My house bank consists of 2 group 27 AGM's in my 2012 Nexus 24' C . They are over 4 years old and while they still work well they have been doing so for progressively shorter periods. The first 3+ years I could sit for 3 - 4 days without needing to run the generator but lately they would begin to show voltage drops under load after 2 - 3 days. Driving for a couple of hours or running the genny would recharge them enough for simple usage but they just did not hold the charge like they used to.
Started doing the requisite research a few weeks ago and elected to go with a pair of Renogy 12V AGM 100 Ah AGM's that weigh in at 64# each. They are highly rated and at $189 a piece {$412 OTD with tax but no freight - delivered in 3 days -Thanks Amazon} were a pretty good value.
After 11 years and 75,000 + miles the battery compartment was showing a lot of wear and tear. The latch securing the battery tray had failed due to the rust and corrosion about a year ago and all of the hardware needed to be cleaned/replaced. My mechanic came up with a clever way to secure the tray a few months ago using quarter inch all thread double nutted on each end.
Removing the tray and slider was a PITA as the rust and corrosion had a pretty good grip. WD40 and some serious wrenching {and no small amount of profanity later} everything finally came out. I used my half inch AC drill with a 3" wire wheel to take down the worst of the corrosion. I then sprayed the compartment and hardware with aerosol bedliner and replaced all of the nuts and bolts.
Here are several pics that cover the entire job:
The center of the rear of the tray had succumbed to the worst of the corrosion, look closely anyou can see where it had eaten through. I took a piece of sheet metal and used my vice to shape it into a 'V" which I secured and locked into shape with 3 C clamps and 2 pieces of wood locked it in with Gorilla Glue upside down over the gap.
After all of the battery cable/connections got scrubbed with a wire toothbrush dipped in baking soda/H2O it was time to commence the reassembly. Somehow the new batteries were an inch longer than anticipated :h :S so I had to bend the back wall of the tray back 90 degrees {another trip to the large vice on my workbench} and happily it just fit.
I slipped a thick piece of an old leather belt between the all thread and the new batteries for chafe protection
It took about 8 hours spread over 3 days, the first two while I waited for the batteries to be delivered. Not a fun Job but I'm satisfied with the results. With the converter on I'm showing 13.2 volts and the V-10 is delivering 14.2. Should be back to sitting for at least 4 days at a time without needing to run the penny and we rarely stay anywhere that long.
Not too bad for an old guy {pushing 72}}. :B
:C
Started doing the requisite research a few weeks ago and elected to go with a pair of Renogy 12V AGM 100 Ah AGM's that weigh in at 64# each. They are highly rated and at $189 a piece {$412 OTD with tax but no freight - delivered in 3 days -Thanks Amazon} were a pretty good value.
After 11 years and 75,000 + miles the battery compartment was showing a lot of wear and tear. The latch securing the battery tray had failed due to the rust and corrosion about a year ago and all of the hardware needed to be cleaned/replaced. My mechanic came up with a clever way to secure the tray a few months ago using quarter inch all thread double nutted on each end.
Removing the tray and slider was a PITA as the rust and corrosion had a pretty good grip. WD40 and some serious wrenching {and no small amount of profanity later} everything finally came out. I used my half inch AC drill with a 3" wire wheel to take down the worst of the corrosion. I then sprayed the compartment and hardware with aerosol bedliner and replaced all of the nuts and bolts.
Here are several pics that cover the entire job:
The center of the rear of the tray had succumbed to the worst of the corrosion, look closely anyou can see where it had eaten through. I took a piece of sheet metal and used my vice to shape it into a 'V" which I secured and locked into shape with 3 C clamps and 2 pieces of wood locked it in with Gorilla Glue upside down over the gap.
After all of the battery cable/connections got scrubbed with a wire toothbrush dipped in baking soda/H2O it was time to commence the reassembly. Somehow the new batteries were an inch longer than anticipated :h :S so I had to bend the back wall of the tray back 90 degrees {another trip to the large vice on my workbench} and happily it just fit.
I slipped a thick piece of an old leather belt between the all thread and the new batteries for chafe protection
It took about 8 hours spread over 3 days, the first two while I waited for the batteries to be delivered. Not a fun Job but I'm satisfied with the results. With the converter on I'm showing 13.2 volts and the V-10 is delivering 14.2. Should be back to sitting for at least 4 days at a time without needing to run the penny and we rarely stay anywhere that long.
Not too bad for an old guy {pushing 72}}. :B
:C
I also had to clean out the battery compartment with wire bush and baking soda. I used new cables and tossed the old ones. Sprayed the box with Harbor Freight bedliner and then found 2 LION Energy 105 amp hour lifepo4 lithiums that fit in our Minnie Winnie 25b step. Costco sold them for a good price in 2020. About $1600. But I did the whole conversion too
Thanks again Chum lee for catching my prior screw up leaving the heads of the tray screws under the batteries where they could {and probably would} wear through the battery cases.
It was a PITA to disconnect everything and pull the batteries to get at the tray but needed doing.
Lest anyone think I just got lazy and just chose to ignore the problem here are a couple of pics, first of the tray with the screws removed and the second of the completed reinstall:
:S
It was a PITA to disconnect everything and pull the batteries to get at the tray but needed doing.
Lest anyone think I just got lazy and just chose to ignore the problem here are a couple of pics, first of the tray with the screws removed and the second of the completed reinstall:
:S
I went in the other direction, getting rid of our manufactured slide-out tray.
Our 2-battery tray has full extension drawer glides. I had to give up the tray when going from two 12V batteries, to two 6V batteries because the 6Vs are taller. Giving up the tray, gained the height I needed.
I went with AGM technology to avoid maintenance, so there is no need to have a tray. I installed the batteries in April 2015, and they have remained undisturbed since then.
Here are some before and after pictures.
BEFORE with two 12V wet acid batteries.
AFTER with two 6V AGM batteries.
If you want to purchase a full extension manufactured slide-out battery tray like I had, here is the manufacture of mine. The label seems to be difficult to read.
EZ-GLIDE by Fleming Sales Company, Inc.
2101 Industrial Parkway, Elkhart, IN 46516
574-295-0234
I had bought a second one so I have two. You can see what happens after 8 years of boil-overs.
Our 2-battery tray has full extension drawer glides. I had to give up the tray when going from two 12V batteries, to two 6V batteries because the 6Vs are taller. Giving up the tray, gained the height I needed.
I went with AGM technology to avoid maintenance, so there is no need to have a tray. I installed the batteries in April 2015, and they have remained undisturbed since then.
Here are some before and after pictures.
BEFORE with two 12V wet acid batteries.
AFTER with two 6V AGM batteries.
If you want to purchase a full extension manufactured slide-out battery tray like I had, here is the manufacture of mine. The label seems to be difficult to read.
EZ-GLIDE by Fleming Sales Company, Inc.
2101 Industrial Parkway, Elkhart, IN 46516
574-295-0234
I had bought a second one so I have two. You can see what happens after 8 years of boil-overs.
