Batteries and Inverter Installed

A Victron Smart Shunt or BMV-712 should be your next upgrade - they are a smart battery monitor because they monitor amp hours consumed.

I've been using amp hour monitors since the 90s when they were invented.

Here's the BMV-712 install I did in my previous RV

Checking water levels on the TT was a PITA because the batteries were on the tongue behind the propane tanks, here they are easy to access and check.

Lantley the issue is the converter/charger...some cheaper OEM models will overcharge the batteries and that's what causes the water loss. This 5er has a Progressive Dynamics 9260 so I'm not worried about overcharging.

Checking batteries weekly is for the retired guys that need something to do....I check mine 2-3x per season and never had any issues.

BTW if you don't boondock, there's no need for this capacity. We like to camp at music festivals and they never have hookups and often prohibit generator use, so I like to get through a weekend on batteries.

Lantley wrote:
Currently I have AGM's and a small inverter powering a TV and nothing else.
Very simple install as I seldom boondock and I have a built in Onan 5500 if I really want power.
What had me questioning AGM vs. typical lead acid is the idea that water levels need to be checked once a week. If once a week monitoring is truly required, than it seems AGM's are the only way to go regardless of cost because once a week is a cumbersome task to me.
Before I went with AGM's I had lead Acid and I checked maybe 3-4 times a year at random intervals, But I was not running an inverter.
Is it that running an inverter necessitates weekly checks? Is it the size of the inverter and frequency of use that factors into weekly water checks?
Or are weekly water checks not necessary?

A small inverter has little or nothing to do with checking fluid levels on wet cells. What does is poor converters.

What size wattage is the inverter?

I had wet cells--but got tired of checking water levels laying down in snow.

Currently I have AGM's and a small inverter powering a TV and nothing else.
Very simple install as I seldom boondock and I have a built in Onan 5500 if I really want power.
What had me questioning AGM vs. typical lead acid is the idea that water levels need to be checked once a week. If once a week monitoring is truly required, than it seems AGM's are the only way to go regardless of cost because once a week is a cumbersome task to me.
Before I went with AGM's I had lead Acid and I checked maybe 3-4 times a year at random intervals, But I was not running an inverter.
Is it that running an inverter necessitates weekly checks? Is it the size of the inverter and frequency of use that factors into weekly water checks?
Or are weekly water checks not necessary?

Lantley wrote:
I'm no battery guru and I'm not challenging the advice given.
However, checking battery level weekly seems like a lot to go through.
In reality I can never see ME checking the battery level that often.
For that reason alone I would opt for AGM's.

I check my batteries 2 or 3 times a year if there new, begining of camping season end of camping season and once and a while 1/2 way through storage. if you have the factory WFCO converter it might be better to check them once a month, but a good quality charging system on new batteries shouldnt need that frequent of checking.

Steve

TechWriter wrote:
OP, what breaker/fuse are you using between the batteries and inverter?

I have a 60a circuit breaker on the positive lead between the battery bank and the inverter. A #4 wire can actually handle more than 60a, but 60a @ 12v = 720W which is more than the inverter is rated for, so the inverter will shut down before the breaker pops in case of overload. The breaker is there to protect the wire in the event that the inverter malfunctions.

Xantrex states that #0 wire is recommended to minimize voltage loss over distance. They also have the same install guide for the 600w, 1000w, and 2000w models. Being that the inverter is ~3' from the batteries, voltage drop over distance was not a concern.

Lantley, the advantage to AGM is that they don't need to be vented, but also cost about double what you pay for a 6v GC2. The install worked out good for me because there was already accommodation for an external battery vent that I could connect to. Keeping the batteries in a storage bin not only supports venting but also keeps anything from accidentally contacting the battery terminals. I can store stuiff on top of the bin, it has a sturdy lid.

theoldwizard1 wrote:
You need to check the water in the batteries at least once a week. Hot weather and multiple discharge/charge cycle will cause evaporation. Depending on how much you use your RV, you probably need to clean the batteries every 3 - 6 months.

Our four FLA 6 volt golf cart batteries only use one pint each per year. We use our trailer 120 -150 days a year. They are seven years old and there is no corrosion on the terminals at all.

I'm no battery guru and I'm not challenging the advice given.
However, checking battery level weekly seems like a lot to go through.
In reality I can never see ME checking the battery level that often.
For that reason alone I would opt for AGM's.

Lantley wrote:

With that in mind what is the down side of using AGM'S Price?

IMO, yes, that's the only downside.
I'm not one to be terribly OCD about batteries. I probably do a better than average job maintaining batteries than alot of people, but not interested in treating them like your first newborn child!
AGMs just eliminate a maintenance issue, which in turn also makes them a better fit sometimes for "custom" applications.

Unless you have a faulty charger or abnormally hot weather, I think you'll find that you'll only need to add water every three to six months. Mine stays on solar 365 days a year and I add water at the beginning of the season and just before it goes to storage for the winter. Check more often until you are confident of the interval.