Would you replace all n6n GC batteries

[mikestock]

My Phaeton has 4-6v Duracell batteries, purchased from Sam's just over two years ago. They only came with a one year warranty, which I have discovered is pretty standard for deep cycle batteries.

Separating the batteries I found that the problem is only in one of the batteries, that has shorted a cell. I have temporarily removed that pair of batteries and just running off the other two.

I'm just wondering if I should take a chance and just replace the one battery, the one pair or just go ahead and replace them all. I definitely will not buy the same brand battery, regardless.

Secondly: It appears my best choice is Interstate, from Costco at $105 per battery. Any better recommendations?

[Gjac]

How do you know that the cell is shorted? It is unusual that a 2 year old GC battery would fail like that. Have you tried to equalize the batteries? That might bring the bad one back. If the battery is truly bad and the others are truly good, I would have them load tested first to determine what state they are in. Based on that test I would make two battery banks, put the two best ones together and the two lower capacity ones together. I have the Sams Club batteries in my MH that are now 10 years old and I dry camp 95 % of the time. My first set were Trojans which lasted me only 4 years. The difference was learning battery maintenance not that one brand is better than the other. So I would not be afraid to buy another Sams Club battery.

[mikestock]

tropical36 wrote:

mikestock wrote:
My Phaeton has 4-6v Duracell batteries, purchased from Sam's just over two years ago. They only came with a one year warranty, which I have discovered is pretty standard for deep cycle batteries.

Separating the batteries I found that the problem is only in one of the batteries, that has shorted a cell. I have temporarily removed that pair of batteries and just running off the other two.

I'm just wondering if I should take a chance and just replace the one battery, the one pair or just go ahead and replace them all. I definitely will not buy the same brand battery, regardless.

Secondly: It appears my best choice is Interstate, from Costco at $105 per battery. Any better recommendations?

I think in this case, I'd go to a GC shop and buy a used battery. They're usually about $25 dollars and have done this a few times with golf carts.

That's a thought. I have a friend who rents a fleet of about 75 carts. I may check with him and see if he may have any old hold back singles for emergency use. Maybe I'll buy one for $25 or offer to sell him one for $25. Like I said whatryagonnado with one 6v battery.

[tropical36]

mikestock wrote:
My Phaeton has 4-6v Duracell batteries, purchased from Sam's just over two years ago. They only came with a one year warranty, which I have discovered is pretty standard for deep cycle batteries.

Separating the batteries I found that the problem is only in one of the batteries, that has shorted a cell. I have temporarily removed that pair of batteries and just running off the other two.

I'm just wondering if I should take a chance and just replace the one battery, the one pair or just go ahead and replace them all. I definitely will not buy the same brand battery, regardless.

Secondly: It appears my best choice is Interstate, from Costco at $105 per battery. Any better recommendations?

I think in this case, I'd go to a GC shop and buy a used battery. They're usually about $25 dollars and have done this a few times with golf carts.

[mikestock]

2oldman wrote:

Bruce Brown wrote:
Why throw away 3 good batteries because one failed??

That might make economic sense, but not necessarily good camping sense.

Without knowing the circumstances of the failure, we might assume the OP doesn't take very good care of his batteries, since a failure like this is very rare in decent quality, cared-for batteries.

If that assumption is correct, the other 3 are probably not long for this world. And he said he wasn't buying another Duracell.

OUCH!!
I have since installed a Flo Rite system.
Since I'm not much of a boondocker I am going with one pair, for now.
Now the problem is: Whatryagonnado with one 6v battery.

[FormerBoater]

2oldman wrote:

FormerBoater wrote:
That is exactly what I did with one Duracell failure over one year ago..

Another Duracell failure? What's going on with them? Or did yours get old?

In reviewing a few posts on here I can see they are a cheaper battery. That explains a lot.

The one that failed was in service for 3 years. The others are now 4 years old so I have no complaints about the Duracells (made by East Penn).

[mikestock]

Hope your's are easier to access than mine. All 4 house batteries and the frame have to be removed before the fun even begins.

[pigman1]

Sounds like a reasonable approach based on how you use your unit. I commend you on your choice of a practical solution..

I just replaced my chassis start batteries (2) for a dead cell in one of them. Knew I had a problem when I kept getting a low voltage warning after retracting slides then trying to start in very cold weather. A load test confirmed the problem battery. Regardless, I babied it along for 6 months and a winter in the southwest and didn't have any critical issues. We're now in Alaska for 4 months so it was time to replace them both.

[mikestock]

It is true that I let the water level get ahead of me and expose about 1/8' of plates in one cell before I caught it. I have since installed a Flo Rite system. Since I seldom rely on the inverter anymore I could probably get by with the two remaining batteries. I'll either do this or replace the one bad battery. Definitely couldn't justify 4 new Trojans or AGM batteries for my practices.

[wa8yxm]

I would recommend you replace the bad battery and the other battery in the pair.

I'm fond of saying "There are no six volt batteries in RV's.. Graphci shows why

-(6Volt)---(6Volt)--- 12 volts to RV

Think of the two six volts in the above line as a single 12 volt battery

IN your case you have
-(6Volt)---(6Volt)--- 12 volts to RV
-(6Volt)---(6Volt)--- 12 volts to RV

Purists say to replace all 4 of 'em but I'm ok with just one pair.

[2oldman]

FormerBoater wrote:
That is exactly what I did with one Duracell failure over one year ago..

Another Duracell failure? What's going on with them? Or did yours get old?

In reviewing a few posts on here I can see they are a cheaper battery. That explains a lot.

[2oldman]

Bruce Brown wrote:
Why throw away 3 good batteries because one failed??

That might make economic sense, but not necessarily good camping sense.

Without knowing the circumstances of the failure, we might assume the OP doesn't take very good care of his batteries, since a failure like this is very rare in decent quality, cared-for batteries.

If that assumption is correct, the other 3 are probably not long for this world. And he said he wasn't buying another Duracell.

[FormerBoater]

Bruce Brown wrote:
I'm with Bill on this one. I'd replace the one bad battery with one of the same. Why throw away 3 good batteries because one failed?

The $$$ of one more Duracell certainly will be far less than any other option. Why not give it a shot?

That is exactly what I did with one Duracell failure over one year ago.

The battery bank of 4 is doing just fine and we just dry camped at the FunNSun airshow in Lakeland, FL with no issues.

[Bruce_Brown]

I'm with Bill on this one. I'd replace the one bad battery with one of the same. Why throw away 3 good batteries because one failed?

The $$$ of one more Duracell certainly will be far less than any other option. Why not give it a shot?

[time2roll]

If you just get one at least get the same rating.
Costco is 208 amp/hrs, Duracell might be the 215 or a 230.