Best Truck Camper AGM battery?

[jaycocreek]

I have been using just cheap regular batteries for my RV needs and they have lasted me fine for the money..My truck camper only can take one battery in the compartment provided by Lance...

I want to get one really good AGM battery(Can't afford Lithium) either group 24 or 27 that is AGM so I can use it for other things including emergencies in the house with an inverter..I have been looking on the net and it get's old and the reviews from some are just crazy..

Lifeline/NorthStar both have excellent longevity close to 1,000 cycles then Renogy gel comes in at 700+ and all are right at $300 give or take..

So what is the best brand RV AGM battery in your opinion?

[jaycocreek]

Ranger Tim wrote:
I use a Motobat AGM in my ATV and it has been a top notch battery.

Thanks for the heads up..One reason I went this way was it is an Auzzie battery and they treat there stuff hard..I also went with the Engel fridge/freezer,another Auzzie tried and true product..

It arrives today,so we will see how it does..

[Ranger_Tim]

Jayco,

I use a Motobat AGM in my ATV and it has been a top notch battery. There is a Battery Specialties store across the street from the Interstate Batt store on Chinden in Garden City, ID. They carry lots of true deep cycle brands including Motobat, Trojan, Centennial, etc. They also carry a line of Lithium batts. I get very good prices from them if I spend some time wheedling them over it. I use two group 27 Centennials (lead acid-sealed) in my camper and they are in great shape so far at 4 yrs old. Time will tell. My employer switched from NAPA to Batt Spec and are saving a lot, plus the product is way superior. We use solar cells and battery banks on portable message boards and were always replacing the NAPA stuff. BS has good customer support. My Centennials seem to hold up well but I want to replace with AGM when they die.

[jaycocreek]

jimh425 wrote:
jaycocreek, I just have to say that you are really patient. Cool considering most people buy stuff before they get their first responses to their post. 😄 Seriously, it’s been over a week with no decision. That’s a long time in internet time.

LOL..Well I decided to go with the most amp hours for the buck in an AGM battery..I am basically replacing an aging group 24 that came with my TC but the new one is going in a Marine Battery Smart box for use also with my Engel refer/freezer/Cpap and anything else portable for in the house or the TC and especially,something the wife can tote around if need be..But mostly for my new Engel fridge/freezer in the truck camper..It sips DC power at .67 amps per hour tested by a person on this forum..

I ordered a MotoBat group 24 agm with 94 amp hours..Thanks for the replies and a Lithium RV battery is in my future..

[jimh406]

jaycocreek, I just have to say that you are really patient. Cool considering most people buy stuff before they get their first responses to their post. 😄 Seriously, it’s been over a week with no decision. That’s a long time in internet time.

[pianotuna]

toddb,

I can't even store "standard" LI jars. It is a huge issue in the north central part of USA, and even more so in Canada.

I'd be far better off with firefly batteries.

[mbloof]

When it came time to replace my cheap Costco type #27 flooded battery I looked at AGM's and LiFePO4's.

In the end I bought/installed a BattleBorn type #27.

• +3000 charge/discharge cycles (outlive 3 high priced AGMS)
• ~27LBS
• The entire 100AH is usable
• Cost = 1.5-2X high priced AGMS

While not for everyone, it worked out for me.

- Mark0.

[toddb]

full_mosey wrote:


BB batteries have an internal battery management system(BMS) that shuts the battery off before actual zero is reached. This BMS also stops charging at a upper Volt limit. I believe this BMS will also not permit charging at a low temperature around 32F. The BMS prevents damage that would otherwise kill the Li. This is why you can charge them with a conventional charger.

Some people with 12V fridges have found that the Li based battery system will shut down and ruin their food, when the FLA or AGM would still have been running.

