Why didn't batteries last longer
The batteries in my TT seem to have lost most of their capacity after three years. Now three years isn't terrible performance, and I was looking for an excuse to switch to 6 volt anyway, but I'm curio...
Forum Discussion
Lancester wrote:
Hello all. I am very glad to have read this topic as I need to change my batteries right away. I had planned on going back with two more Optima's,
There are cases where I recommend Optima.. not many though. Here is why.
First: Optima is an AGM battery and thus a Maintenance free (Sealed Valve Regulated Lead Acid)
(I moved from the 2nd smallest sub set to larger and larger sets as I typed that)
AGM is far more expensive than liquid filled Sealed VRLA And in 99.9 percent of the RV's I do not believe there is any advantage (The only real advantage is that AGM's do not come with a This Side UP) so you pay 3x for the battery and get nothing extra for it.
Page 2. OPTIMA is only 60-70 percent battery, (The rest is air) so though it can take a physical licking and keep on working, way better than other designs, if you are driving an RV like that batteries will not be your primary problem.
And they are lighter (Same amount) which in ONE case in all the years I've been here was important to the RVer.
But they cost even more than other AGM's and they are only 60-70 percent battery so they hold even less energy.
A Group 24 OPTIMA is as big as a Group 24 anytghing else, Same foot print as a 230 amp hour x 6 volt GC-2 (Shorter though) but hold not 75 am hours. but only about fifty. (or less) so two of them would be 100 AH, v/s 230 AH for the six volt pair.. 230% the capacity, and due to some special rules about batteries (Pelter? not sure of spelling) its even greater .
