Battery question

FordsForMe wrote:
I am just going to look for a standard grp 24 or 27 flooded cell I think but this is still up in the air.

You do NOT want a "standard" automotive starting battery ! You want a true, deep discharge battery like a Trojan T-1275. It will cost more, but it will last a lot longer.

If you are willing to put up with the extra hassle of 2 batteries, get 2 6V golf cart batteries. Probably less expensive, but definitely will store more energy.

FordsForMe wrote:
I am wondering if anyone has found or created a type of quick disconnect.

Anderson make the "industry standard" DC high current electrical connectors. They are used on electric pallet jacks and high lows. The come in multiple size, but you probably want Anderson Power Products SB50

Your will NOT find them at any RV store, but you will find them online or at any place that sells/services DC powered electrical equipment. Your biggest problem is to find the APPROPRIATE SIZE CRIMPER !

Matt_Colie wrote:
OK Fords,

You seem to have two separate issues here:
1-You need to keep the battery up where there is no shore power.
2-You want to be able to disconnect it easily.

The easy answer for 1 - Get a 35$ca solar panel at Canadian Tire and hook it to the battery and leave it where it is.

If you still want to unhook a battery easily with low cost and high reliability, go back to CT and get a pair of marine battery terminals for 14$ca and then change the lugs on the cable ends to suit. Now you have wing nuts.

If you still plan to carry the battery, get a plastic battery box (I bet CT has those too), so the battery doesn't dissolve your clothes and the car interior.

Matt

Only really trying to solve #2, thanks for the option .. I will check it out but i am really thinking that this clicky and a bit of wire is a great option for me.

time2roll wrote:
100 watts solar should keep you topped up during the season.

I had thought of this as an option too, but i would not use it anywhere other than the storage lot, and it seems much more $$$ than a quick connect clip. I really don't mind taking it home, and I already have a setup that can support 4 batteries (motorcycle and RV sit here all winter).

OK Fords,

You seem to have two separate issues here:
1-You need to keep the battery up where there is no shore power.
2-You want to be able to disconnect it easily.

The easy answer for 1 - Get a 35$ca solar panel at Canadian Tire and hook it to the battery and leave it where it is.

If you still want to unhook a battery easily with low cost and high reliability, go back to CT and get a pair of marine battery terminals for 14$ca and then change the lugs on the cable ends to suit. Now you have wing nuts.

If you still plan to carry the battery, get a plastic battery box (I bet CT has those too), so the battery doesn't dissolve your clothes and the car interior.

Matt

100 watts solar should keep you topped up during the season.

I could be wrong on the 6 weeks, I tried to find a loss of charge chart but can't seem to find one at the moment and can't remember how much the lose a month.

My battery is wired with #2 wire. Not all use wire that heavy. I am assuming that mine uses heavy wire because I have a generator that draws about 80 amps to start.

It also depends on how long the battery wires are before splitting up into various branches.

hedge wrote:
It should still be fine even after 6 weeks. depending on how far you drive it would probably be completely topped off by the time you got there.

You could also consider getting an AGM battery as they don't lose charge as fast as a standard wet cell battery, with the added benefit of being maintenance free.

Interesting option. Thanks. I figured that 4-6 weeks without being hooked up would be too long. Most trips are 2 weeks, but we do have longer gaps once a summer or so.

It should still be fine even after 6 weeks, but I can't seem to find a loss chart at the moment. Depending on how far you drive it would probably be completely topped off by the time you got there.

You could also consider getting an AGM battery as they don't lose charge as fast as a standard wet cell battery, with the added benefit of being maintenance free.

hedge wrote:
You could use an Anderson connector but I'm not sure why you take it off every time. If you just installed a disconnect switch to cut off the parasitic draws it would still be reasonable charged the next time you went out and you wouldn't have to go to the hassle of shuttling the battery around.

A lot of my trips are last minute. When I take my trailer to storage sometimes its a week before I go out, and sometimes its 6. So I always thought it would be much better for battery longevity to take it home and get it on the tender.