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Old 11-02-2015, 04:53 PM   #1
ocho
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House Battery preference

I don't seem to be having much luck with middle of the road 12v deep batteries. Seems I'm only getting about a years worth of use in my 2011 Raptor Velocity 300 mp. I keep it plugged in all the time so it stays charged.

I'm thinking on switching to 2 6v golf cart batteries. Anyone have experience doing that and what are the batteries being used?

Thanks. Ocho
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Old 11-02-2015, 05:18 PM   #2
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I just did this. Very happy so far. It's all about amp hours, not cranking amps. 6v batteries are way better for this application. That's why you see them in golf carts. Most 12v deep cycles have 25 to 50 amp hour reserve capacity, with 6v batteries you'll get 200 amp hours, even with inexpensive ones. I paid $79 each for the house brand at Rural King, which are made by Excide. You can also get similar pricing at Sam's Club or Costco. A better quality would a Trojan but they start at $150 or so each. If the Excide's don't hold up I'll spend the extra money but either way twin 6 volts are the way to go.

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Old 11-02-2015, 05:39 PM   #3
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If you are doing a lot of dry camping then 6 volt batteries are the way to go.
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Old 11-02-2015, 05:42 PM   #4
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Running 6v batteries in series brings them to 12v, but does not add to amp hours. If you have two of them with 250 amp hours each, you have 250 amp hours. When you connect batteries in parallel it keeps the same voltage, but doubles amp hours. Two 12v batteries in parallel will produce 12v and depending on which size battery, somewhere around 150 amp hours. A typical 24 series battery is 80 amp hours and a 27 series is typically around 90. Most 12v RV batteries are a hybrid type battery instead of a true deep cycle. You can get a true deep cycle, but they are more expensive. Basically, the 6v deep cycle will last longer and provide somewhere in the neighborhood of 180-250 amp hours, depending on what you buy. The 12v batteries are usually cheaper and will provide 160-200 amp hours depending on what series you buy. Due to the relatively small difference, 12v batteries are typically good enough for the average RVer. For people who dry camp, 6v batteries will provide a little longer life.

As for which kind/brand, I've always had good luck with Interstate RV batteries. Have gotten several years out of them, usually 4-5 years.
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Old 11-02-2015, 07:00 PM   #5
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All good info. I rarely dry camp just can't seem to keep a battery for more than a year. I have a new charger in it. I also use the house battery for starting the generator. Would 2 6v batteries still be a better choice?
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Old 11-02-2015, 09:41 PM   #6
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All good info. I rarely dry camp just can't seem to keep a battery for more than a year. I have a new charger in it. I also use the house battery for starting the generator. Would 2 6v batteries still be a better choice?
If you rarely dry camp, then it doesn't make much sense to go the 6V route. With proper care & maintenance, a good quality deep cycle 12V battery should last more than a year - including using it to start the generator. I would also make sure that you check the fluid level in the battery on a regular basis since you keep the RV plugged in and it is being charged by your converter.

You might also consider a Group27 12V rather than a Group24.

If you do decide to go to 6volts, I'd highly recommend a Trojan. A bit more expensive - yes- but the 2 Trojans that I have in our RV have been since '08 and are still performing well.

What is the condition of your battery after 1 year usage? Won't hold a charge or ?????
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Old 11-03-2015, 04:15 AM   #7
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It's Proly the quality of battery I'm buying then. Hit the last two at advance auto. They run the lights just fine but won't start the generator. The generator is not the issue because it easily starts using a jump start battery.

I was looking at the odyessy battery line because I have used them successfully in my boat and i have two in my raptor that are independent and run only the stereo. But they have only the marine battery and nothing specific to the RV. Unless marine and RV Would be the same.

Anyhoo what Would be a good quality battery if i wanted to stay with the single 12v option?
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Old 11-03-2015, 04:47 AM   #8
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Marine and RV are different, marine requires cranking amps to start the motor, RV only requires amp hours. That is why most are a hybrid rv/marine. Since you are using it to start the generator, a marine battery will work or an rv/marine hybrid. There are good batteries that are made by quality brands out there, again I prefer Interstate, but Optima and a few others are also good batteries. I'd recommend buying local and with a warranty so it's easy to exchange if there is a problem.
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Old 11-03-2015, 05:17 AM   #9
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I meant optima in my post. I'll check and see what they recommend
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Old 11-03-2015, 05:58 AM   #10
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I had a pair of Optima blue tops in my last fiver. They lasted about 7 years. Current has a pair of Interstate GP 24's that are 3 yrs old and still good.
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Old 11-03-2015, 07:34 AM   #11
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My interstate is 5 years old I am going to replace it with another Interstate but one of the new ECL (Extended Charging Life) types. only about 10 dollars higher than the older model Interstates. Group 27 or 29. I cant remember what the dealer told me. read up on them, along the lines of the closed cell models but about half the cost.
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Old 11-03-2015, 08:00 AM   #12
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Running 6v batteries in series brings them to 12v, but does not add to amp hours. If you have two of them with 250 amp hours each, you have 250 amp hours. When you connect batteries in parallel it keeps the same voltage, but doubles amp hours. Two 12v batteries in parallel will produce 12v and depending on which size battery, somewhere around 150 amp hours. A typical 24 series battery is 80 amp hours and a 27 series is typically around 90. Most 12v RV batteries are a hybrid type battery instead of a true deep cycle. You can get a true deep cycle, but they are more expensive. Basically, the 6v deep cycle will last longer and provide somewhere in the neighborhood of 180-250 amp hours, depending on what you buy. The 12v batteries are usually cheaper and will provide 160-200 amp hours depending on what series you buy. Due to the relatively small difference, 12v batteries are typically good enough for the average RVer. For people who dry camp, 6v batteries will provide a little longer life.

