Should I swap GC2s out for Lifeline AGM?
Planning to swap out my 2 year old GC2 batteries (Interstate brand) for 2 six volt AGM Lifelines (220 Amp Hour bank). I dry camp several times a year for a few days and want to extend my electrical c...
Forum Discussion
It would be fairer to compare Lifeline to Trojan GC batteries and not to what he currently has. Budget golf car batteries.
There is one thing about a Lifeline that no other AGM can touch with a 20 foot pole -- don't mistreat them and they will live far far longer than any other AGM brand. It was only fairly recently on this forum that folks started having the first clues about how to avoid killing absorbed glass mat batteries. From what I've read about 95% of the reports about maintenance killed the AGM's at middle age or even earlier.
Decreasing capacity -- no clue as to condition them -- bad info about recharging and no clue as to how to tell if they were fully recharged.
Mistreat a Lifeline and I guarantee it will live no longer than a Full River or Odyssey battery. Mistreat a Rolls & Surrette flooded battery and it will live no longer than a Trojan or Crown battery.
The key is to get the full capacity out of those .105" thick plates.
And like it or not it's easier to know via instruments when an AGM battery is full.
Come play with my 24 2-volt cells then divide the time needed to recharge an AGM battery. Multiple voltages. It's worth it when the positive plate thickness is .330" that's about a third of an inch thick.
My bank weight would sag a motorhome right down to frame and asphalt yet when a high load is drawn it is obvious the only saving factor is the bulk gross amp hours translated to CCA with a large inverter.
Do you need or want 14 years out of a battery? That's the big question. If the batteries were cycled throughout the year then that skews the rationale even further.
Acid eats things for a living. And 1.300 acid is more corrosive than 1.285 electrolyte. When maintained at close to absolutely full capacity the acid will be more active. And it is skull and crossbones time if an AGM is parked for an extended time while less than full. So the acid is eating...would you rather have a .105" plate for the acid to gnaw on, or a .060" plate which is common even in competitive pricier brands?
I know for a fact that the architecture for the Lifeline GC AGM is the same as it is for the car jar batteries. Golf car batteries here do not have plates any thicker, mats no thicker and they are envelope sealed against sediment chamber shorts. Golf car size exists only because they replace the T105. I do not like being forced to use a series bridge externally if it can be avoided.
What delivers a hotter CCA for microwave oven / inverter use? Two group 31 XLT Lifelines or four Golf Car batteries? Last I checked a golf car battery falls on it's face nearing 500 cca. It's closer to 400 amps.
When a flooded battery is 40% charged, what is the cca reaction compared to full charge? How about an AGM?
Lots of stuff to mull over. One thing for sure the scale of comparison does not have the flooded battery. If a large charger for reduced generator run time enters the picture the scale tilts heavily in favor of the AGM especially the Lifeline.
Make a list. Line down the center. Your style of camping. Positive aspects to port, negative points to starboard.
Check San Diego battery's price for a retail price double check.
There is one thing about a Lifeline that no other AGM can touch with a 20 foot pole -- don't mistreat them and they will live far far longer than any other AGM brand. It was only fairly recently on this forum that folks started having the first clues about how to avoid killing absorbed glass mat batteries. From what I've read about 95% of the reports about maintenance killed the AGM's at middle age or even earlier.
Decreasing capacity -- no clue as to condition them -- bad info about recharging and no clue as to how to tell if they were fully recharged.
Mistreat a Lifeline and I guarantee it will live no longer than a Full River or Odyssey battery. Mistreat a Rolls & Surrette flooded battery and it will live no longer than a Trojan or Crown battery.
The key is to get the full capacity out of those .105" thick plates.
And like it or not it's easier to know via instruments when an AGM battery is full.
Come play with my 24 2-volt cells then divide the time needed to recharge an AGM battery. Multiple voltages. It's worth it when the positive plate thickness is .330" that's about a third of an inch thick.
My bank weight would sag a motorhome right down to frame and asphalt yet when a high load is drawn it is obvious the only saving factor is the bulk gross amp hours translated to CCA with a large inverter.
Do you need or want 14 years out of a battery? That's the big question. If the batteries were cycled throughout the year then that skews the rationale even further.
Acid eats things for a living. And 1.300 acid is more corrosive than 1.285 electrolyte. When maintained at close to absolutely full capacity the acid will be more active. And it is skull and crossbones time if an AGM is parked for an extended time while less than full. So the acid is eating...would you rather have a .105" plate for the acid to gnaw on, or a .060" plate which is common even in competitive pricier brands?
I know for a fact that the architecture for the Lifeline GC AGM is the same as it is for the car jar batteries. Golf car batteries here do not have plates any thicker, mats no thicker and they are envelope sealed against sediment chamber shorts. Golf car size exists only because they replace the T105. I do not like being forced to use a series bridge externally if it can be avoided.
What delivers a hotter CCA for microwave oven / inverter use? Two group 31 XLT Lifelines or four Golf Car batteries? Last I checked a golf car battery falls on it's face nearing 500 cca. It's closer to 400 amps.
When a flooded battery is 40% charged, what is the cca reaction compared to full charge? How about an AGM?
Lots of stuff to mull over. One thing for sure the scale of comparison does not have the flooded battery. If a large charger for reduced generator run time enters the picture the scale tilts heavily in favor of the AGM especially the Lifeline.
Make a list. Line down the center. Your style of camping. Positive aspects to port, negative points to starboard.
Check San Diego battery's price for a retail price double check.
