12 volt sealed batteries, for house bat.Pro/Con

harold1946 wrote:


There are Marine deep cycle batteries and there are marine deep cycle/starting batteries. Two different applications.

Have never seen a true Deep Cycle battery with the word MARINE printed on it... Though I can see where there would be an advantage to DEEP CYCLE for many functions on the water.

I have seen true DEEP CYCLE 12 volt batteries in assorted sizes from around Group 27 up to you can't pick it up without a forklift.. But then it also POWERED said forklift.

All the Marine/Deep cycle (usually labeled exactly as I typed it with the slash) are starting batteries which can be SLIGHTLY discharged beyond what you would do with a common car battery.

The other claim I often see that I dispute is the claim of longer life for AGM's.

When I bought this MH, It came with a pair of GC-2 Flooded wet cells, I will be replacing them soon.

The following January I added a pair of AGM's. Replaced them 2 years ago.

I also slepped in some Maintenance Free Marine/Deep cycle types I had lying about, these are OLDER than the GC-2. Those I replaced over teh course of this last summer (2013) The last one last month

So the Maintenance free roughly lasted as long as the GC-2, but both of them long outlasted the far more expensive AGMs.

I replaced my two 12v wet cell Georgetown house batteries with 2 sealed group 27 marine deep cycle batteries. The group 27 gives you a little more capacity. Marine deep cycle batteries are true deep cycle. They are frequently used to power electric trolling motors as well as house batteries for a boat. Using an electric trolling motor for a day's fishing really depletes a battery and starter batteries would not last. I have used agm's in my 43' trawler (it had three 8d's which are huge) when I first bought it. I personally don't think agm's are worth the much higher cost, so as they die off I am replacing them with wet cell or sealed. Two have been replaced so far, one left to go. Original equipment was two 8ds for starting the two diesel engines and one 8d for the house and one group 27 marine sealed deep cycle for the generator. The 8ds weigh over 80lbs each and are not fun to remove/replace. Especially since they are down in the bilge area behind the engines. Very little working room. Big boats and Class A MHs have a lot in common. They both are expensive to buy, expensive to operate and repair, and the first owner gets killed on depreciation.

Chuck...good for you on replacing the batteries with the Interstates. People seem to forget that even if you're not dry camping, all of your 12 volt powered items run through your batteries first, plugged into shore power or not.

The batteries are the heartbeat of the coach. The people that put in cheap batteries to save a few dollars are always the ones that can't figure out why they're having electrical issues later on.

Would you put a Kirkland battery in your pacemaker?

wa8yxm wrote:
Pros and cons of Sealed Valve Regulated Lead Acid over Flooded wet cell.

Pro: Little maintenance (They say Maintenance free but they still need some terminal cleaning every few years).

Cons: First, most MF batteries sold for RV use are Maine/Deep cycle, Marine/Deep cycle are NOT deep cycle, they are starting batteries, though they can safely go slightly deeper into discharge than a automotive starting battery. but 50 percent is a seriously deep discharge for them, it is the recommended minimum charge on the flooded wet cell GC-2 Deep cycle.

Cons: Higher cost

Cons: Lower overall life in many cases.

So for the best "Bang for your buck" GC-2's from Sam's Club may be the best buy.

There are Marine deep cycle batteries and there are marine deep cycle/starting batteries. Two different applications.

Pros and cons of Sealed Valve Regulated Lead Acid over Flooded wet cell.

Pro: Little maintenance (They say Maintenance free but they still need some terminal cleaning every few years).

Cons: First, most MF batteries sold for RV use are Maine/Deep cycle, Marine/Deep cycle are NOT deep cycle, they are starting batteries, though they can safely go slightly deeper into discharge than a automotive starting battery. but 50 percent is a seriously deep discharge for them, it is the recommended minimum charge on the flooded wet cell GC-2 Deep cycle.

Cons: Higher cost

Cons: Lower overall life in many cases.

So for the best "Bang for your buck" GC-2's from Sam's Club may be the best buy.

Hi,

A 12 volt marine battery will be fine. A sealed lead acid 12 volt battery will also be fine. You do not need the expense of twin six volt batteries.

chucl66 wrote:
Will an 12 volt, AGM work, with the progressive dynamics, PD9260C, converter/charger, with built in charge guard.

Chuck

AGMs are specifically designed to be used as drop-in replacements for the older flooded battery technology. While costing more, besides longer life and a host of advantages over other types, "you get what you pay for". :)

Battery info you Need 2 Know

Thanks for all the help. I think I will replace the two 6 volt, with the same as I had.

Thanks again.
Chuck

If you never dry camp I'd get the cheapest group 24 battery you can find. It simply won't matter.
Why spend the extra money for an expensive AGM when you don't need it?
By the way, AGM batteries are different than gell batteries. While both types require different charging voltage than wet cell batteries AGMs are almost the same. Just about any normal charger will work with an AGM. This is not the case with gell batteries.
I see no reason to even consider gell batteries in an RV.

harold1946 wrote:
Just a bit of advice. Gel-cells require a charger designed for them. Charging at too high a rate will destroy them.
12 volt deep cycle batteries are available everywhere. Not to be confused with the hybrid "deep cycle/starting battery", which you do not want.

AMEN, on our last MH I replaced the house battery with a gel. It charged at a different rate than what was specd for the charger. Ended up causing a host of problems one of which was destroying my chassis battery since the ALT tries to equalize charge over both and over charged it. Very costly mistake. Battery warehouse swore that was the best to get, apparently they no nothing of RV charging systems.