Battery Issues

every-time somebody says "less capacity"

i can only think, they are thinking of Optima 6 pack spiral wound orbital batteries

those are less weight and less capacity compared to the same group size
of other construction methods

RJsfishin wrote:
AGM,....more expensive w/ less capacity,....don't know why I would want one.

Rich ... I'm not sure what "less capacity" you are referrring to?

My twin Group 31 12 volt AGMs have 115 AH each, for a total of 230 AH - about the same total capacity as a couple of the common size GC 6 volt liquid acid batteries used in so many RVs. Lifeline even has a Group 31 12V AGM battery model - of about the same cubic inch and form factor size as mine - that are 125 AH each, for a total of 250 AH when used two at a time.

As far as I can see, the only thing "wrong" with quality deep cycle AGM batteries as compared to common GC batteries is the cost of the AGM batteries. Of course those extra dollars are providing set-it-and-forget-it RV battery service.

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RJsfishin wrote:
AGM,....more expensive w/ less capacity,....don't know why I would want one.

Less Maintenance
Lower internal resistance so charges faster and less low voltage problems with high current inverter draw.
Less critical venting issues.

theoldwizard1 wrote:
A pair of 6V golf cart batteries are still the "best bang for the buck". Trojan does make an AGM golf cart battery (T105-AGM) but they are expensive.

The advantages of the GC (Golf Car) batteries are that they are DESIGNED to be run down (as far as 50%) and recharged over and a over and a over again without serious harm.

MARINE/deep cycle and starting batteries need to be kept fuller (75 to 85 percent full) and do not survive as many cycles.

FULL charging is important but as batteries age one symptom is loss of capacity

Update. It appears that the OP is a sock puppet for a CA retailer of RV parts, abusing a competitor's site.

Maroon embossed cases for T-105 batteries cost $11.00 in 1988. I can just imagine what they cost today. Rolls jars are embossed as well. For prestige.

Trojan used to market their 2nds in white jars with red lids. 30-years later why not black? They offered distributors a 12-month warranty.

Pull out your crying towel. Distributors were paying $36.00 each for embossed T-105 batteries then.

Sure, the deeper you discharge a battery, the fewer cycles you get. But if you work the math, drawing deeper for those fewer cycles can cost less compared to adding more batteries.

In CA, you may be able to find Magnacharge batteries. They're a Trojan master distributor, and they sell Trojan "black box" GC2's labeled as their own GC-225s (They're 220 Ah). I picked up a couple in Michigan last spring for USD $100 each. More truthfully, $130 each without cores, but it would have been ~$100 if I had trade-ins.

Mex you picked the wrong border to live across! (Assuming the Area 51 guys kicked you out of home) :)

And if over discharging the battery saves a hundred or two hundred dollars in lost food screw the battery. Same principle as generator/fuel recharging vs cycle life. A few discharges to 20% or even 10% are not as hard on an AGM as it is on a flooded battery.

I have twice discharged my 2-volt cells to between 5 and 8% remaining capacity. Stalled tropical storms with horizontal rain. The freezers needed to be freezing and 90 degrees with 90% humidity was too much to endure. Six days without public power. Day 7 I would have started the Lombardini 385 amperes. But CFE power came on and remained on so the Trace charged for days on end. It showed up with an added 184 dollars on the power bill -- but still cheaper than diesel. It's a 100 meter walk to the genshed and arriving sopping wet and tangling with high voltage is not exactly wise. 50 mph horizontal rain and raincoats are not good battle contestants. The weather always winds. Ratz I need a pair of new Group 31 batteries for the generators.