Need New House Batteries - HELP!
Hello all, I could sure use some help and guidance from the experts! I'll do my best to keep this short and really appreciate you taking the time to read about my dilemma. I have a 2005 American E...
Forum Discussion
Steve
I have to say that I agree with what Chris posted.
I don't want you to think I am trying to belittle you.
I have a class-c Jamboree 26Q. Which is 28ft. 11in. in length.
I have 6 house batteries and 1 chassis battery. Just last month I had to replace all of my batteries. I had when we bought our RV in Feb of 2006, went to go somewhere on the third weekend we owned it. The batteries were dead, (Beaudry RV Struck Again) We bought it used it was not even a year old, and the people that had it, bought a bigger RV. We used it that week end and then several times the rest of the year, for week end trips, then we didn't use it again until July 2007. After the school year ended (SWMbO worked for the school district) The batteries were dead again. Anyway we looked at the house batteries, and one was swelled up like a balloon. So we replaced the two house batteries and also added 4 more. We bought Interstate U2200 6v 220ah batteries. We bought them in August of 2007. (We got our monies worth out of them, almost 10 years)Not come forward to last month. Again all the batteries were dead and bone dry. I am partly to blame about that. Because I didn't go and put any water or run the Generator since November of last year. I have 6 house batteries and 3 Solar panels on my roof. I thought that my solar controller went and took dump on me but I was more than likely the cause for my batteries going bone dry and dead. I don't think your neglecting your RV, but I was told that 2 100w solar panels were enough to keep my house and chassis batter up to charge but 3 or 4 were even better. But I don't believe i have enough room for another solar panel.
I sent you a PM and they might be able to help you on a lower price for the Lifeline AGM Batteries. They came out and installed mine and fixed some of the cable ends and replaced a couple of the cables for the price they quoted me. Their delivery to my storage lot and install fee for the 6 house batteries and one chassis battery was only $75.
Good Luck
I have to say that I agree with what Chris posted.
Posted By wrote:
"SJ Eagle wrote:
we had two large solar panels installed because we also do a lot of dry camping.
my volts seem to follow the sun going down, to around 12.2, from a full 14.7 during the day. Is this normal?
I can't really see spending $1600 on 4 house batteries...what's a good, maintenance FREE battery that will hold a charge and last, without breaking the bank?"
Several issues here.
Who decided just two panels would be enough?
It's not normal, assuming there's no load at the time you're seeing the 12.2 AND your solar is enough to FULLY charge those batteries AND the batteries are healthy. That's part of the problem: we don't know if your solar is enough.
You've got a nice expensive MH there, so I can't quite go along with getting cheap on batteries...meaning flooded batteries you have to babysit. AGMs are the way to go (Lithiums are still way too $$) if you want the best quality and NO maintenance.
All that said, you really need an energy audit to figure out what will keep you in power when you need it, and so you keep those nice new batteries charged so they don't poop out on you in 3 years.
This is sort of RV electric 101 around here. You've been on here for 6 years so I'm sure you've seen this before.
12v side of life.
Posted By wrote:
Read the link I provided. YOu don't learn this stuff overnight.
I don't want you to think I am trying to belittle you.
I have a class-c Jamboree 26Q. Which is 28ft. 11in. in length.
I have 6 house batteries and 1 chassis battery. Just last month I had to replace all of my batteries. I had when we bought our RV in Feb of 2006, went to go somewhere on the third weekend we owned it. The batteries were dead, (Beaudry RV Struck Again) We bought it used it was not even a year old, and the people that had it, bought a bigger RV. We used it that week end and then several times the rest of the year, for week end trips, then we didn't use it again until July 2007. After the school year ended (SWMbO worked for the school district) The batteries were dead again. Anyway we looked at the house batteries, and one was swelled up like a balloon. So we replaced the two house batteries and also added 4 more. We bought Interstate U2200 6v 220ah batteries. We bought them in August of 2007. (We got our monies worth out of them, almost 10 years)Not come forward to last month. Again all the batteries were dead and bone dry. I am partly to blame about that. Because I didn't go and put any water or run the Generator since November of last year. I have 6 house batteries and 3 Solar panels on my roof. I thought that my solar controller went and took dump on me but I was more than likely the cause for my batteries going bone dry and dead. I don't think your neglecting your RV, but I was told that 2 100w solar panels were enough to keep my house and chassis batter up to charge but 3 or 4 were even better. But I don't believe i have enough room for another solar panel.
I sent you a PM and they might be able to help you on a lower price for the Lifeline AGM Batteries. They came out and installed mine and fixed some of the cable ends and replaced a couple of the cables for the price they quoted me. Their delivery to my storage lot and install fee for the 6 house batteries and one chassis battery was only $75.
Good Luck