HTH;
John

Yep, BB seems to have the best BMS which is why I went with them. I feel the cold weather thing is a non issue, if people can keep their holding tanks from freezing then keeping a battery a little warm before charging shouldn't be an issue and they can continue to be discharged well below that.
I have only heard of bms disconnecting with fridges operated at 24V. Some utilize low voltage disconnects as well, I think the inrush of the fridge pulls the voltage down enough to trigger the disconnect. I have cooled my fridge from 100* and then maintained temp for more than 12 hours on a single charge, that was my drain to 0 test. The flooded 27s couldn't do that, granted they were a 3 years old. I haven't had any disconnect issues with my setup.
Nothing against AGM, I own 7 and they are superior to flooded in my opinion.

[Grit_dog]

In my limited experience with LifePO4 batteries (on one of my snowbikes), I wouldn't use them for a camper power source if I was using them where they'd be exposed to below freezing temps, giver take.

[jaycocreek]

full mosey

Thank you for posting that...As I said earlier,I have been a buy the cheapest flooded cell battery and replace when necessary type of guy,and I have had good luck doing so with my batteries lasting atleast five years,seven years(no idea the actual capacity after 7) with my last set of 27's for my travel trailer..

With a truck camper,especially the one I have, with room for only one battery for the system and room for extra's in the wheel wells...It would take some major mods to tie into the system with extra batteries and anything electrical,curls my hair..LOL..Electrical stuff has never been my foray and I stay away from it for the most part..

Now I know that one Lithium is equal to two other types in amp hours being able to actually discharge it 100% without harm and fully utilizing the amp hours said battery has..

[full_mosey]

toddb wrote:

pianotuna wrote:

toddb wrote:
Lithium can basically be burned to 0 and the bms will disconnect it.

No. 20% state of charge is the minimum recommended for LI.

Nor can they often be charged below 32 f (some a few degrees colder).

Storage below -20 c (-4 f) is NOT recommended.

Battle born told me going to 0 doesn't hurt it
...

BB batteries have an internal battery management system(BMS) that shuts the battery off before actual zero is reached. This BMS also stops charging at a upper Volt limit. I believe this BMS will also not permit charging at a low temperature around 32F. The BMS prevents damage that would otherwise kill the Li. This is why you can charge them with a conventional charger.

Some people with 12V fridges have found that the Li based battery system will shut down and ruin their food, when the FLA or AGM would still have been running.

HTH;
John

[toddb]

pianotuna wrote:

toddb wrote:
Lithium can basically be burned to 0 and the bms will disconnect it.

No. 20% state of charge is the minimum recommended for LI.

Nor can they often be charged below 32 f (some a few degrees colder).

Storage below -20 c (-4 f) is NOT recommended.

Battle born told me going to 0 doesn't hurt it, I've only done it once and the battery came right back.
Yes low temp charging is problem I think I'm ok down to 25, that's why I said in a TC its easy to solve by opening that to the LQ. The battery needs a little warmth, just because it's -40 outside doesn't mean the battery is at that temp.
Cold storage isn't an issue for me, I have to watch the 135 mark. But I get it, I grew up in ND so we pulled all the batteries on stuff that stored unsheltered/heated anyway during winter. Li are so much easier to lift 🙂

[Buzzcut1]

28* that's not cold camping

This is on the Chilly side but still not really cold, this was either Missouri or Nebraska last fall and my uninsulated AGMs worked just fine

[pianotuna]

toddb wrote:
Lithium can basically be burned to 0 and the bms will disconnect it.

No. 20% state of charge is the minimum recommended for LI.

Nor can they often be charged below 32 f (some a few degrees colder).

Storage below -20 c (-4 f) is NOT recommended.

[mike_kellie]

In Feb of 2019 my converter cooked the original batteries that were +5 years old. I had the room so we went with 4 Centennial 6V 224 AH AGM wired in series parallel for 12 volts and 448AH. Minus the replacement converter, the batteries were $1,200.oo out the door. So far, they have performed great but the next time around it will probably be lithium with more solar.