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03-19-2019, 12:30 PM
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#1
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Willow Spring, NC
Posts: 992
M.O.C. #13909
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battery performance after 2 years
In January of 2017 I put 2 6 volt deep cycle US 2200 batteries in series in my RV. I also install a single 100W solar panel and 4 stage controller at the same time.
What I remember is I could go to the RV when it was fully charge and open the slides 2-3 times and the battery indicator in the control center would read 2/3 full.
Now with a full charge one cycle of open and close of the slides leaves the battery indicator at 1/3. The voltage at the battery at this time was 12.82 volts.
I can't believer the batteries are wearing out after just 2 years. The batteries hardly ever require much water to be added.
I thought about the solar charging system being at fault and changed completely, plugged into a 50A outlet before testing. So that's not it.
Before I started the full charge test, I unplugged the 50A cord and the indicator was fully charged as expected.
I hate to start the season with marginal batteries.
Jim
__________________
Jim & Martha Abernathy
2014 Montana 3402RL Level UP, Sailun S637's, TST 507, 500W solar
2014 Ram 3500 Laramie® 4x2 diesel dually crew-cab 3.73 axle, Reese R20
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03-19-2019, 01:30 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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It takes a lot more juice to work the slides when the hydraulic fluid is cold, but if it was me I'd have the batteries tested. They should have some type of warranty.
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Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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03-19-2019, 01:45 PM
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#3
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Chatsworth
Posts: 468
M.O.C. #10933
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Take batts to where you purchased them and have a load test done. Take them in fully charged. If they test poorly, you need new ones.
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03-19-2019, 03:00 PM
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#4
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Kamiah
Posts: 332
M.O.C. #14438
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Most any auto parts store can load test your batteries.
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Ron&Sue
2017 Montana 3720RL Legacy
14' Ram 3500 DRW
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03-19-2019, 03:23 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Willow Spring, NC
Posts: 992
M.O.C. #13909
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If I want to replace them with AGM batteries, should I go back to 1 12V battery vs. 2 6V? The prices are all over the place for AGM batteries. I assume there are deep cycle batteries as well as auto batteries just like flooded lead acid.
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Jim & Martha Abernathy
2014 Montana 3402RL Level UP, Sailun S637's, TST 507, 500W solar
2014 Ram 3500 Laramie® 4x2 diesel dually crew-cab 3.73 axle, Reese R20
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03-19-2019, 03:54 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Arlington
Posts: 1,522
M.O.C. #18081
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I would highly recommen staying with the multiple 6V batteries.
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SOB
2015 Volvo VNL780 D13, iShift, 32k ET air hitch, Idle Free LiFePO4 APU
16.8KWhr LiFePO4, 2.52 kw solar, 10kva Victron split phase
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03-19-2019, 05:45 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Willow Spring, NC
Posts: 992
M.O.C. #13909
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW Fireguy
I would highly recommen staying with the multiple 6V batteries.
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Why is that?
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03-19-2019, 09:26 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 3,932
M.O.C. #20477
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You will get more AH out of the 6 volt batteries. You also you consider adding a battery monitor - the charge indicators built into the rig are not very accurate. Also consider equalizing your batteries if you have not done that in awhile.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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03-20-2019, 12:30 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Willow Spring, NC
Posts: 992
M.O.C. #13909
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Once I saw what a hassle it was to buy deep cycle AGM batteries local (there weren't any). I found some 6v 210AH from Interstate at my local golf cart shop for $90. I already had a working vent box and the new batteries were exactly the same size physically. The cheapest 12V AGM with 200 AH was ~$375.
So $375 - $180 = $195 or ~10 bottles of bourbon.
I think I made the right choice.
__________________
Jim & Martha Abernathy
2014 Montana 3402RL Level UP, Sailun S637's, TST 507, 500W solar
2014 Ram 3500 Laramie® 4x2 diesel dually crew-cab 3.73 axle, Reese R20
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03-20-2019, 12:34 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 3,932
M.O.C. #20477
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Compare them to Lithium and you can buy even more bourbon.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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03-20-2019, 12:42 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Willow Spring, NC
Posts: 992
M.O.C. #13909
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AZ Traveler
Compare them to Lithium and you can buy even more bourbon.
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We don't have the camping life style that requires us to go all out with solar, inverter, and lithium. The day you see me camping on batteries in the desert is the day you know I'm really lost.
__________________
Jim & Martha Abernathy
2014 Montana 3402RL Level UP, Sailun S637's, TST 507, 500W solar
2014 Ram 3500 Laramie® 4x2 diesel dually crew-cab 3.73 axle, Reese R20
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03-24-2019, 04:09 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Portland
Posts: 1,107
M.O.C. #8045
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I have 24 month warranted batteries. After 20 months I have taken three different batteries back on their warranty and received new ones or a full refund with no questions.
After 20 months they would test weak, therefore new ones were in order.
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