Researching batteries
Curious to find out which batteries are the most popular with truck campers. I don't have solar panel or generator. I usually do 3 or 4 nights maximum of dry camping. Thank you for sharing your inf...
Forum Discussion
We have a small Class C instead of a TC. About 8 years ago I installed a couple of AGM 12V Group 29 batteries in it ... 100AH each for a total of 200 AH.
However, these two AGMs have been doing just fine because their recommended float voltage is 13.5V to 13.8V - exactly the nominal output voltage range of the single stage Parallax converter that came in the motorhome ... so that the water in them is not evaporated away (out of their one-way valve) when being floated on this converter. Since AGM batteries have much lower internal resistance than wet cell lead acid batteries, the converter's output voltage also charges them quickly enough for our camping style - which is only a very few days at any one campsite. We use a small very quiet generator to charge the AGM batteries via the converter when camping (no solar) every 2nd or 3rd day. I use a CPAP machine every night and we keep the propane furnace set to a moderate setting every night.
So our two 8 year old AGMs are getting both floated and charged by a single stage converter. The converter stays connected to them almost 24/7 when the motorhome is sitting between trips in our back yard - except for very hot days when I disconnect them from the converter. The batteries do see periodic higher charging voltages from the engine alternator when on the road. I can tell when they're fully charged - whether being charged by the converter or alternator - because the permanent ammeter installed in their main cable shows lower and lower current until it finally reaches, and holds at, zero amps.
I'll probably replace them with a couple of Group 31 AGM batteries with a recommended float voltage of around 13.6 volts so that I don't have to spend the money to replace the otherwise perfectly good converter (... with a multi-stage charger just to get the typical recommended float voltage that wet cell batteries require of 13.2 volts). Some AGM batteries come with a recommended float voltage of 13.2 volts and some AGM batteries come with a higher recommended float voltage.
For what it's worth, these two AGM coach batteries are connected in direct parallel (via a continuous duty silver alloy contact solenoid) with a standard wet cell lead acid engine starting battery - with all three in parallel getting charged by the main engine alternator hour after hour when traveling. The two different battery technologies have been mixed ... when getting charged while traveling via the alternator ... for years with no apparent damage. The wet cell engine starting battery is around 6 years old and is connected to a trickle charger 24/7 when the motorhome is at home not being used.
However, these two AGMs have been doing just fine because their recommended float voltage is 13.5V to 13.8V - exactly the nominal output voltage range of the single stage Parallax converter that came in the motorhome ... so that the water in them is not evaporated away (out of their one-way valve) when being floated on this converter. Since AGM batteries have much lower internal resistance than wet cell lead acid batteries, the converter's output voltage also charges them quickly enough for our camping style - which is only a very few days at any one campsite. We use a small very quiet generator to charge the AGM batteries via the converter when camping (no solar) every 2nd or 3rd day. I use a CPAP machine every night and we keep the propane furnace set to a moderate setting every night.
So our two 8 year old AGMs are getting both floated and charged by a single stage converter. The converter stays connected to them almost 24/7 when the motorhome is sitting between trips in our back yard - except for very hot days when I disconnect them from the converter. The batteries do see periodic higher charging voltages from the engine alternator when on the road. I can tell when they're fully charged - whether being charged by the converter or alternator - because the permanent ammeter installed in their main cable shows lower and lower current until it finally reaches, and holds at, zero amps.
I'll probably replace them with a couple of Group 31 AGM batteries with a recommended float voltage of around 13.6 volts so that I don't have to spend the money to replace the otherwise perfectly good converter (... with a multi-stage charger just to get the typical recommended float voltage that wet cell batteries require of 13.2 volts). Some AGM batteries come with a recommended float voltage of 13.2 volts and some AGM batteries come with a higher recommended float voltage.
For what it's worth, these two AGM coach batteries are connected in direct parallel (via a continuous duty silver alloy contact solenoid) with a standard wet cell lead acid engine starting battery - with all three in parallel getting charged by the main engine alternator hour after hour when traveling. The two different battery technologies have been mixed ... when getting charged while traveling via the alternator ... for years with no apparent damage. The wet cell engine starting battery is around 6 years old and is connected to a trickle charger 24/7 when the motorhome is at home not being used.
