RV Deep Cycle batteries recommendation

whosgregm · 04-08-2021, 12:41 PM

Hi, fellow RVers,
I'm seeking the best deep cycle rv batteries. Which one do you recommend and which pattern (series or parallel) please? Thank you

**chuckster57** · 04-08-2021, 01:13 PM

Dealership I worked at before used Interstate. If your using a pair of 12V wire parallel. A pair of 6V get wired in series.

It’s all about AMP HOURS if you plan on boondocking, if you only camp with hookups, then a single gp 24 would be enough.

Javi · 04-08-2021, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whosgregm

Hi, fellow RVers,
I'm seeking the best deep cycle rv batteries. Which one do you recommend and which pattern (series or parallel) please? Thank you

Mostly what you need depends on the type of camping you do...
I never intentionally boondock although I have an inverter and residential fridge all I need is two series 27 deep cycle 12 volt batteries.

Someone who boondocks slot might have four 6 volt golf cart batteries

whosgregm · 04-08-2021, 03:07 PM

What brand do you use?

whosgregm · 04-08-2021, 03:09 PM

I don’t use hook ups often, mostly dry camping or boon docking. Which battery will be best?

KimNTerry · 04-08-2021, 03:51 PM

LiFePo4 if you want to spend the money (My next set of batteries will be that)
More power for less weight and longer life. Can be discharged to 10% SOC

If you want to save some cash up front
Duracell 6 volt GC2 x 2 provides 215 Amp Hrs wired in series.
x4 wired series parallel provides 430 Amp Hrs.
These batteries are 89.98 at Sam's

I have 4 in my rig, the down sides weight and a long recharge time for 100% SOC

Ajbryant80 · 04-08-2021, 04:20 PM

Personally I picked up a bigger battery box and set up 2 optima deep cycle batteries. Mounted the diamond plate box on the tongue U-bolts holding inplace with both batteries inside mounted in place used some foam sheets for padding under and on all side of the batteries. The slide lid is secured with a "warlock" Lock and installed a battery kill switch on the side of the box with rubber seals and siliconed around the base of the switch to keep water out. Might be over kill but good luck getting in the box. I figured with optima batteries they are not going to die as quick from vibrations as other might.

Canonman · 04-08-2021, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whosgregm

Hi, fellow RVers,
I'm seeking the best deep cycle rv batteries. Which one do you recommend and which pattern (series or parallel) please? Thank you

My opinion, is 2 6vdc golf cart batteries. 200+ amp hours of storage coupled with a good solar kit to keep them charged up. We've never had to worry about enough power to camp for days/weeks at a time. Best bang for the buck (again my opinion) is Costco or Sam's. $90 per battery and they have a good track record for lasting several years if taken care of. We keep it simple and use a portable solar kit. You can spend a lot more but I'm not sure the investment is worthwhile.

rhagfo · 04-08-2021, 07:53 PM

Well we had a 6 year old Interstate SRM27 did a fine job of running our furnace for about 11 hours in mid 30 degree temperatures outside.

hlh1 · 03-20-2022, 07:25 AM

I have two Sam's 6v GC2 batteries in my TT. What's the lowest I should let the voltage get before damaging these batteries?

**JRTJH** · 03-20-2022, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hlh1

I have two Sam's 6v GC2 batteries in my TT. What's the lowest I should let the voltage get before damaging these batteries?

I have the same battery system.

I try to keep the battery voltage between 12.2 (60% charged) and 12.3 (70% charged) and avoid going below 12.05 (50% charged). My last pair of GC2's were 8 years old when I replaced them last year. They were still functional, but Sam's had new batteries on sale for $69, so it was "a thrifty decision" to replace them when they were on sale rather than a year later for much greater cost....

Most battery companies recommend not discharging a FLA deep cycle battery below 70%, others say occasionally discharging to 50% won't shorten the lifespan significantly... NOTE: They don't say it won't shorten the lifespan at all, just not significantly.... Most voltmeters only read in "tenths", so I'd never discharge below 52%, which is a rading of 12.1 volts on a "typical voltmeter"...