As for which kind/brand, I've always had good luck with Interstate RV batteries. Have gotten several years out of them, usually 4-5 years.
I agree with everything you said but I think you're way off on the amp hours for a group 24-27 12 volt battery. Typical is more like 25-35 amp hours each. So in parallel you would get 50-60. To get 75 AH out of a12 volt you would have to buy something like a group 31 or an expensive Trojan or Lifetime. Dollar for dollar a 12 volt doesn't come close to 6 volt batteries for reserve capacity. But since the OP now states he wants to start a generator I also agree he needs to look at hybrids/marine deep cycles in 12 volt. From there it depends on how much he wants to spend.

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Old 11-04-2015, 05:06 AM   #13
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I agree with everything you said but I think you're way off on the amp hours for a group 24-27 12 volt battery. Typical is more like 25-35 amp hours each. So in parallel you would get 50-60. To get 75 AH out of a12 volt you would have to buy something like a group 31 or an expensive Trojan or Lifetime. Dollar for dollar a 12 volt doesn't come close to 6 volt batteries for reserve capacity. But since the OP now states he wants to start a generator I also agree he needs to look at hybrids/marine deep cycles in 12 volt. From there it depends on how much he wants to spend.

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I see, you're going to call me out on my information and force me to provide supporting documentation, okay, I'll play your game

In this link from Interstate, they show the hours of operation at different loads for different size RV batteries, they also show cranking amps which the OP needs for his generator. Using the second 24 series and the 27 series as examples, 17.1*5=85 and 18.9*5=94.5 respectively.

http://www.interstatebatteries.com/m.../rv-deep-cycle

In this link from camping world, if you scroll down to the paragraph called Sizing It Up, they list a 24 series as 70-85 amp hours.

http://www.campingworld.com/blog/pos...ruck-and-boat/
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Old 11-04-2015, 07:45 AM   #14
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I've used Lifeline batteries for years. Their AGM batteries are the best deep cycle batteries available. When I get home from a trip, I plug-in while unloading. After unloading, I unplug and hit the battery disconnect switch so there is no draw on the batteries. I can come back to my batteries after sitting idle for 3-months and they have not lost more than 0.10 volts! You do pay a premium for Lifelines, but there is a reason for it. Checkout their website:
http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/
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Old 11-04-2015, 04:27 PM   #15
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My experience with 12Vs haven't been exactly stellar for many reasons. I switched to two 6Vs Deka GC 15.
I also leave mine plugged in when I can, with that in mind I also installed a new power converter, a Progressive Dynamics PD 9200 series with the built in charge wizard. My 12V nightmares are over. As far as the generator, I gave it it's own little isolated 12V and a small 6 watt solar panel it is content as well.
Good luck OCHO.
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Old 11-04-2015, 04:50 PM   #16
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I see, you're going to call me out on my information and force me to provide supporting documentation, okay, I'll play your game

In this link from Interstate, they show the hours of operation at different loads for different size RV batteries, they also show cranking amps which the OP needs for his generator. Using the second 24 series and the 27 series as examples, 17.1*5=85 and 18.9*5=94.5 respectively.

http://www.interstatebatteries.com/m.../rv-deep-cycle

In this link from camping world, if you scroll down to the paragraph called Sizing It Up, they list a 24 series as 70-85 amp hours.

http://www.campingworld.com/blog/pos...ruck-and-boat/
Okay, so admittedly when I was shopping I was biased because I already knew I wanted twin 6 volts lol. We don't do full on dry camping but we do camp where we use a generator during the day and battery power at night. More often then not the cheap battery supplied by the dealer was dead by morning. The dealer supplied battery I pulled out of my new fiver had 25 AH written right on it. I'm sure it was the finest Chinese junk they could get their hands on. But while shopping it was rare to see a 12 volt even list AH. When I did it wasn't very high and if it was the price was just as high. The 12 volt Excide you reference in the Camping World link is $196 and lists 120 mins @ 25 amps, so I guess that is 50AH? Nobody seems to rate 12V the same. 6 volt batteries are consistent in using AH as their rating. It would be nice if 12 volt batteries did the same for comparison purposes. In this Interstate chart again they dont show AH on their 12 volt. But their 6 volt is rated at 232 AH's. The apples to apples comparison would be RC (min @ 25 amps) which shows a group 24 at 140 and a 6 volt at 474. They just made it too complicated to shop the 12 volts and my mind was pretty much made up anyway as I don't need cranking amps. When a mid grade 12 volt runs well over $100 for 80-90 AH and 2 6 volts are under $200 for 220-230 AH's it made my decision pretty easy. So I apologize for calling you out but I still say twin 6 volts are a better value.
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Old 11-04-2015, 04:52 PM   #17
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OK so that picture is pretty much worthless so here's the direct link. The 6 volt GC battery is at the bottom.

https://www.interstatebatteries.com/...o/marine_f.asp
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Old 11-04-2015, 05:29 PM   #18
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When a mid grade 12 volt runs well over $100 for 80-90 AH and 2 6 volts are under $200 for 220-230 AH's it made my decision pretty easy. So I apologize for calling you out but I still say twin 6 volts are a better value.
Which is why people who dry camp a lot and need the amp hours use 6v. You can basically get 2 batteries for about the same price, but will gain the needed amp hours. For people like me who never/rarely dry camp, it's just not that big of a deal, so why bother. As for calling me out, it's all good, I probably would have done the same thing
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