I'm looking at purchasing a couple of group 31, AGM, deep cycle batteries and a new inverter for our AF 1150. We enjoy dry camping but always rely on a generator for making our morning coffee and for my wife to blow dry and curl her hair. So, what direction should I take as far as the correct batteries and inverter? My local CarQuest dealer has 31 group AGM, deep cell batteries for $248.99 each. They said the manufacturer for the batteriy is East Penn. Thanks for your help!

Sure you can go that way. However it will take a couple of hours to put back the energy into the battery from running the hair dryer for a few minutes. Same with the coffee maker. It would be better to run a small 2,000 watt Honda generator for such high wattage appliances, then run the TV or other low wattage things with the inverter. But whatever you want. . .The Honda is about $995 at a place like this. Mayberrys.com Ask about delivery costs, as that can get expensive. I think this place is free shipping, but don't have current information.Honda 2000 watt is only about 49 pounds, and you can pair two of them to make 4 KW and run a air conditioner. If you really want to use a inverter to power the hair dryer, microwave and coffee maker, it is possible. A pair of 105 AH batteries will each hold about 1,200 watts, but only use about 80% of that for long battery life, so about 900 watts can be used from each. The microwave would require pure sine wave power, while the hair dryer and coffee maker will not. Pure sine wave might be a 1800 watt Prosine, or Outback inverter about the same size. SunElec.com sells both inverters and solar panels.Instead of running a noisy generator for a hour or two to make up for the power used, you might like to have a pair of 150 watt solar panels on the roof. My RV uses 35 AH daily to run the CO and propane detectors along with the refrigerator. That is about what one of my 120 watt solar panels can put out in a day. I have a total of 400 watts.The Honda generators are very quiet, less noise than your truck at idle. Good luck!Fred.

Absolutely no benefits to using AGM batteries with a truck camper. AGM do not require venting and can lie on their side but that is not what is found with the factory battery compartments. More expensive does not mean better.

I agree with both Golden HVAC and wintersun.Buy two 6 volt wet cell deep cycle batteries and an inverter/converter. Using a Honda generator for times of high amperage use is a very good suggestion. If the price of the Honda is not in your budget, then one of the cheap Chinese knock-offs at less than half the price might work. Keep in mind they are cheaper for a reason. Solar panels are a more expensive and complicated solution, but are totally quiet and can charge the batteries up to 100%. (Your generator will charge wet cell batteries quickly up to 80%, but then it is very slow for the last 20%.)

I have 2 group 31 Deka AGMs in my AF 1140. Installed them in 2010. Nicest thing about AGMs is they are maintenance free. I think Deka is made by East Penn so they are probably the same battery. After 4 years they are still going strong and I am very pleased with them.

While some will not see a value for AGM batteries, the following advantages are why I have 440Ahr of AGM batteries in my TC, which is used both summer and winter for boondocking.Charge acceptance rate for AGM batteries are significantly higher than flooded lead acid batteries, resulting in less generator time / fuel needed to recharge to ~90% SOC when it isn't sunny.Under normal charging conditions AGM batteries don't vent allowing them to be inside (if you are comfortable with this). A 60-70F battery has significantly more Ahr capacity than a cold battery, in a vented, unheated battery compartment. Don't have to replace a non-temperature compensated converter / charger with a temperature compensated one and temperature sensors, if you store the batteries in the heated camper.Non-venting AGM batteries don't spill sulfuric acid from the battery into the compartment, independent of orientation.Non-venting AGM batteries can be placed out of the way, without the concern for access for the routine maintenance of adding water to flooded lead acid batteries. Self discharge rate of AGM batteries are less than flooded lead acid batteries. Significant if you don't use your battery during the winter. Discharged battery electrolyte freezes and destroys the flooded lead acid battery. AGM batteries maintain their charge, and even if frozen, not sustain damage.

AGM Batteries and Inverter - What Is Best For My Needs?

Fishinghat
Explorer II
Aug 15, 2014
I agree with both Golden HVAC and wintersun.

Buy two 6 volt wet cell deep cycle batteries and an inverter/converter. Using a Honda generator for times of high amperage use is a very good suggestion. If the price of the Honda is not in your budget, then one of the cheap Chinese knock-offs at less than half the price might work. Keep in mind they are cheaper for a reason.

Solar panels are a more expensive and complicated solution, but are totally quiet and can charge the batteries up to 100%. (Your generator will charge wet cell batteries quickly up to 80%, but then it is very slow for the last 20%.)
wintersun
Explorer II
Aug 15, 2014
Absolutely no benefits to using AGM batteries with a truck camper. AGM do not require venting and can lie on their side but that is not what is found with the factory battery compartments. More expensive does not mean better.
Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Aug 15, 2014
Sure you can go that way. However it will take a couple of hours to put back the energy into the battery from running the hair dryer for a few minutes. Same with the coffee maker.

It would be better to run a small 2,000 watt Honda generator for such high wattage appliances, then run the TV or other low wattage things with the inverter. But whatever you want. . .

The Honda is about $995 at a place like this. Mayberrys.com Ask about delivery costs, as that can get expensive. I think this place is free shipping, but don't have current information.

Honda 2000 watt is only about 49 pounds, and you can pair two of them to make 4 KW and run a air conditioner.

If you really want to use a inverter to power the hair dryer, microwave and coffee maker, it is possible. A pair of 105 AH batteries will each hold about 1,200 watts, but only use about 80% of that for long battery life, so about 900 watts can be used from each.

The microwave would require pure sine wave power, while the hair dryer and coffee maker will not. Pure sine wave might be a 1800 watt Prosine, or Outback inverter about the same size. SunElec.com sells both inverters and solar panels.

Instead of running a noisy generator for a hour or two to make up for the power used, you might like to have a pair of 150 watt solar panels on the roof. My RV uses 35 AH daily to run the CO and propane detectors along with the refrigerator. That is about what one of my 120 watt solar panels can put out in a day. I have a total of 400 watts.

The Honda generators are very quiet, less noise than your truck at idle.

Good luck!

Fred.

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AGM Batteries and Inverter - What Is Best For My Needs?

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