New Pro ECL Interstate batteries

[byrdr1]

Has anybody used one of the new Extended Charging Life (ECL) batteries from Interstate. I am needing a new camper battery and these have lots of good things to say. They are saying charging and cell life technology like a closed cell battery(AGM) but at half the cost. And they cost a little more than the regular RV/marine batteries. Just looking for a real life story.
thanks
randy
Quote from website:

More Cycles, More Life.
Get more camping, more comfort and more fun with the Interstate® Pro ECL Series battery. With more cycles and more life than the conventional flooded 12-volt marine/RV battery, the Pro ECL Series keeps your vehicle running 50% longer no matter where your adventures take you.
High-powered Value
The Pro ECL Series' cycling performance approaches that of absorbed glass-mat (AGM) batteries, but at a fraction of the price. With 100 repetitive reserve capacity cycles1, Pro ECL Series batteries offer you the best value for your money.

[allen8106]

Simply put based on what I have read on multiple solar forums Interstate batteries suck. That said I have no personal experience.

[Veebyes]

Before putting any money down people really should do some research on the differences of one battery type to another. Often they get caught up in the manufacturer or brand name. Trojan has wetcell, AGM & gel cell batterys.

The specs of each type are different. Everyone wants cheap. Cheap does not always mean best value. At home I have a pair of group 31 gel cell batterys. They are 12 years old & still load test very strong. They cost more than double than a wet cell group 31 case size which would have been trash after 4 maybe 5 years.

[Boon_Docker]

Dakzuki wrote:
Marine/RV means not a true deep cycle battery. The only true deep cycle 12 volt batteries I know of are AGMs. All others are a hybrid. True deep cycle flooded batteries come as 6 volt (golf cart batteries) and are quite affordable. The down side is you need room for two batteries.

Someone should let Trojan know about the many 12v deep cycle (flooded) batterys that they are falsely advertising.

[GoPackGo]

Dakzuki wrote:
Marine/RV means not a true deep cycle battery. The only true deep cycle 12 volt batteries I know of are AGMs. All others are a hybrid. True deep cycle flooded batteries come as 6 volt (golf cart batteries) and are quite affordable. The down side is you need room for two batteries.

I have 2 ea Group 29DC 12-volt flooded deep cycle batteries in my 5er.

Where is it written that deep cycle batteries must only be flooded 6-volt ? Or 12-volt AGMs ?

[pnichols]

majorgator wrote:
I can't tell you how many people I've known that have become completely dissatisfied with Interstate batteries in general.

As always ... it depends.

We had a couple of Interstate Group 29 12 volt 100 amp-hour deep cycle AGM batteries in our RV for about 8 years and just replaced them this past summer - and they still seemed to have plenty of life left in them when I removed them.

They were a great set of coach batteries, but like all Interstate batteries they were made for Interstate by a battery OEM and labeled as Interstate batteries. I believe that our particular Interstate AGM batteries were made by C&D Technologies.

[majorgator]

beemerphile1 wrote:
Marketing hype.

Compare the AH @ 20 Hr rate of any battery you consider. More AH is better.

Another good comparison is weight, a heavier battery has more lead. More lead means more storage capacity and longer life.

Right on the money...
I can't tell you how many people I've known that have become completely dissatisfied with Interstate batteries in general.

[pnichols]

However, even if you have room for two batteries .... their shape may be important!

Our motorhome has room for two batteries - but they can't be tall batteries ... like 6V golf cart batteries are. As a result we have to use a couple of 12V deep cycle batteries in our RV's battery compartment. We current'y have a couple of Group 31 115AH AGM deep cycle batteries in the compartment, for a total of 230 amp hours.

[Dakzuki]

Marine/RV means not a true deep cycle battery. The only true deep cycle 12 volt batteries I know of are AGMs. All others are a hybrid. True deep cycle flooded batteries come as 6 volt (golf cart batteries) and are quite affordable. The down side is you need room for two batteries.

[beemerphile1]

7ofus wrote:


And remember, a fraction can be 5/4 or 3/2.:)

Good point.

[7ofus]

beemerphile1 wrote:
"The Pro ECL Series' cycling performance approaches that of absorbed glass-mat (AGM) batteries, but at a fraction of the price."

A D-cell flashlight battery also 'approaches' the performance of a AGM battery. It doesn't come anywhere close but it does 'approach' it.

It is meaningless marketing jargon. It is like saying a heater puts out 'up to' 5,000 BTU. What it really means is that it puts out something less than 5000 BTU, and could be as little as 1 BTU but definitely not more than 5000 BTU.

The battery you are talking about looks like a starting battery to me and is NOT a good battery for RV use.

And remember, a fraction can be 5/4 or 3/2.:)

[Dutch_12078]

I wonder if Johnson Controls is offering the same ECL battery construction to their other customers, or if it's an Interstate exclusive. Then again, Interstate is a marketing company, so it may just be hype as previously suggested.

[scrubjaysnest]

Tread with caution here as normal Interstate deep cycle batteries take a much higher absorb charge voltage then any rv converter will produce.

[beemerphile1]

"The Pro ECL Series' cycling performance approaches that of absorbed glass-mat (AGM) batteries, but at a fraction of the price."

A D-cell flashlight battery also 'approaches' the performance of a AGM battery. It doesn't come anywhere close but it does 'approach' it.

It is meaningless marketing jargon. It is like saying a heater puts out 'up to' 5,000 BTU. What it really means is that it puts out something less than 5000 BTU, and could be as little as 1 BTU but definitely not more than 5000 BTU.

The battery you are talking about looks like a starting battery to me and is NOT a good battery for RV use.

[beemerphile1]

Marketing hype.

Compare the AH @ 20 Hr rate of any battery you consider. More AH is better.

Another good comparison is weight, a heavier battery has more lead. More lead means more storage capacity and longer life.