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

While I am a fan of good quality AGM batteries (Lifeline), the faster recharge is usually not realized in the typical truck camper setup. A 220 AH bank of AGMs will absorb 100 amps or more for about a half hour, then begin to drop. Most campers do not have alternators, line chargers, or wiring that can handle that rate of charge.

sears paltinums, decent price when on sale.Same battery as oddyssey. I run 4 group 31s and 270 watts solar. I re worked the bus bar in my panel so I can't run micro AC or refrig on the inverter.

The maintenance free is huge for me as I am lazy not to mention you can store batteries in areas that are not easily accessible since you don't have to monitor the water levels, like in the bed in front of the wheel wells or under the truck making it easy to have 6-8 if you want.

The fast rate of recharge is also very convenient, short run of generator in late afternoon with solar and you can be powered up indefinitely.

Roadlover wrote:
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!

How many watts is the coffee maker? Does DW need high/max to dry hair (1875w)?

You really need four batteries to properly drive a 2000 watt inverter. Although AGM has a better chance to squeak by if needed. If you can pair down actual usage to 1000 or 1500 watts it would be better. I think I still recommend a 2000 watt inverter. My preference is GoPower brand sine wave inverters.

If you are parked in the sun much I also recommend 140 to 300 watts of solar. The batteries you list are fine.

covered wagon wrote:
Less required charging time means lower battery capacities. AGM's typically have less amps it can hold in it's bank account.

Only slightly lower capacity vs flooded. Maybe 2% to 5% lower. Charge rate up to 5x faster than flooded.

Less required charging time means lower battery capacities. AGM's typically have less amps it can hold in it's bank account.

Golden_HVAC wrote:
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.

Fred, I appreciate your recommendation on the Honda EU2000 and I laugh only because I ordered one just yesterday from Camping World. They are running a special until August 18th of, $999 plus free shipping. I thought that was a pretty good deal. But I should also clarify when I would be wanting to run these appliances without the generator. I would only be wanting to do this when camping overnight at places like Walmart, rest areas or truck stops and not pull out the generator so not to look too much like we are camping. Once we arrived at our destination, I would be pulling out the generator. My current Onan 2500 is very noisy and with the mechanical problems I've had with it, I just want to remove it from the camper and then carry the Honda in the generator cavity. My plan is to remove it, get it serviced and then sell it. It only has 16 hours on it but just don't like it. I also barowed a friends Honda 2000 and it was able to run the AC we have in the camper.

A question I should probably ask, is it then even necessary for me to have AGM batteries if only needing them to run appliances on these quick, overnight stays? I'm thinking I would still require a good inverter.

As for the solar panels, many of the places we dry camp are so wooded, I'm not too sure if solar would work very well for us.

Thanks, Ken

I have Lifeline gpl31xt 125AH AGMS in my setup. It is a sexy battery, very well made. They are expensive though, around $350 each but free shipping.

The charts at Lifeline show you will get about 1000 cycles for a 50% depth of discharge (DoD). Thus you have about 125AH available from a two battery system, which is 1500 watt-hr. Figure an inverter runs at 90% efficiency and you have available 1350 watt-hr.

You could run a hair dryer for 5 min at 1500 watts and use up 125 watt-hr. 5 min microwave would use up about 100 watt-hr.

So don't take a shower more than about 5 times a weekend and don't eat more than 6 tv dinners and you are good to go.

The AGM batteries have a key difference to wet cell batteries in that they can be recharged up to three to five times as fast. If you get a charger sized for the task, you can put back the energy for the hair fluffing almost as fast as she uses it, with that little Honda generator or by driving and charging from the alternator. I would look for a 2,000 watt pure sine inverter, a 50 amp or so charger (built in or a separate converter type unit) and I like 230 amp hour 6 volt golf cart batteries, four of them in series/parallel for the 12v bank.

Brian

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.

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.