Costco GC2 spec
I decided to replace the old GC2 batteries (4 years old). Costco's GC2's are now labeled Interstate Batteries. There isn't much data on the battery, just RC = 107. A "real" Interstate battery that ...
Forum Discussion
This thread is interesting but does not pin point an answer.
Here is my own question on batteries and charging. I did some experimenting back in the past with a 4 bank of GC2 (Costco) and now have a smaller RV that I am about to add 2 GC2s to replace "RV deep cycle". The problem for me has always been historically how to get the battery bank charged in the shortest period of "generator run time". I am an exclusive boondocker with seldom if never shore power luxuries. However, even after adding solar which I am very happy with, there are actually weeks at a time here (currently) in the PNW I must deal with having inadequate sun. I'd also like to not always park in the sun as a regular necessity when I find a cool boondocking site with only shade. So this gets back to the question about what's best to maintain my bank with short gen-set runs during bleak weeks or shady celebrations. I already made the Costco vs other decision. So that one is settled for me personally.
So my question is, are there technical types out there who actually have done tests and come up with a solution? The problem I see is even the experts don't seem to agree, so thus it would be nice to find some solid data from those in the field actually facing this challenge.
I see most threads are arguments over mfg types and long experiences of this failure or that, but outside of getting a bad battery, deciding on cheap or pricey, what is the method to provide the shortest charge cycle anyone has been successful with while using on a regular basis?
Now from my research some high voltages are involved (over 15V) that can fry other sensitive electronic equipment in the coach, so I assume that when out of the range of normal alternator stuff (14.2V) down to house voltage (13.8V) some type of isolation relay has to be enabled while perhaps the coach can still hum along running on the factory battery eliminator since the generator is running and the charger would then power the battery charging cycle with the charging bank out of circuit.
As far as I can see the mfg specs for charging these deep cycle batteries goes well outside the 14.2 relayed-in engine alternator high voltage point and way beyond the sleepy if not almost dead house-voltage of 13.8 or so.
Question is, is there an affordable charging device that steps up to this task? I know on the West Marine site they talk about this very topic, then they offer some chargers that do this for $500 and up. Is there a more economical solution with perhaps the batt temp sensor they claim one needs when zapping with the 15+V during the battery acceptance phase?
P.S. Hey there MXwanderer - big Michoacan fan here also -
Vive la vida con el peligro LOL
Here is my own question on batteries and charging. I did some experimenting back in the past with a 4 bank of GC2 (Costco) and now have a smaller RV that I am about to add 2 GC2s to replace "RV deep cycle". The problem for me has always been historically how to get the battery bank charged in the shortest period of "generator run time". I am an exclusive boondocker with seldom if never shore power luxuries. However, even after adding solar which I am very happy with, there are actually weeks at a time here (currently) in the PNW I must deal with having inadequate sun. I'd also like to not always park in the sun as a regular necessity when I find a cool boondocking site with only shade. So this gets back to the question about what's best to maintain my bank with short gen-set runs during bleak weeks or shady celebrations. I already made the Costco vs other decision. So that one is settled for me personally.
So my question is, are there technical types out there who actually have done tests and come up with a solution? The problem I see is even the experts don't seem to agree, so thus it would be nice to find some solid data from those in the field actually facing this challenge.
I see most threads are arguments over mfg types and long experiences of this failure or that, but outside of getting a bad battery, deciding on cheap or pricey, what is the method to provide the shortest charge cycle anyone has been successful with while using on a regular basis?
Now from my research some high voltages are involved (over 15V) that can fry other sensitive electronic equipment in the coach, so I assume that when out of the range of normal alternator stuff (14.2V) down to house voltage (13.8V) some type of isolation relay has to be enabled while perhaps the coach can still hum along running on the factory battery eliminator since the generator is running and the charger would then power the battery charging cycle with the charging bank out of circuit.
As far as I can see the mfg specs for charging these deep cycle batteries goes well outside the 14.2 relayed-in engine alternator high voltage point and way beyond the sleepy if not almost dead house-voltage of 13.8 or so.
Question is, is there an affordable charging device that steps up to this task? I know on the West Marine site they talk about this very topic, then they offer some chargers that do this for $500 and up. Is there a more economical solution with perhaps the batt temp sensor they claim one needs when zapping with the 15+V during the battery acceptance phase?
P.S. Hey there MXwanderer - big Michoacan fan here also -
Vive la vida con el peligro LOL
