BATTERY UPGRADE

thanks for all you're feedback i just got my tc back and will be out in it this coming weekend. hopefully the batteries will be ok for another season, but trying to do my homework just in case they need to be changed out.

Where Is Cigar 100 ?

The price of two 2 year old Trojan T-1275's for free from the local golf course has me happy, after doing a bit of equalizing to get them back into shape. If I get 3,4, 5, or 6 years out of them, I'll be happy. Never look the gift horse in the mouth.

For me, 3 state Progressive Dynamics 9245, and currently, 120 watts of solar panel with a $15 PWM charge controller set to 15.0V, and LED lights all around, is keeping my batteries topped off, and in tip top shape. A little bit of daily care goes a long way to extending battery life. Set it up right from the start, and your headaches will be few and far between.

Trojan and Rolls for conventional flooded cell, and Full River for AGM (Full River makes AGMs for Rolls).

I installed two Trojan T125's on my TT ten years ago and just sold and the batteries are still going strong. The trick is the charge wizard module that you add to the intellipower chargers. They were connected to a Xantrax 1200 inverter. Ran tv's satellite dishes and the heat just fine. Just sold that rig and tomorrow I am picking up two new Trojan T 125's for the new TT this time with a 2000 watt Xantrax pure sine wave plus another charge wizard module. We dry camp so it's nice not to run the generator especially when going to bed and watching tv. The charge wizards take care of the batteries by maintaining them and providing stirring charges.

I think dollar for dollar any generic 6 Volt GC2 battery will give you great value. My 7 year old no-name GC's are still going strong.

Make sure you have a good 3 stage converter, or check the water often (you really should have or get a good converter !!). Don't let them sit around uncharged. Try not to discharge them often to low SOC, and when you do, recharge as soon as possible. Be kind to them, and they will be kind to you.

Regards,
Doug

Take a WM RV/Marine DC battery, and treat it like you do your over priced Dekas and Trojans, and it will last a long time too.

Trojan is considered by many to be the best.
I went with DEKA, which are still made in the USofA.

For house batteries you want a true Deep Cycle, not a Marine/Deep cycle. Golf Car batteries (now available in both six and 12 volt types) are DEEP CYCLE.

If access for watering and cleaning is an issue go with Maintenance free.

I do not feel the alleged advantages of AGM are enough to warrant the price and in my expierence, AGM's did not deliver the "Extended life" some claim for them, IN fact they were the shorted lived batteries in the house.

Trojan L16