Best type of house battery

[gmg]

Most RVs seem to have lead acid deep cycle marine batteries. However I’m just thinking that most but not all RVers rarely camp without shore power. The most instantaneous power demand is when running out slides or deploying jacks. So it seems to me that a standard or combination starting battery makes more sense than the deep cycle marine battery. One more question I have: I’m wondering if the higher cost for agm batteries is worth the money. The plus side to me is not having to keep up with the electrolyte levels. I would be interested in what others think about this or have experienced.

[winniman]

Marine batteries and deep cycle batteries are not the same thing. Deep cycle batteries are meant to be ran down and recharged many times without causing excessive damage to the batteries. Starting {cranking}, batteries are meant for a quick, high discharge needed to start a vehicle. They are not meant for long slow discharge. Marine deep cycle batteries are really a combination of both deep cycle and starting batteries. They are not the best at either, but are a compromise as a boater needs things like fish finders and radios running when the engine is not running, yet still needs to start the boat. True deep cycle batteries are best for house batteries. Generally you will get more storage capacity out of two 6 volt deep cycle batteries than you will two 12 volt ones. These are the same type that a golf cart would use. Just thought I would put that out there, as lots of people seem to believe marine batteries are true deep cycle batteries, when in fact they are not. Cheers

[ford_truck_guy]

I love my 2 Lifeline AGM Group 31 batteries..

[edatlanta]

Two Trojan T-105's in series. My first set was replaced a year ago after 8 years full time service. Use the Trojan watering system and top them off twice a year and you are good to go. Zero maintenance - No, but darn close. And they are true deep cycle batteries.

My replacements were the same.

[midnightsadie]

X2 big bucks for something most rv,ers don,t need.I,ve been using wal marts deep cycle for over ten years without a problem. and I boon dock most times. they last about four years. still charge but I changed them out for a long haul.

[valhalla360]

Your premise is incorrect. Most use a single starting battery (sometimes relabeled as a combination battery but really just a starting battery if you open it up and look at the construction).

If you don't camp off grid, it's a perfectly good solution. Jacks & slides will generally pull less than 100amps for less than 30seconds and a starting battery does just fine doing that.

Only reason to consider Gel or AMG is if you are going to roll your RV. The big advantage to them is they don't leak out the acid if you put them on their side or upside down (planes, boats, jeeps can gain advantage as they often spend time substantially off level). They offer no real advantage in an RV.

[pianotuna]

Nickle Iron but oh they cost!

[time2roll]

Best? That would be lithium 🙂

[Son_of_Norway]

I deploy my jacks with the motorhome motor still running. I imagine a fifth wheel owner could deploy the jacks and slides in the same way, so the power doesn't deplete your house batteries. I have gotten a lot more life and power out of AGM's than I did with LA batteries. The AGM's also need very little maintenance, so I think they are worth the extra cost. One hint is to look for craigslist ads for AGM's that are overstock or are being retired from UPS systems. A good way to get new or near new batteries for a fraction of the retail price.

[Second_Chance]

I would never consider anything other than a deep cycle battery for my house battery. The advantage AGMs have over standard flooded batteries is lower maintenance (I've used them in boats for that reason). If people want to take the next giant step in RV batteries these days, they're going with Battle Born lithium batteries. They're pretty expensive, though.

Rob