Mixing AGM and Sealed Acid Batteries

[missnmountains]

We have a 2010 Jayco Seneca HD. The Chassis has two starting batteries and the House has 4 batteries.

I am needing to replace all 6 batteries. I really want deep cycle AGM batteries for the House.

Does anyone know if we can mix the two styles?

Thanks

Ken Lawrence

[missnmountains]

smkettner wrote:
When the engine has been off 24 hours and you are plugged in... measure the chassis battery voltage. 12.7 or less is not charging. 13.2+ is charging. System or not this will check the function.

I will check this.

[time2roll]

All 9200 has a built in wizard. The pendent for manual control is optional.

[pianotuna]

Does the 9200 have a charge wizard?

[time2roll]

When the engine has been off 24 hours and you are plugged in... measure the chassis battery voltage. 12.7 or less is not charging. 13.2+ is charging. System or not this will check the function.

[Dakzuki]

House batteries and starting batteries will be different due to their use anyway. The house needs to be true deep cycle batteries and the starting batteries need to kick out lots of current fast for the starter and are not designed for a deep discharge. Go ahead and get whatever is the best battery for the house that you want.

Most RVs do NOT charge the chassis battery while plugged in. There is a device called a Trik-L-Start that installs easily that will poach a little bit of the carge when plugged in to maintain the chassis battery.

The alternator normally charges both sets of batteries. A relay kicks in when the engine is running to combine both sets of batteries.

[missnmountains]

MobileBasset wrote:
I can see why you would want all house batteries to be the same ( and all new at the same time) but if the engine is charging from a different source why does it matter if it (they) are a different type than the house?

Now I am a little confused. I thought the Charger also maintained the Chassis Batteries?

I am very confident the Alternator charges both the chassis and the house.

I may need to talk to Jayco to get an answer to this.

Ken

[MobileBasset]

I can see why you would want all house batteries to be the same ( and all new at the same time) but if the engine is charging from a different source why does it matter if it (they) are a different type than the house?

[time2roll]

The house and chassis are basically separated so it is not an issue.
The alternator will charge all just fine running down the road.
But then again you could go all in with six AGM.

Bigger concern will be the converter that charges the house and the 9200 should be fine. If the 9200 is less than 60 amps I would upgrade the wire as needed and swap in an 9280 for 80 amps charging.

[missnmountains]

bob_nestor wrote:
I wouldn't mix them but that's based on the little knowledge I picked up when I installed AGM batteries in my previous RV. The inverter/converter in it had different settings for the various types of batteries and I had to change its settings to match the Lifeline AGMs. I also bought an intelligent battery charger at the time and it has different settings for different types of batteries. That might be just marketing hype, but then again ... What little I could find in the manual seemed to indicate the optimal voltage levels used for charging were different for AGMs vs regular batteries.

This is my underlying concern. I have a very large boat with 6 8D batteries. They are all deep cycle AGM. There are three chargers. All three chargers have three settings (Flooded, Gel, and AGM) They are all set to AGM. I was told I could damage the batteries if the chargers are not on the correct setting.

My house charger in the Motorhome does not have any settings that I could find. It is the Intelipower 9200 PD 9200 Series.

Thanks

Ken

[missnmountains]

2oldman wrote:
jars= batteries.

I'm not sure if your house and engine are connected.

Only to the charging systems. We have a house charger and obviously the Alternator.

Ken

[bob_nestor]

I wouldn't mix them but that's based on the little knowledge I picked up when I installed AGM batteries in my previous RV. The inverter/converter in it had different settings for the various types of batteries and I had to change its settings to match the Lifeline AGMs. I also bought an intelligent battery charger at the time and it has different settings for different types of batteries. That might be just marketing hype, but then again ... What little I could find in the manual seemed to indicate the optimal voltage levels used for charging were different for AGMs vs regular batteries.

[2oldman]

jars= batteries.

I'm not sure if your house and engine are connected.

[missnmountains]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

All batteries would be best to be the same. I would prefer 12 volt jars. AGM deep cycle still has a 50% limitation for depth of discharge. They do work well as starter batteries because of their low internal resistance.

If you don't camp below -20 c (-4 f) and have deep pockets consider using LI batteries for the house and for the starter. They can be taken safely down to just 20% state of charge, and they do not have to be recharged to 100% unlike lead acid chemistries.

Lifeline does a great AGM.

I just switched to used telecom batteries and am happy with the results.

Do add some solar if you boondock. If you don't--then you don't need to have four house batteries.

Thank you so much for the response. Sorry for my ignorance, but what are "12 volt jars"?

I like the idea of using deep cycle AGM's if they work as starting batteries too.

That is a great idea.

Ken

[pianotuna]

Hi,

All batteries would be best to be the same. I would prefer 12 volt jars. AGM deep cycle still has a 50% limitation for depth of discharge. They do work well as starter batteries because of their low internal resistance.

If you don't camp below -20 c (-4 f) and have deep pockets consider using LI batteries for the house and for the starter. They can be taken safely down to just 20% state of charge, and they do not have to be recharged to 100% unlike lead acid chemistries.

Lifeline does a great AGM.

I just switched to used telecom batteries and am happy with the results.

Do add some solar if you boondock. If you don't--then you don't need to have four house batteries.