House Battery

[joelc]

I am looking for a battery for my fifth wheel. I guess it is called a "house battery". For the purpose of running my 12V system in the event power fails or for not being connected to a post. My primary question is what battery group do you have, and my other question is what brand of battery do you have. I will have a single 12V deep cycle battery. One store recommended a group 24 and another tore recommended a group 31 battery.

[Veebyes]

If you stick with the basic & the cheapest, group 24 wet cell, you will always be tied to the post.

As a few have suggested cram as many amp hours in the space available as you can. That will likely be only a pair of GC batteries or maybe a pair of group 27 12Vs if you are lucky.

You might be able to do a single 4D case sized 12V.

[pianotuna]

Marty,

Colder is better for storage. The self discharge rate becomes slower dropping by approximately 50% for ever 18 degrees lower temperature. (10 C). I had 7 group 29 jars. No way would I ever consider removing them.

[StirCrazy]

2112 wrote:


Checking the water is impossible when it's installed.

when I shoehorned the two GC batteries into my camper storage there was only about 1/5 to 2" above them, so no way to fill them. I bought one of these and its the best things I have done. I even got one for the 5th wheel that I have lots of room as it makes topping off the batteries so fast and conveniant.

battery water system

Steve

[pianotuna]

2112 wrote:
Checking the water is impossible when it's installed.

There are filler kits available.

I would certainly leave batteries in place. Just as I have "caged" the generator.

[joelc]

I ended up with a Group 31 Super Start Deep Cycle from O'Reilly. I checked into the Group 27 from NAPA and was not available. There was a question if there 31 class would fit. I can also purchase 2 Superstart 31 for 1 NAPA.

[2112]

joelc wrote:
First I appreciate all the input every body is giving me.
The Battery from O'Reilly is a Super Start Group Size 27 Part Number 27DCM Line SSB Amp hr. 80 AH

The NAPA battery is a NAPA Specialty/Golf Car GC12 650 Deep Cycle Part Number 8141.Amp hrs 150 AH.

Thanks, this helps.

The 27DCM is a Johnson Controls hybrid battery identical to the Wal-Mart 27DC I use. Same battery rebranded. I've had real good luck with these.

The NAPA is the East Penn equivalent to the Trojan T1275 I mentioned above. This guy is a beast that should last you many years if you take care if it. You can get 3X the Ah out of this between charges compared to the 27DC.
Make sure it fits where you are going to mount it. It's too tall for my battery compartment by 2". Plus it weighs 85lbs. See my whiny story above.

[2112]

For me, carrying it means getting it in and out of the battery well in my basement. I'm stooped over in an awkward position with my arms extended to get my hands on it. It's all arm muscle and hard on my back to lift it up and out of the well and basement. Think of it as my battery is in a 6" deep hole inside the cloths dryer. I have to get half my body in there, reach in and lift it straight up 6" to get if out.

Checking the water is impossible when it's installed.

[pianotuna]

blt2ski wrote:


I believe the person saying carrying the batteries ment for him even exchanging them. Some of us can not, nor should leave them in an RV during times of non use. Ie a storage lot, no 110 to trickle charge the batteries during say 6 months of non use. That's an 18-20+% discharge. So best to keep at home where it's warmer, and you can setup a trickle charger.

Marty

Warmer is the exact opposite of what is good for lead acid cells.

Fully charge and disconnect.

Or add a modest solar panel system. 5 watts per 100 amp-hours without a controller and a nominal 12 volt panel.

[joelc]

First I appreciate all the input every body is giving me.
The Battery from O'Reilly is a Super Start Group Size 27 Part Number 27DCM Line SSB Amp hr. 80 AH

The NAPA battery is a NAPA Specialty/Golf Car GC12 650 Deep Cycle Part Number 8141.Amp hrs 150 AH.

[blt2ski]

pianotuna wrote:

blt2ski wrote:
I prefer the two 31 option. BUT as noted by one poster, carrying a 31 is too much. But they can carry a 24, so the three 24's if they fit in or on the battery tray, would be the better option for that person.

Marty

Why do the batteries need to be carried? Just leave them in place year round.

I believe the person saying carrying the batteries ment for him even exchanging them. Some of us can not, nor should leave them in an RV during times of non use. Ie a storage lot, no 110 to trickle charge the batteries during say 6 months of non use. That's an 18-20+% discharge. So best to keep at home where it's warmer, and you can setup a trickle charger.

Marty

[pianotuna]

blt2ski wrote:
I prefer the two 31 option. BUT as noted by one poster, carrying a 31 is too much. But they can carry a 24, so the three 24's if they fit in or on the battery tray, would be the better option for that person.

Marty

Why do the batteries need to be carried? Just leave them in place year round.

[blt2ski]

Based on my usage of a size 24 deep cycle lead battery, if temps are in the 20's, you'll get about 12 hrs running just the heater fan per battery. 3 size 24's got me on par typical use as 2 size 31's. I prefer the two 31 option. BUT as noted by one poster, carrying a 31 is too much. But they can carry a 24, so the three 24's if they fit in or on the battery tray, would be the better option for that person.
On the other hand, if wieght is really an issue, like is is for some water/land yachts, I saw that a size 24 lithium battery has about the same usable AHr as an 8d battery which is 3-4x heavier. Or about equal to 3 size 31's.
At the end of the day, choose your poison, the only best/worst way is how you use your rig etc.

Marty

[2112]

joelc wrote:
These are all 12V Deep Cycle Batteries, not Marine STARTING Batteries. The Group 27 battery I found at O'Reilly's and the Group 31 at NAPA.

I'm not finding a true deep cycle battery on O'Reilly's website. What model number are you considering?

Keep in mind an AGM may require a different charge profile than a flooded lead acid. You want to match your battery to your charger or vice versa.

On Edit: You might consider a 150Ah Trojan T-1275 true deep cycle battery as a compromise to two 6V GC2. There's a better chance of it being a drop in replacement for your existing battery. It can be heavily discharged the same as the GC2 in a smaller footprint of two GC2s. Just another option to consider.

Call your local golf cart dealer for pricing if interested. Shipping can be expensive if you buy them online. Maybe he can order yours with a larger battery order to minimize shipping.

[Skibane]

wa8yxm wrote:
While your math is good your assumption is not
You do not discharge MARINE/deep cycle to 80% discharge

It's not an assumption.

In the real world, it's done all the time.

One of the more humorous aspects of new battery technology is the way it downgrades the capabilities of the technology it's meant to replace:

- AGM batteries are introduced - and suddenly, you can't discharge conventional flooded-cell deep-cycle batteries beyond 80 percent.

- LiFePO4 batteries are introduced - and suddenly, you can't discharge conventional flooded-cell deep-cycle batteries beyond 50 percent.

At some point, some new battery technology will be introduced which will lead its proponents to conclude that conventional flooded-cell deep-cycle batteries can't be discharged at all! :B