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
While I continue working on solutions, discussing with Mike and others I thought I'd summarize where we're at:
We bought this American Eagle in 2010 as a repo with just 6k miles on it so we thought it was a good deal. Since then we've put on 35,000, great adventure miles but also a lot of money making it work right. Some coaches are built on Monday and others you can tell were built on Friday. :) Kidding of course and I try to take impeccable care of my equipment but unlike the three toy haulers before it, the 27 miles of worth of electrical on this coach has been a real challenge!
That link that 2oldman provided really does have some great information but with all due respect to the battery/electrical experts I just don't have time or the desire to learn that much about batteries. I know, I know, take responsibility but like I said, working 60-70 hours a week leaves little time for anything else so I'd rather lean on the experts to guide me.
That being said and after all this great information, I think the best course of action for me is the following:
1 - Get a Hydrometer like Mike suggested and if my Interstate batteries can be brought back to life, I'll do it.
2 - After I use the Hydrometer to figure out if the Interstates are salvageable, I'm going to get a good charging system from Battery Minder that is both a Charger-Maintainer-Desulfator like crasstercrasster suggested.
4 - If the Interstate's are not able to be salvaged then I'm going to call 619 Battery (in San Diego) like Patrick suggested, and have them deliver and install new AGM batteries. Lifeline if I can afford them.
5 - After the Interstate batteries are brought back from the grave or the new AGM's are installed, I'm going to be diligent about keeping them properly charged but I eventually want maintenance free batteries! I'm also going to do more research on a heavy duty slide tray so with either battery selection I can pull them out and inspect them regularly
6- I'm going to get more proficient with my Inverter remote, which shows consumption/usage/watts, etc. As soon as I've done these other things I'm going to turn everything on as if I'm camping and monitor the output to see if something is pulling amperage from the system. I'm fortunate to have my coach on the side of my house and have a 50amp plugin so I'll test both on and off grid.
Reasonable?
When I do replace the current batteries with AGM, I'm going to get 4 of the biggest **** batteries I can fit in that battery bank!
On the solar - I know I could do a lot better, have more panels and a better controller. I am going to look seriously at the Solar Boost Mike suggested and tie the panels together but if this system will help keep the batteries charged and I can do the rest on shore power then that's what I'll do. Perhaps my expectations of what the batteries can/should do are not in line with this size of a coach but several friends as mentioned, that have solar and some with no solar that have no issues when dry camping.
Living in Southern California (Carlsbad), we do a lot of desert and mountain, off the grid camping so it's important that I get the right battery for the job. We're also fortunate to have a moderate climate. No freezing and it rarely goes above 90 so the right battery should last.
Those that know me know I don't scrimp on quality and I generally go for the best product I can afford. Once I do learn I'm diligent about maintaining and I take impeccable care of my equipment! I mentioned several times that I work a lot and have little time or desire to become a battery guru but I do need/want to know the solid basics.
I can't thank you all enough for this great forum, discussion and education.
Now let's get camping!
Cheers,
Steve
We bought this American Eagle in 2010 as a repo with just 6k miles on it so we thought it was a good deal. Since then we've put on 35,000, great adventure miles but also a lot of money making it work right. Some coaches are built on Monday and others you can tell were built on Friday. :) Kidding of course and I try to take impeccable care of my equipment but unlike the three toy haulers before it, the 27 miles of worth of electrical on this coach has been a real challenge!
That link that 2oldman provided really does have some great information but with all due respect to the battery/electrical experts I just don't have time or the desire to learn that much about batteries. I know, I know, take responsibility but like I said, working 60-70 hours a week leaves little time for anything else so I'd rather lean on the experts to guide me.
That being said and after all this great information, I think the best course of action for me is the following:
1 - Get a Hydrometer like Mike suggested and if my Interstate batteries can be brought back to life, I'll do it.
2 - After I use the Hydrometer to figure out if the Interstates are salvageable, I'm going to get a good charging system from Battery Minder that is both a Charger-Maintainer-Desulfator like crasstercrasster suggested.
4 - If the Interstate's are not able to be salvaged then I'm going to call 619 Battery (in San Diego) like Patrick suggested, and have them deliver and install new AGM batteries. Lifeline if I can afford them.
5 - After the Interstate batteries are brought back from the grave or the new AGM's are installed, I'm going to be diligent about keeping them properly charged but I eventually want maintenance free batteries! I'm also going to do more research on a heavy duty slide tray so with either battery selection I can pull them out and inspect them regularly
6- I'm going to get more proficient with my Inverter remote, which shows consumption/usage/watts, etc. As soon as I've done these other things I'm going to turn everything on as if I'm camping and monitor the output to see if something is pulling amperage from the system. I'm fortunate to have my coach on the side of my house and have a 50amp plugin so I'll test both on and off grid.
Reasonable?
When I do replace the current batteries with AGM, I'm going to get 4 of the biggest **** batteries I can fit in that battery bank!
On the solar - I know I could do a lot better, have more panels and a better controller. I am going to look seriously at the Solar Boost Mike suggested and tie the panels together but if this system will help keep the batteries charged and I can do the rest on shore power then that's what I'll do. Perhaps my expectations of what the batteries can/should do are not in line with this size of a coach but several friends as mentioned, that have solar and some with no solar that have no issues when dry camping.
Living in Southern California (Carlsbad), we do a lot of desert and mountain, off the grid camping so it's important that I get the right battery for the job. We're also fortunate to have a moderate climate. No freezing and it rarely goes above 90 so the right battery should last.
Those that know me know I don't scrimp on quality and I generally go for the best product I can afford. Once I do learn I'm diligent about maintaining and I take impeccable care of my equipment! I mentioned several times that I work a lot and have little time or desire to become a battery guru but I do need/want to know the solid basics.
I can't thank you all enough for this great forum, discussion and education.
Now let's get camping!
Cheers,
Steve
