Battery Size (replacing)

Campinfan wrote:
I am definitely going to start checking the water level in them much more frequently. I never had this problem in the past with all the rigs I have owned but this one has more slides and is self leveling plus it has an inverter for a residential fridge. So there is a lot of new things or more of the the "old" things (slides).

If you haven't already bought a replacement, consider getting two true deep cycle 6V batteries. They will handle higher currents without being damaged, have more capacity and so on. You still have to check water levels a few times a year, but they are a more robust battery with thicker plates.

blt2ski wrote:
Stir Crazy

He's on his "THIRD" battery in 6 years! Ave is 2 yrs per. 6 yrs is probably pretty Ave for basic deep cycle lead versions, that get 500-2000 discharges, dual purpose 200-500, starting battery 1-10.
He's cooking them either overcharging not checking the water frequent enough, or draing too far to get max battery life too far.

Marty

yup my mistake reading, if it's the junk that comes with the rv when you buy it, and he uses it heavy it's probably still doing good though haha..

Campinfan wrote:
I am definitely going to start checking the water level in them much more frequently. I never had this problem in the past with all the rigs I have owned but this one has more slides and is self leveling plus it has an inverter for a residential fridge. So there is a lot of new things or more of the the "old" things (slides).

Yes you should absolutely at least get maybe 4 years out of a battery minimum, so something is a bit off.
And if you also are running a resi fridge off of an inverter while on the road, one battery is even less appropriate than it was before mentioning that.
Bare min, IMO, with cost or budget being a priority is 2 good size 12V or 2-6v.
The options are almost endless, but a couple golf cart batteries from Costco is probably the best bang for the buck.
There are some other good options for sealed 6v batteries. (SLA sealed lead acid, I’d describe as a poor man’s AGM). I bought a couple 100ah Mighty Max 6v sla for the old truck camper back in 2018 or 19. Sold the camper a couple years ago but talked to the guy recently and he said they were still going strong. I was curious since I bought an “off brand.”

And make sure your converter/charger is not overcharging them since you appear to be plugged in to shore power the vast majority of the time.

I am definitely going to start checking the water level in them much more frequently. I never had this problem in the past with all the rigs I have owned but this one has more slides and is self leveling plus it has an inverter for a residential fridge. So there is a lot of new things or more of the the "old" things (slides).

Stir Crazy

He's on his "THIRD" battery in 6 years! Ave is 2 yrs per. 6 yrs is probably pretty Ave for basic deep cycle lead versions, that get 500-2000 discharges, dual purpose 200-500, starting battery 1-10.
He's cooking them either overcharging not checking the water frequent enough, or draing too far to get max battery life too far.

Marty

Campinfan wrote:
Thanks for all the info. I do not know a lot about the different types of batteries. I think Gritdog may be right about cooking off my battery because this is now my third battery in 6 years. I have heard about AGM and then the one called LiFEPO4 but know nothing about them. I will look into them. I have heard a lot about using 6 volt batteries so I will explore that route too. Keep the info coming. I appreciate it.

If you're getting 6 years out of a battery, that is considered normal, people like me who got 14 years out of a set of batteries did so by sizing the bank to maintain very shallow discharge levels, using true deep cells, and higher quality chargers that come in most RV's. of your normally discharging the batteries over 50% then 6 years is good. in all honesty mine probably should have been changed out at 12 years but we were only using the 5th wheel for plugged in camping the last couple of those years, so I put it off a bit. They still worked good I could just tell some of the capacity was missing.

East Penn/Deka makes a decent lower cost AGM. You can find under Deka, West Marine, Napa, locally Puget sound the budget battery shops are also EP batteries, as are Duracell's.

Marty

Campinfan wrote:
Thanks for all the info. I do not know a lot about the different types of batteries. I think Gritdog may be right about cooking off my battery because this is now my third battery in 6 years. I have heard about AGM and then the one called LiFEPO4 but know nothing about them. I will look into them. I have heard a lot about using 6 volt batteries so I will explore that route too. Keep the info coming. I appreciate it.

A pair of 6 volts or a LiFEPO4 are great choices both a bit spendy . The 6 volts would require no change to your charging system , the LiFEPO4 ( Lithium ) would require you changing your charging system on the trailer . IMO a decent size 27 AGM would serve you well, and require no maintenance . Not fond of batteries needing to have water added , just one more thing to worry about that is not necessary .

I run two 6 volts ,and they have held up well, although my next will be a single size 27 AGM maintenance free ,which my 6 volt are not . If you go 6 volt ,go maintenance free . As mentioned no dry camping ,a single size 27 is ideal for your use , and yes go AGM ,just for the added longevity of AGM .

Campinfan wrote:
Thanks for all the info. I do not know a lot about the different types of batteries. I think Gritdog may be right about cooking off my battery because this is now my third battery in 6 years. I have heard about AGM and then the one called LiFEPO4 but know nothing about them. I will look into them. I have heard a lot about using 6 volt batteries so I will explore that route too. Keep the info coming. I appreciate it.

If the charger (aka: converter) is bad, it can cook an expensive AGM ...unlike a standard lead-acid, you can't put water back in once it boils off.

Lifepo4 (aka: lithium) need a separate charging regime. Very useful if you are installing a big battery bank to stay off grid for days at a time. The big advantage is the number of usable amp-hr you get per pound is much higher. For your use, that's not really relevant.

Thanks for all the info. I do not know a lot about the different types of batteries. I think Gritdog may be right about cooking off my battery because this is now my third battery in 6 years. I have heard about AGM and then the one called LiFEPO4 but know nothing about them. I will look into them. I have heard a lot about using 6 volt batteries so I will explore that route too. Keep the info coming. I appreciate it.