Forum Discussion

EMD360's avatar
EMD360
Explorer
Aug 07, 2015

Walmart Battery

I have decided since I can't keep from inadvertently running down the house battery too far and destroying them, I will just use Walmart batteries. At least they are not that expensive to replace.
I bought a Group 29 DC on the road today having them test my old battery from 5/13 as dead as a doornail. Kind of easy to find a Walmart these days. They don't always have stock but I guess I was lucky. I was worried about the battery before we left, but when it didn't even turn over the generator after driving 4 hours, I knew it was toast.
On the way to the Great Sand Dunes, I stopped at the Salida Walmart and got a new battery. It is working great. But I know it will only last a couple of years with my use. Maybe I should put in a disconnect as I think there are loads from the propane alarm etc. that drain it totally when I don't have it plugged in, or maybe my original equipment converter is destroying the battery while charging it. This is my third Walmart battery in about 4 years, the first one replaced while still under warranty.
Before that I had used AGM's and before that two Interstates that came with the RV. Some folks have only had one battery in all that time! Oh well.
Class C
  • chuckbear's avatar
    chuckbear
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2015
    Johnson Controls makes the Everstart battery as well as Interstate batteries. Interstate has a line of good deep cycle batteries. Everstart makes a group 29DC or deep cycle. I don't have any experience with them but have a lot of experience with the Interstate deep cycles. I suspect they are the same battery with different labels, as is often the case when a manufacturer makes multiple brand batteries. Chuck
  • Oldme's avatar
    Oldme
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2015
    chuckbear wrote:
    Not sure who Bill Darden is, but his list isn't quite correct. East Penn makes the Duracell car batteries for Walmart, etc. http://www.eastpennmanufacturing.com/east-penn-releases-new-duracell-automotive-batteries/ . Chuck


    Don't know about Duracell for Walmart, I have not seen them there.
    I have seen the, EverStart for Walmart that is listed in the document
    I linked to. They are like most are Marine Batteries and not true deep cell.

    US Battery makes a true Deep Cell 12Volt called the US 185HC XC2
    which is a 20 Hour Rate: 220.
  • chuckbear's avatar
    chuckbear
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2015
    East Penn is the manufacturer of the Walmart Duracell batteries. We typically get 7 years out of those batteries. With any battery, how long it last depends on care and maintenance. If you regularly discharge the batteries below 50% or don't completely charge them, the life cycle is seriously reduced. Chuck
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Aug 08, 2015
    All of the deep cycle batteries come from only a few sources... WALMART batteries just have their own sticker on them...

    It isn't all that hard to pay alittle bit of attention to the batteries. If you have the smart mode converter/chargers that actually works in smart modes they will almost take care of your batteries for you...

    I installed 4ea standard issue INTERSTATE GP24 SRM-24 12V 85AH batteries in 2008 and lost one in early 2009 because of not paying attention to what was happening. I have been using the remaining three batteries ever since mostly camping off the power grid... They are just now starting to fall off on performance... I got these from the dealer where I purchased my OFF-ROAD POPUP camper at a real good deal. They had stacks of these batteries to install in the new trailers on their lot...





    Roy Ken
  • Trackrig's avatar
    Trackrig
    Explorer II
    Aug 08, 2015
    Yes, if the MH isn't going to be used for a while, put in a disconnect or simply disconnect the batteries. Besides cheaper than replacing batteries, it's also easier.

    Bill
  • byronlj's avatar
    byronlj
    Explorer
    Aug 07, 2015
    I have 3 group 29's from Walmart which run my inverter and residential fridge when boondocking. They hold a charge very well. One of them is at least 4 years old.
    Dave
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Aug 07, 2015
    We don't boondock, so we get by very well on one Sam's Club or WalMart DC battery. With prices going up and warranties going down, they seem to make sense to me. We got about 3 years on the last house battery. Just replaced a boat starting battery with a Sam's, we'd gotten 5 years on that one. Original battery from 2006 Toyota, WalMart replacement so far so good. Ditto for one we put in our van last year. I'd rather buy from WalMart than Sam's because there are more of them and the stores are easier to access. A hair off topic but we just got RV and Toyota tires from Discount (America's) Tire, same logic.
    People talk about how well the Delco batteries hold up. I agree with that, the Coast Guard settled on Delco for channel market batteries after trying many brands by the thousands over many years.
    But apparently MotorCraft is pretty good too. Original battery in our RV chassis is still cranking. Original from 2002, that is...
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Aug 07, 2015
    Hi,

    Double up on capacity and wire them in a balanced manner.

    I got 10 years from 4 Walmart batteries, and 6 from the other 3.

About Motorhome Group

38,707 PostsLatest Activity: Feb 27, 2025