Also, remember that the "idiot light status gauge" hanging on your wall is not only inaccurate, but the thresholds to turn on/off the 3 LED's will, in almost all situations, be extremely inaccurate. Do not use that little "gadget" to measure battery state of charge or voltage !!!!!

bsmith0404 · 03-20-2022, 08:07 AM

As was mentioned earlier, many variables to consider. Hookups or dry camp? You said you mainly dry camp. That brings up more questions. Gen or no gen? Solar or no solar? We dry camp a lot but run the gen a couple hours each day. We can get by with one group 27 battery, but the furnace can run it down. We are switching to two group 24s, most likely going with Interstate because they’re a good balance of cost and life expectancy. I cannot fit two group 27s without modifications. Had the two 24s in the past and they worked well

hlh1 · 03-20-2022, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTJH

I have the same battery system.

I try to keep the battery voltage between 12.2 (60% charged) and 12.3 (70% charged) and avoid going below 12.05 (50% charged). My last pair of GC2's were 8 years old when I replaced them last year. They were still functional, but Sam's had new batteries on sale for $69, so it was "a thrifty decision" to replace them when they were on sale rather than a year later for much greater cost....

Most battery companies recommend not discharging a FLA deep cycle battery below 70%, others say occasionally discharging to 50% won't shorten the lifespan significantly... NOTE: They don't say it won't shorten the lifespan at all, just not significantly.... Most voltmeters only read in "tenths", so I'd never discharge below 52%, which is a rading of 12.1 volts on a "typical voltmeter"...

Also, remember that the "idiot light status gauge" hanging on your wall is not only inaccurate, but the thresholds to turn on/off the 3 LED's will, in almost all situations, be extremely inaccurate. Do not use that little "gadget" to measure battery state of charge or voltage !!!!!

I have a volt meter with me and I'll watch the voltage. Like you said the Idiot Lights are pretty much useless. I need to install an accurate 12v meter in the TT so I don't have to measure voltage off of the batteries. Any suggestions? Thanks!

**JRTJH** · 03-20-2022, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hlh1

I have a volt meter with me and I'll watch the voltage. Like you said the Idiot Lights are pretty much useless. I need to install an accurate 12v meter in the TT so I don't have to measure voltage off of the batteries. Any suggestions? Thanks!

This is what I mounted above the status indicator panel on my trailer. I installed a "springloaded push switch" beside the voltmeter. Push the button, the voltage reading appears, release the button, the reading goes off and there's no "parasitic drain". It's not "accurate to the 100th degree" but at 0.1 accuracy, it's close enough for me...

If you've got a cigarette lighter plug in your trailer, one of these will plug in and do the job for you with no wiring and no installation. https://www.amazon.com/Zeltauto-Ciga...NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Here's the type switch I used: https://www.amazon.com/DIYhz-Waterpr...1&sr=1-54&th=1

hlh1 · 03-20-2022, 02:56 PM

that cigarette lighter volt meter would be perfect if I had a socket for it in the TT. Mine has USB charging ports but don't see any cig sockets.

bsmith0404 · 03-20-2022, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hlh1

that cigarette lighter volt meter would be perfect if I had a socket for it in the TT. Mine has USB charging ports but don't see any cig sockets.

You can just use an adapter like this one from Amazon

hlh1 · 03-20-2022, 03:40 PM

I'm not sure the USB 5v to 12v conversion will be accurate. I think I'll look for the 12v connection to my Furrion system and mount a switch and volt meter below it.

**JRTJH** · 03-20-2022, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hlh1

I'm not sure the USB 5v to 12v conversion will be accurate. I think I'll look for the 12v connection to my Furrion system and mount a switch and volt meter below it.

I agree. The USB output on the trailer plug is "regulated from 12 VDC to 5VDC by the automatic regulator in the USB plug. Connecting that "USB to lighter socket" device would take that "regulated 5VDC" and then "regulate the 5 volts to a regulated 12 VDC in that little "black box between the USB plug and the 12 volt cigarette lighter socket... It'll always read 12 VDC if the USB output is anywhere close to normal... It's "totally disconnected from the reality of battery output voltage"....

bsmith0404 · 03-20-2022, 04:43 PM

You can also just swap it out for a wall plug that includes the usb and cigarette port. The 12v wiring is run all the way to the usb outlet, just swap it out. Amazon sells those for $28. They have two USB 5v ports and one 12v cigarette port. Then you keep your USB ports which everyone wants these days.

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