to the out doors, hydrogen gas is heavy, and sealed from inside the coach.

It's the other way round. Hydrogen gas is lighter than air (remember the Hindenberg) so the vent to the outdoors should be near the top of the sealed battery compartment.


Casey

Cool Mike

Mendocino. Calif.

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Posted: 05/16/08 12:43pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Dusty just had a typo.
I know the AGMs dont out gas, like floodeds do, and this gives you lots of options in finding a place to mount them, like me putting one under the dinette seat, but what about gel cells? A lot of small items use them, like portable spot lights, emergency lighting Etc. I know there not the best choice for RV deep cycle use, but why?
Mike.

MikeMike

St.Petersburg,Florida

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Posted: 05/21/08 02:14am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

A web page that may help in choosing a battery setup is www.thesolar.biz. As far as lifeline 3100's I really don't see a advantage of 2-6volts in place of one 12 with the same performance, maybe its the initial sticker shock of $260.I got 6-7yrs out of deep cycle 12v marine batteries and that was with some extreme pounding and fishing with high drain electronics while on battery power alone





Bubby's RV

CA

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Posted: 05/21/08 09:27am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Cool Mike wrote:

Dusty just had a typo.
I know the AGMs dont out gas, like floodeds do, and this gives you lots of options in finding a place to mount them, like me putting one under the dinette seat, but what about gel cells? A lot of small items use them, like portable spot lights, emergency lighting Etc. I know there not the best choice for RV deep cycle use, but why?
Mike.

The problem with gel cells is that they have lower voltage requirements than wet cells or AGMs. They also have to be charged slower to prevent bubbles in the gel. Like AGMs, if they get overcharged by too high a voltage or too fast charging, they are ruined.

On the positive side, if one has the correct charger and can live with slower charging, they allow deeper discharges than AGMs.

(All this from East Penn, who manufacturers all three types.)

Bubby's RV

CA

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Posted: 05/21/08 09:35am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

MikeMike wrote:

A web page that may help in choosing a battery setup is www.thesolar.biz. As far as lifeline 3100's I really don't see a advantage of 2-6volts in place of one 12 with the same performance, maybe its the initial sticker shock of $260.I got 6-7yrs out of deep cycle 12v marine batteries and that was with some extreme pounding and fishing with high drain electronics while on battery power alone

The main advantage of two 6-volts vs one 12-volt of the same performance is that one person (at least this one person) can lift each 6-volt and they can be arranged side-by-side or end-to-end.

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