Another Battery Question - Are my batteries OK?
I have been reading all the posts about batteries on this forum and others trying to decide what is best for my situation. Any advice is welcome. I think the more I read the more I decide there is something wrong with my batteries…
Here is my situation, I have a 5th wheel with 2 group 24 batteries from Batteries Plus – looks like Duracell Ultra. I am not sure how old the batteries are as they were in the trailer when I bought it 4 years ago. I have taken good care of them, putting them on a trickle charger during the winter, checking fluid levels, etc. I do know that I ran them down a little too far on a couple boondocking trips the first couple summers but purchased a generator 2 years ago and have used that to top them off when dry camping. I have been watching my batteries and checking with a meter. Fully charged is 13.4v when plugged in (I think that number doesn’t matter) and drops to about 12.7v after an hour or so of no AC. When I came home from the last trip a couple weeks ago, I didn’t plug the trailer in. I checked the batteries a couple times just to see how quick the parasitic draw was on them. I was surprised they dropped to about 80% within a week then yesterday I checked, and they were down to 12.1 volts so I plugged it in. I have drawn the slides out and then back in and have ran the water pump but haven’t used lights or anything in the trailer for those 2 weeks.
So, here is my question. Knowing that I could need batteries in the near future. I am about to go on a long trip and will not have AC power for the first few nights. The first night is an overnight while driving, so the truck battery will keep them charged, then recharge on the 2nd day drive. Not worried about that. We have 3 days staying at a private spot, not a campground. I will need to run A/C so I will be running the generator for a few hours to 5 or 6 hours each day. This will also keep my batteries up to charge, but if they are depleting fast, that evening use of water, lights, etc., could run them down below a level that is considered proper maintenance.
So, assuming this does damage to my batteries that I already know are on their last leg, do I just not worry if I damage the batteries more? Is there anything else I could damage? I get it, if I run them too low, I could have issues with my fridge, but I think that is it. I do have a generator and plan to use it. Can I get away with using these batteries now and just replace with new ones next spring assuming I don’t have any other needs for dry camping.
Second set of questions. Replacement of the batteries. I could just go with the same group 24, or I could upgrade the box, and go with group 31 (I actually have a spare group 31 battery, so I would only need to buy 1 presumably). Or, do I go with 6v Golf cart batteries. If going to 6V, can I just change the existing wiring in the battery compartment, or do I need to get new wires? The batteries do not sit next to each other, one is mounted on the left and one on the right of the compartment. Do they need to be next to each other? That would require a new box, but my current battery box I think will fit a typical 6v GC battery.
Final question. Where to buy? What’s the thought on Costco vs Batteries plus? They are about the same price, but Costco has lots of bad reviews on the Interstate batteries. Batteries plus has Duracell for the most part. What about specialty batteries like Trojan or others that cost 2-3 times the price for what seems like the same battery. If I was a full timer or tried to dry camp for weeks, I can see the investment in better batteries. But, I am just a weekender for the most part. Not sure I need to spend the extra money on expensive batteries.
Sorry for the lengthy post and multiple questions but appreciate the feedback.
Here is my situation, I have a 5th wheel with 2 group 24 batteries from Batteries Plus – looks like Duracell Ultra. I am not sure how old the batteries are as they were in the trailer when I bought it 4 years ago. I have taken good care of them, putting them on a trickle charger during the winter, checking fluid levels, etc. I do know that I ran them down a little too far on a couple boondocking trips the first couple summers but purchased a generator 2 years ago and have used that to top them off when dry camping. I have been watching my batteries and checking with a meter. Fully charged is 13.4v when plugged in (I think that number doesn’t matter) and drops to about 12.7v after an hour or so of no AC. When I came home from the last trip a couple weeks ago, I didn’t plug the trailer in. I checked the batteries a couple times just to see how quick the parasitic draw was on them. I was surprised they dropped to about 80% within a week then yesterday I checked, and they were down to 12.1 volts so I plugged it in. I have drawn the slides out and then back in and have ran the water pump but haven’t used lights or anything in the trailer for those 2 weeks.
So, here is my question. Knowing that I could need batteries in the near future. I am about to go on a long trip and will not have AC power for the first few nights. The first night is an overnight while driving, so the truck battery will keep them charged, then recharge on the 2nd day drive. Not worried about that. We have 3 days staying at a private spot, not a campground. I will need to run A/C so I will be running the generator for a few hours to 5 or 6 hours each day. This will also keep my batteries up to charge, but if they are depleting fast, that evening use of water, lights, etc., could run them down below a level that is considered proper maintenance.
So, assuming this does damage to my batteries that I already know are on their last leg, do I just not worry if I damage the batteries more? Is there anything else I could damage? I get it, if I run them too low, I could have issues with my fridge, but I think that is it. I do have a generator and plan to use it. Can I get away with using these batteries now and just replace with new ones next spring assuming I don’t have any other needs for dry camping.
Second set of questions. Replacement of the batteries. I could just go with the same group 24, or I could upgrade the box, and go with group 31 (I actually have a spare group 31 battery, so I would only need to buy 1 presumably). Or, do I go with 6v Golf cart batteries. If going to 6V, can I just change the existing wiring in the battery compartment, or do I need to get new wires? The batteries do not sit next to each other, one is mounted on the left and one on the right of the compartment. Do they need to be next to each other? That would require a new box, but my current battery box I think will fit a typical 6v GC battery.
Final question. Where to buy? What’s the thought on Costco vs Batteries plus? They are about the same price, but Costco has lots of bad reviews on the Interstate batteries. Batteries plus has Duracell for the most part. What about specialty batteries like Trojan or others that cost 2-3 times the price for what seems like the same battery. If I was a full timer or tried to dry camp for weeks, I can see the investment in better batteries. But, I am just a weekender for the most part. Not sure I need to spend the extra money on expensive batteries.
Sorry for the lengthy post and multiple questions but appreciate the feedback.
