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rockcandymounta's avatar
Feb 17, 2021

Battery Life

I posted this question on another RV forum and Ill be darned if I can find that forum. (arrgh). So much for keeping good notes.

Anyway, I have a 2016 Dutchman Denali 38ft 5th Wheel.

I'm thinking the batteries need replacing because when I am on battery power and attempt to use the auto leveling feature, I get a low voltage error.

However before I buy 2 new batteries, Id like to be able to test and see if the rig is charging the batteries when plugged into shore power.

I have one of the Harbor Freight cheap multimeter but know nothing about how to use it to check volts, etc. Any help would be appreciate.

Thanks
  • pianotuna wrote:
    rockcandymountain,

    You may wish to consider SiO2 batteries as their discharge rates are pretty astounding. They would cost more.

    Or a pair of 6V SLA batteries that will give similar performance for 1/3 the price of Si02s.

    And OP, you make it sound like only your self leveling feature is throwing the low voltage alarm. Granted it pulls a lot of amps for a short period of time, but if the batteries were toast or not getting charged, other DC loads would suffer too.
    Do you ah e issues with other battery loads?
  • Grit Dog

    Golf cart batteries are great--until you try to run a microwave via a 2000 watt inverter. Then you find out they had better be about 80% full or the inverter may shut down.
  • pianotuna wrote:
    Grit Dog

    Golf cart batteries are great--until you try to run a microwave via a 2000 watt inverter. Then you find out they had better be about 80% full or the inverter may shut down.


    And the OP asked about using his leveling jacks.
    Idk of alot of people that have $50k 5th wheels and live solely off of an inverter. You can't really "use" a big camper's amenities off of a little inverter.
    And the OP doesn't even know how to check a battery, so doubt he's got a mac daddy electrical system hooked up.
    Although, with a rig that size, for roughly the cost of 2 SIO2 100ah batteries, he could have a 6 to 8 battery bank of 6V FLA or SLA batteries that would make a whole costco size case of Hot pockets in the microwave, as fast as he could eat them if that was his jam. And still blow dry his hair and make coffee the next morning without even charging up.
  • Grit dog wrote:
    pianotuna wrote:
    Grit Dog

    Golf cart batteries are great--until you try to run a microwave via a 2000 watt inverter. Then you find out they had better be about 80% full or the inverter may shut down.


    And the OP asked about using his leveling jacks.
    Idk of alot of people that have $50k 5th wheels and live solely off of an inverter. You can't really "use" a big camper's amenities off of a little inverter.
    And the OP doesn't even know how to check a battery, so doubt he's got a mac daddy electrical system hooked up.
    Although, with a rig that size, for roughly the cost of 2 SIO2 100ah batteries, he could have a 6 to 8 battery bank of 6V FLA or SLA batteries that would make a whole costco size case of Hot pockets in the microwave, as fast as he could eat them if that was his jam. And still blow dry his hair and make coffee the next morning without even charging up.

    But wouldn't a pair of 12V batteries do better cooking a costco size box of hot pockets?
  • philh wrote:

    But wouldn't a pair of 12V batteries do better cooking a costco size box of hot pockets?


    Flooded batteries are "rated" at a 25 amp draw @ 25 C (77 f)

    So 4 pairs would give a continuous output of 100 amps, with 450 amp-hours of reserve (8 jars)

    That may run a microwave for a time, and many folks have done so, when the wire is big enough and the bank is close enough to the inverter.

    8 pairs would be 200 amps, with 900 amp-hours of reserve. (16 jars)

    That would run the microwave for a long long time.

    1 SiO2 can do 342 amps and a pair can do 684 amps, with 200 amp-hours of reserve.

    So IF you go by rated capacity, the pair of SiO2, in THEORY ought to be a bit better than 4 pair of golf cart jars, as a single SiO2 can run a microwave at 20% state of charge. I would imagine that with twin SiO2 the microwave would run at 10% state of charge.

    It boils down to which is cheaper per amp-hour and how much weight one can carry.
  • From what I read, I don’t understand your claims aside from a lower useable DoD, about 30% vs 50 % compared to lead acid. And slightly more overall capacity.
    And of course life cycles.
    But you’re twisting the numbers/descriptions like most adverts for SIO2 batteries.
    You’re basically claiming 4x as much useable power comparatively, or actually 2x as much because you’re comparing 6v to 12v.
    But the difference is on the order of about 20% better with many more lifecycles. From what I can observe.

    And the OP hasn’t even come back, which is good since this thread de railed upon your suggestion.

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