6 Volt RV batteries

[Willcamp4]

I have been a fan of Trojan batteries for many years. I have a 2005 Alpenlite and use a bank of four batteries. When the trailer was new I installed a set of T-105s that lasted about 7 years, and I installed a new set. It seems to be time to replace them again as they won't stay charged above about 12.1 volts. The only issue I have is that the Trojans have gotten SO EXPENSIVE. What I'm wondering is whether there is another brand/battery that is reasonably priced and dependable.

[opnspaces]

Kamphiker wrote:
Just Replaced a pair of 7 year old Duracel EGC2 with the same from Sams Club.

After instant $20.00 per battery cost after taxes etc came out to $ 113.83 each

In my opinion great service life at a great cost.

Is the $20 per battery cost the core charge? You should get that back if you bring your old batteries back in. If you don't have old batteries to return you might be able to find a neighbor with an old battery or two in their yard that they want to get rid of.

[allen8106]

They aren't cheap but I prefer Crown.

[Kamphiker]

Just Replaced a pair of 7 year old Duracel EGC2 with the same from Sams Club.

After instant $20.00 per battery cost after taxes etc came out to $ 113.83 each

In my opinion great service life at a great cost.

[gkainz]

185EZ wrote:

enblethen wrote:
I get 6 volters from Costco. About $80 per battery.

$80?
https://www.costco.com/Interstate-6-Volt-Golf-Cart-Battery.product.100476406.html

I took a photo of the price and specs in Costco in February and they were $93.99. They're $98.99 now online ... going up up up ...

[bpounds]

wopachop wrote:
Could it be lack of equalization charge? My converter and solar suck.

Possibly lack of equalization for 9 years, and then starting. I'm pretty sure the equalizing was boiling most of the lost water out, which runs automatically once per month with my CC. But at 10 years, I can't complain and don't want to overthink it. I have that turned off now for the AGM, and could have with the flooded too. Didn't really think about it, because it was just time to change.

[wopachop]

Could it be lack of equalization charge? My converter and solar suck.

[bpounds]

wopachop wrote:
Does anyone here really add water ...

I had to toward the end of their life. Due to their age? Due to going with solar charging? All I know is they started needing a lot of water.

Rarely added water when the WFCO kept them under charged. If you're never adding water, you're probably under charged.

[enblethen]

I got my batteries about 3 years ago.

[wopachop]

Does anyone here really add water every single month? Just kinda curious after reading what the gentlemen said who is dogging on club store batteries.

Ive had my club store specials for 7 months now. Finally checked water for the first time yesterday. They were not as low as i expected. Each cell took a tiny little pour. Maybe 1-2 tablespoons each. (i did check specific gravity when brand new just to make sure each cell was happy and healthy)

Regarding being constantly maintained at home. I finally took my darn batteries out of the trailer with daily solar charging and will store in the cool garage. Wish i didnt wait until the end of summer. So many months just getting beat in the sun for nothing.

Mine are right on the tongue so its pretty quick to yank them out.

[185EZ]

enblethen wrote:
I get 6 volters from Costco. About $80 per battery.

$80?
https://www.costco.com/Interstate-6-Volt-Golf-Cart-Battery.product.100476406.html

[beemerphile1]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Sir Beemberphile. A gentle and polite question if I may 🙂

How many days per year average are you vacationing disconnected? Are your batteries constantly maintained at home?

Last question first, batteries are constantly maintained when home.

First question is harder to answer other than to say it varies. Spent five months in the southwest last winter, some dry camping and some resort camping. Have 400 watts of solar for dry camping so with four batteries they are never run particularly low. In other words, I use but don't abuse the batteries.

[BFL13]

bpounds wrote:

noteven wrote:

4 x 6v only giving 12 v must mean they are half worn out in only 7 years. So one 12 v would be good for umm 3.5 years?

Yabut, it is never a linear scale of life with batteries.

I just pulled out 2 UT2200 Interstate that were 10 years old. Still doing the job, but I would rather change them out before I'm stuck somewhere doing it at gunpoint. I don't trust Interstate anymore, so they were not an option for me. I got tired of the monthly maintenance too, so I went with AGM this time. At $500 for a pair, I'm not certain it will be worth it, but time will tell, and it is only money. You guys can limp along on club store batteries if that's what floats your boat.

If you didn't like the "monthly maintenance" (assuming you did that properly) you will LOVE AGMs, which require more care and feeding to do it right.

Wade through the " 20% rule" and the "0.5a/100AH rule" and supply yourself with the necessary tools to meet all that.

I use my Trimetric and an adjustable voltage PowerMax LK of sufficient amps to meet the 20% rule, but there are other ways of course.

I thought it was a lot easier with my previous set of Wet batteries -some 6v and a pair of T-1275 12v. Only reason to have the AGMs now is I need to keep them inside where the fumes of a Wet would not be acceptable.

Having had to get the AGMs at extra expense (because of them being inside), I do try to do it right--but it is not a "hands off, automatic" process. It means being extra careful to follow the "rules".

[bpounds]

noteven wrote:

4 x 6v only giving 12 v must mean they are half worn out in only 7 years. So one 12 v would be good for umm 3.5 years?

Yabut, it is never a linear scale of life with batteries.

I just pulled out 2 UT2200 Interstate that were 10 years old. Still doing the job, but I would rather change them out before I'm stuck somewhere doing it at gunpoint. I don't trust Interstate anymore, so they were not an option for me. I got tired of the monthly maintenance too, so I went with AGM this time. At $500 for a pair, I'm not certain it will be worth it, but time will tell, and it is only money. You guys can limp along on club store batteries if that's what floats your boat.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

A WFCO would screw up a bowling ball with a feather.

Trojan used to use white with red jars for their lesser golf car batteries. It was a second-line business from start to finish.

Different...................

Jars
Grids
Separators
Plate paste
The environment in the greening room
8% less electricity used.

Like going to Tony Roma's and opting for a Swanson's TV dinner.

[lenr]

If spending a bunch of money on CG2 batteries, I'd make sure that I had a decent converter. About 6 years ago, I installed 2 Trojan T-105s in a new trailer. The WFCO converter wrecked them in 4 years. Battery acid all over the place--ate holes through the front compartment on the fifth wheel. So, on the new trailer this year I put in 4 Trojan T-105 AGMs since we have self leveling (electric motor kind) and a residential fridge. Pricey, but Trojan quality. To help them last I replaced WFCO with a Samlex charger which I like very much. It has dip switches that set the start up charging configuration, and temperature monitoring.