House Batteries 6volt deep cycle

My advice, if your batt compartment will handle the dimensions, change to 12v batts. Skip the whole 6v headache thing. If you have to have 6v batts, then check the acid level every 6 months and clean the terminals at least once per year. Take the wires off the terminals, steel brush, reinstall and coat with petroleum jelly. 6v batts are especially susceptible to terminal oxidation due to their low voltage.

If you are losing water on new batts, 6v or 12v look at your charger as it may well be over charging. Check the dates on the batts when you buy them. Father in law bought 4 new interstates. 2 of the 6v units wouldn't keep a charge after 13 months, turns out they were 20 months old when he bought them new. They wouldn't replace or credit due to the age.

Never let 6v or 12v batts get below 55% charge rate, it will ruin them. That means, when they get to 11.6v charge them immediately! Buy a load meter at HF so you can check them yourself.

I have had Interstate U-2200 a couple of times, but the prize has gone to $150.00 each now at an RV dealer. So I just went to an auto parts store right here in my home town of Barstow, Ca. and asked if they had any golf cart batteries that were deep cycle 6 volt. They told me they carried DEKA which I had never heard off, but at $90.00 a piece I figured I would try them out.

I have had them now four years and it seems like they are pretty good batteries.

I done the same thing with the chassis batteries. I used to buy Interstate workaholic 12 volt batteries at CW for $350. installed. When they failed I just went to Napa and asked for the best heavy duty industrial batteries that would work on my chassis. This was five years ago and they are going strong. The thing is I got them for around $100. ea.

lj2654 wrote:
I bought T-105 Trojans at a local golf cart dealer in Florida for $87 each.

I am just 20 miles north of you. Would you please tell me where you bought your batteries?

You adding water is the same issue I had with old converter. New converter install and batteries charge better, quicker and do not use very much water at all.

enblethen wrote:
I would look at your converter. Post make and model. You could have inverter charger. See what you have!
I had battery issues for several years, then changed out the converter to a PD 9245. I stopped having battery issues.

OK, I will check.

ArchHoagland wrote:
rdmike.....How much water have you added to them?

Well, when I bought the coach 3 years ago, the first year, did not add any (did not know better) and checked the 2nd year and they took alot of water. Then started watching and adding water regularly last season. I did notice of the 4 batteries, one was hot feeling at the end of the season. So through the unknowing part, I am sure I shortened the life.

I would look at your converter. Post make and model. You could have inverter charger. See what you have!
I had battery issues for several years, then changed out the converter to a PD 9245. I stopped having battery issues.

I have used the Interstate GC-2's and have gotten 4-5 years out of a set.

As Arch has said, are you keeping up with watering the batteries every month or sooner? Also, what are you doing for a maintenance charger on the house battery bank? Have you confirmed that your inverter/charger is working properly and is it a multi stage unit. If it's more of an entry level charging unit it may not multi stage or be working properly and could be cooking your batteries.

rdmike.....How much water have you added to them?

Thanks all. I was surprized that they are shot. 4 Interstate batteries 3 years old. I keep in storage for 6 months. Plug in the coach (store enclosed at CG), wait 10 minutes, starts right up. Plug into shoreline at CG, come morning, chassis fully charged, but house batteries dead. 12 volt house lights flicker, EMS board flickers some when heater comes on and off etc. All leads to bad house batteries not charging....