Deep Cycle Battery???

[richardtc17]

When I recently purchased my TT that included a NAPA Battery - Marine Starting - Universal BCI #24M Battery PART # BAT 8304

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NBE8304

I was told it was a deep cycle battery. Given that it is a "starting" battery and it says nothing about being a deep cycle battery I have my doubts.

What are the downsides of this battery?

I know they are not meant to discharge to any great degree. They are starting batteries so they can provide starting power. My guess is that it won't last as long.

The RV dealer is out of state, but I am considering requesting that they set up a way for me to return it to a local NAPA.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks so much!

Richard

[Lwiddis]

Richard, they should match up as to age and I prefer as to brand and capacity. If you want to dry camp or boondock, buy the matched batteries now...but keep the original (charged) as a back up or "tv" battery. My last two week outing was a "no" plug in trip.

[richardtc17]

beemerphile1 wrote:
Most RVs are sold with a similar group 24 hybrid battery. They also do just fine for most owners because they always camp with hook ups.

Whether or not this battery works well for you depends on your use. You didn't say how you will be camping.

We are looking forward to trying sites with little to no services. I guess I minimally will look into another battery to run in parallel.

Also looking into a 100 Watt solar panel and charge controller setup that can be upgraded if needed.

Thanks!

[richardtc17]

Lwiddis wrote:
If you had two RV/marine batteries I'd say use them till they drop then go with true deep cycle batteries. With one RV/marine battery it depends on whether you plug in at all your campgrounds. If yes, later. If no, replace now.

We are beginners, but are looking forward to trying sites with little to no services. What about another battery? How close does it need to match my existing one? That is, can it be a deep cycle?

Thanks!

[Searching_Ut]

The biggest downfall I see with that battery is that it is a "Maintenance Free" starting battery. Strengths, it will deliver high current without as much voltage drop as you will get with a deep cycle. If you wanted to run a high power inverter for short periods of time it might be a good choice. Most RV'ers however are looking for low to medium power demand, for a fair amount of time. they also tend to want to drain the battery down a fair bit, often to 50 percent SOC or so. Starting batteries wear quite quickly under those conditions. Last thing to look at is the maintenance free aspect. It's a wet cell battery, which tend to gas as you charge them, especially if charged at a high rate, or overcharged which often happens with the relatively low end chargers in most RV's. Life expectancy of this battery for RV use probably only 100 to 200 cycles depending on how deeply you draw it down. Depending on how you use it that might be a couple years. Many RV'ers kill their initial batteries fairly quickly learning the ends and outs of disconnecting when not in use, getting batteries fully charged, learning their charger overcharges or whatnot, so starting out with a less than optimal battery might just mean you're not quite so mad at yourself when you kill it.

[Lwiddis]

If you had two RV/marine batteries I'd say use them till they drop then go with true deep cycle batteries. With one RV/marine battery it depends on whether you plug in at all your campgrounds. If yes, later. If no, replace now.

[bob213]

I've been looking for a true deep cycle 12v battery also. If you have a US Battery distributor near you they have a 24DC XC2 that sounds like it will work. They also have a group 27 and 31.

[RoyB]

I am just now replacing my standard issue GP24 Interstate Marine 12V 85AH batteries... These are hybrid deep cycle/starting batteries.

I got mine with my new 2008 Starcraft R/T14 popup trailer. I lost one right away for over charging it using a single mode battery charger but after replacing that for a good working smart mode type setup my remaining three GP24's just started giving out on me this past camping season...


Roy's image

Thats around 8 years of use which included many 50% to 90% cycles over night which would take around three hours to do the next morning. They got a good work out with my camping off the grid alot and never got the fluids boiled out on me...

My success was to never let them get discharged below 12.0VDC and recharged back up right away... After 12 or so 50% to 90% cycles then I would always do a full charge which would take around 12 hours or so to accomplish

Roy Ken

[beemerphile1]

Most RVs are sold with a similar group 24 hybrid battery. They also do just fine for most owners because they always camp with hook ups.

Whether or not this battery works well for you depends on your use. You didn't say how you will be camping.

[midnightsadie]

I use a lot of batteries,in boats short story , buy 12v deep cycle marine batteries, yours is not . for just the avg guy two deep cycles from wal mart will last a long time.I have two in my rv 5yrs old and three in one of my boats 6yrs old and still test good. I DO put them on a battery tender after each use. battery maint is a must for long life.

[harold1946]

donn0128 wrote:
It is a hybrid battery. To get a true deep cycle you will have to go to two 6V golf cart batteries. But unless you do a lot if boon docking keep what you got and font worry about it. It will give you several years of service with proper care.

There are true 12 volt deep cycle batteries. They are often referred to as trolling motor batteries.
Two 6 volt deep cycles will have a higher amp hour rating than a single 12 volt.

[richardtc17]

Thanks Don! That is a more positive battery than I expected.

My best,

Richard

[donn0128]

It is a hybrid battery. To get a true deep cycle you will have to go to two 6V golf cart batteries. But unless you do a lot if boon docking keep what you got and font worry about it. It will give you several years of service with proper care.