Any really good reason to upgrade to AGM?
The Interstate standard LA battery (single 12V) in our TT is getting replaced today under warranty today due to a dead cell. Is there a good reason(s) to upgrade to an AGM battery? We never dry camp...
Forum Discussion
We found ourselves in a similar situation to the OP over nine years ago. Our original two stock Group 24 wet cell batteries had to be replaced under warranty after owning our RV for about eight months.
We paid some extra money to have the stock batteries replaced with two 100 amp hour Group 29 AGM batteries. We did not change to a modern mulit-stage charger for these new AGM batteries - we left the stock Parallax 13.6 volt converter in the RV. Those two AGM batteries are still in the RV being taken care of by a 13.6 volt converter, and by the engine alternator when traveling.
However, the recommended float voltage for our two AGM batteries - 13.5 volts to 13.8 volts - is a perfect match to our single stage converter's nominal output.
Due to the list of advantages that MEXICOWANDERER listed above, I recommend that the OP switch to an AGM battery if their budget permits ... just be careful that the recommended float voltage of whatever AGM battery they get matches to float voltage of whatever charger they use. :C
By the way, even though the OP may never boondock, they may find themselves drycamping not by choice. What about a lengthy power outage at a camp ground? An AGM battery might be the superior choice during an extended power outage.
We paid some extra money to have the stock batteries replaced with two 100 amp hour Group 29 AGM batteries. We did not change to a modern mulit-stage charger for these new AGM batteries - we left the stock Parallax 13.6 volt converter in the RV. Those two AGM batteries are still in the RV being taken care of by a 13.6 volt converter, and by the engine alternator when traveling.
However, the recommended float voltage for our two AGM batteries - 13.5 volts to 13.8 volts - is a perfect match to our single stage converter's nominal output.
Due to the list of advantages that MEXICOWANDERER listed above, I recommend that the OP switch to an AGM battery if their budget permits ... just be careful that the recommended float voltage of whatever AGM battery they get matches to float voltage of whatever charger they use. :C
By the way, even though the OP may never boondock, they may find themselves drycamping not by choice. What about a lengthy power outage at a camp ground? An AGM battery might be the superior choice during an extended power outage.
