need new deep cycle batteries for class a

JD38 wrote:
....Those of you talking about 8 years on batteries, ought to come to the dry heat (Arizona) where batteries last 3-4 years. Yes i maintain them.....

I can't get a battery to last more than 2-3 years max in any of our vehicles due to the heat generated under the hood. That combined with 110-112 degree ambient temps will make short work of them. It gets so hot under the hood on a hot day, you can't touch anything with your bare hands after the engine has been running. However, I have had better luck with chassis batteries in my motorhomes where the batteries are under the entry steps, far removed from engine compartment temperatures.

I've tried the 12v marine batteries sold at Walmart, (a lot of them) and simply can't get any reasonable life out of them. Also, they seem to weaken quickly. I have switched the two 12v batteries out for 2 Costco 6v Interstates. They are less than a year old and have very little use, but seem to be stronger, and simply a more substantial source of power.

I have a meter on the wall that gives a readout of battery voltage, and I NEVER discharge more than 50%. This setup, along with a single 135w Kyocera solar panel works pretty well for dry camping without running the generator as long as the TV watching is kept to a minimum.

RAYCHEZ: I've used DEKA products..both 6 V and 12V. Not only in my motorhome but in my cars and pickups. A quality product, made in Pennsylvania. Check out their website.
Like Johnson Controls, they make batteries under various lables. Sams' Club, for instance..."Duracell".

RayChez wrote:
Not sure about these batteries, but I installed them myself and it seems like they will work out. My understanding is that they are made in the USA.

Deka makes great batteries.

I am going on my third set of house batteries. The first set and the second set of house batteries which were Interstate U-2200 lasted exactly five years on each set. This are the wet cell house batteries, and I believe I paid something like $150. apiece at a RV dealer.
Now I bought I believe they are called AutoSport by Deka. LOL! Never heard of them before, but they are Golf Cart six volt batteries. Lets see how long these will last. If I can get another five years, I will be happy.

Joe, I'm in Palm Springs mostly and my batteries were 7 yrs. old and working fine. I felt that it was time to replace them as 7 yrs. is reasonable and I didn't want to push the envelope. Also, I was tired of the sulfating of the wet cell batteries and went with AGM's. this time.

The plates on my wet cell batteries were never exposed as I checked them religiously. Now, I'm virtually maintenance free.

MM.

Because of the warranty I favor Costco, currently selling Interstate, bought 2 last weekend, marine/RV, 650 CCA as I recall, $163 including tax (Phoenix %10). 30 month warranty. Those of you talking about 8 years on batteries, ought to come to the dry heat (Arizona) where batteries last 3-4 years. Yes i maintain them. I would love to get 8 years

I took my coach to have it serviced left it there for a couple of weeks. When I went to pick it up I noticed the steps would not work. Ended being that somebody while in the shop accidently pushed on the compartment light button by the entrance. After two weeks with the lights on it run the house batteries dead. So I went to the local auto parts store and they had some six volt golf cart batteries. I have always used Interstate U-2200, but I did not want to drive the extra miles for them, so I ended up buying some batteries made by Deka XBA GC-110. Not sure about these batteries, but I installed them myself and it seems like they will work out. My understanding is that they are made in the USA.

peterman1 wrote:
does anyone know what voltage i should get while the new batteries are installed and being charged by the mh?

pete

There a some variables that will affect the voltage during charging. Primarily the charge status of the batteries and the sophistication of the power converter. You could see anything from +14.5VDC to +13.2VDC.

In 2004 when the original house batteries went bad in our 2001 Adventurer we replaced them with 2 Sears Diehard group 29 batteries. They lasted 8 years and finally had to be replaced last year.

I would have replaced them with Group 31 batteries if they the store would have had them in stock. The group 31's physically are a little larger but have significantly more output. Our new motorhome came with 2 NAPA group 31 batteries for the house.

just an update.. i charged both batteries for 24 hours each and one had 6.3 volts and the other had 3.5 volts.. i picked up a pair from walmart and will install them this weekend.. does anyone know what voltage i should get while the new batteries are installed and being charged by the mh?

pete