WOOHOO!! New Batteries!

[ve7prt]

Well, after 9 years of faithful service, and one too many times being allowed to boil dry, not to mention twice being run into the ground, the trailer's battery bank (4 Trojan T-105 6V batteries) finally gave out earlier this year. Even after re-watering them in June, the bank would not hold a charge. All things considered, they did very well.

So, I sourced out new batteries, and today on my way home from Victoria, picked up a pallet of 8 brand spanking new Trojan T-105's. 4 of them are now nestled in the battery box in the trailer, and have the Hydralink watering system installed. The other 4 are now charging up and will be the standby 12V power source for our computer network and my amateur radio station, replacing a bank of 4 Trojan SCS-225 batteries. I have to acquire a Hydralink system for them, though.

Tomorrow I will take the old batteries to the retailer for recycling, and have them bring in 2 more Hydralink kits, maybe 3 as I have 2 T-105's for the emergency power system.

I also ordered 2 of the PD9245 charger/converters that are configured for the Trojan batteries. I am awaiting their arrival, but these chargers will deal with the network and emergency battery banks. The trailer has 400W of solar to do the same job alongside the PD9280 (for bulk charging).

Cheers!
Mike

[ve7prt]

One comment I have to add is, if you get the T-105's (or any Trojan batteries), invest in the Hydralink watering system. Only 1 set of my T-105's don't have the system installed (due to the offset in the cell tops). The rest do. And the system makes it so easy to water the batteries WITHOUT spilling water or running the risk of having a cell burp in your face as you hover over it with a flashlight while adding water to the correct level.

Cheers!
Mike

[wa8yxm]

My Interstates also lasted 9 years.. and like you I abused them some. Roughly identical treatrment

[BFL13]

Beats me how much fussiness is worth it. The batts are going to take a beating in RV use. It is nice to have the specs for a "baseline", but the real thing we want to know is --what are the actual consequences of going off spec for how long?

IAW, what can I get away with that won't cost me very much? After your "learning set" of batteries, you kind of get an idea, but there isn't a lot of info out there. Some other guy's lessons learned may not apply to you close enough to be useful. Mostly it is hard to figure out what his situation really is.

Only hope is to stay on rv.net and maybe pick up a good idea or two. 🙂

Luckily the cost of batteries does not come near the cost of buying gas for the truck or beer for the fridge. So even if you do screw up with the batts somewhat, it is not a financial disaster.

[brulaz]

BFL13 wrote:

...
I do question those 14.8v PDs as such, although that is better than 14.4 to meet the Trojan 14.8 spec at 25C temperature.
...

I wonder if that Trojan 14.8V value is all that ... precise? Necessary?

My US batterie specs say 2.45+-0.05V per cell, or 14.4 to 15.0V

Can't find much for my Duracell GC2s. If they're Deka, maybe 2.40-2.45V per cell, or 14.4 to 14.7V ?

Same with float voltages. Many folks just disconnect the batts and recharge every month or so when not using them. Seems to work ok. As long as the float voltage isn't too high and bubbling the batts? It's not the WFCO's 13.6V that kills batts, it's the lack of anything higher to charge them fully.

[BFL13]

Float spec is 13.5v at 25C, but here they also give the temp comp as 0.005v per 1 degree C. So at 5C /40F the PD at 13.6 would be right.

The 13.2 would be right for Death Valley in August I suppose. 😞

Actually, I doubt 13.6 vs 13.5 at 25C is going to matter a whole lot for an RV that cycles the battery. I suppose it matters for a static situation such as never going off-grid.

EDIT. For charging there is voltage drop between charger and battery too, so accuracy in meeting the specs in an RV is not likely anyway IMO.


http://www.trojanbattery.com/pdf/datasheets/T105_Trojan_Data_Sheets.pdf

I see they say to keep above 60% SOC at freezing temps. So my habit of doing 50-90s in winter needs another look. Hmmmm.

[Crabbypatty]

x2, x2 x2..... I have the T125's. When I sold my TT in 2015 the 2 T125's were 10 years old and still going strong, so it wasnt even a thought to place two T125s in the new to us TT. Ive heard Im to cheap before but if you amortize it at the 10 year level is $20/year! These batts are the BEAST and I need to weigh my tongue to see if I can put two more up there. I also have 428 watts solar. Morningstar pwm45 & charge wizard on house charger. Great Battery!!

[MEXICOWANDERER]

I would have to remark that a study is needed to determine the relationship between 14.8 volts and that newer higher absorbsion recommended limit. 14.8 had been the standard for four decades.

Trojan would have had to adopt a hybrid calcium format to justify a higher voltage. And my question would be, why would they do that? It involves a percentile substitution of calcium to an otherwise straight lead oxide format. Other than render the battery less vulnerable to higher ambient temperatures a lead oxide calcium negative plate would be slightly more shock resistant. This has been of insignificant value in a golf car package. Hybrid construction and radial grid design go hand-in-hand.

Curious

[ve7prt]

BFL13 wrote:
Somebody just won the Lotto jackpot it seems. 🙂

Note that the new Interstate 225 AH batt is made by Trojan, so you get a T-105 that way too. Around here they are both going for about $219 Can (about $175 US) In the States look for those Interstate 225 (not the previous 232, which is not a Trojan) at Costco or Sam's for half that price--at least that is what guys on here are reporting.

Perhaps the OP got a discount for buying so many.

I do question those 14.8v PDs as such, although that is better than 14.4 to meet the Trojan 14.8 spec at 25C temperature. Since it is seldom that warm around here, the correct temp adjusted voltage would be higher most times. I am not clear on whether those "Trojan" PDs also have the Trojan spec Float voltage instead of doing the old 13.6/13.2 trick. IMO getting the correct float voltage is more important than the charging voltage for longer battery life, but I could be wrong--Mex might know about that?

Therefore an adjustable voltage charger is the ideal, or else use the solar controller which is more likely to have adjustable voltage and temperature compensation. The Trojans will last many years even without being that fussy of course.

According the Best Converter website, only the BOOST voltage was changed to meet the Trojan charging spec. The other 2 settings retained the original values.

CheerS!
Mike

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Slow learners Interstate. Would be helpful a weight and CCA load comparison to a maroon case T-105

[BFL13]

Somebody just won the Lotto jackpot it seems. 🙂

Note that the new Interstate 225 AH batt is made by Trojan, so you get a T-105 that way too. Around here they are both going for about $219 Can (about $175 US) In the States look for those Interstate 225 (not the previous 232, which is not a Trojan) at Costco or Sam's for half that price--at least that is what guys on here are reporting.

Perhaps the OP got a discount for buying so many.

I do question those 14.8v PDs as such, although that is better than 14.4 to meet the Trojan 14.8 spec at 25C temperature. Since it is seldom that warm around here, the correct temp adjusted voltage would be higher most times. I am not clear on whether those "Trojan" PDs also have the Trojan spec Float voltage instead of doing the old 13.6/13.2 trick. IMO getting the correct float voltage is more important than the charging voltage for longer battery life, but I could be wrong--Mex might know about that?

Therefore an adjustable voltage charger is the ideal, or else use the solar controller which is more likely to have adjustable voltage and temperature compensation. The Trojans will last many years even without being that fussy of course.

[BobsYourUncle]

I was gonna say I'm jealous, but Scott beat me to it!! :B

Oh well, I'll say it anyways......
I'm jealous!!

[ScottG]

Totally jelous.
I'm just too cheap to go Trojan. I dont really need them but I want them!

[azrving]

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