single or double batteries

[kjohn6363]

In our 2019 High Country we have a domestic Ref.
It operates off an inverter while not hooked up to AC.
After about 12 hrs the inverter shuts down do to the battery to low to keep the ref operating. Would a dual battery system help????

[lightsout]

Sounds like you have a single 12v Battery which is likely less than 100 AH (Amp Hours), the dealer you purchased from NEVER should have rolled you with a single battery. With that said you need to install a minumim of 2 6V batteries preferably AGM (no maintanenace batteries) Wet Cellwill require you to add water. With 2 x 225AH 6V that will more than double your current capacity. I would even recommend 4 6v with a solar charging which would give you 5 times the usable power (AH) you currently have. It is all about the Amp hours. Note you could also go Lithium but at about $1000 her 100AH it is spendy...

[kjohn6363]

Thank you for the info.

[mhs4771]

Don't know exactly what Montana is doing, but many others with a Residential Fridge have at least two batteries OEM and some even three.
We had the two OEM and I added two more when we purchased. They lasted until last summer, 4 years, when the OEMs started dying so I switched to four 6 volt AGMs, so we can run the Fridge for a few days if we had to.

[kjohn6363]

Thank you
Yes, I am going to go the 2 x 6V AGM 225 AH batteries
Tks again

[MARK A]

Originally Posted by kjohn6363

Thank you
Yes, I am going to go the 2 x 6V AGM 225 AH batteries
Tks again

Go 4 6V batteries. You'll be much happier.


Mark

[kjohn6363]

I will consider 4 batteries instead of 2 batteries.
Tks, Ken

Do you know about the Montana Club Plaques for your ladder?
Contact Chuck at jmmccubbins@aol.com or 775-560-4428

[allenclme]

Has anyone found a good source for 6V AGM Batteries?

[lightsout]

Originally Posted by allenclme

Has anyone found a good source for 6V AGM Batteries?

I will only use Trojan Batteries They are the best Wet and AGM on the market ( I have 8 in our Boat that in year 7 and still going strong. In fact I just ordered 4 yesterday from online Battery Sales (They are national) they have their T105 217AH AGM 6V on sale for $229 ea. I was going to use AGM however changed at the last minute and ordered Wet cell Trojan T105 Plus at 225AH for $125 (which is a smoking hot price). I will install a watering system which makes them pretty much maintenance free. We camp in a warm climate 90-100 degrees whereas AGM batteries do not like heat so I decided to stay wet cell for that reason. You should not charge AGM in a compartment that can exceed 120F, whereas the front compartment can easily reach those temps at 90F ambient.

Anyway Online Battery Sales is having a big sale on Trojans thru tomorrow (they also ship Nation Wide)

https://www.onlinebatterysale.com/pr...rojan-battery/

[phillyg]

Mine came with only battery. Told the dealer that was inadequate with a residential fridge and they put one in, no questions asked. Montana should know better.

[Carl n Susan]

You don't say what year and model you have, but most Montanas have plenty of room for four, or even six, 6V batteries. If you have the generator prep you might be too tight for six 6V but four definitely should fit. I use the white plastic battery box for four of my batteries. You have to make your own vent system, but PVC parts make this easy.


Here is a description the of the four 6V battery box and one of the places you can buy one. Clicky

[lightsout]

I have the Gen prep so the space available is only 17" x 24". I can either fit 4 of the 6v GC2 T105-T145 (220ah-260ah) or they make a taller one that is same footprint as GC2 however twice as tall at 370ah-460ah.

Here is the best deal on a battery Box for 4 GC2 6v for $80

https://allbatterysalesandservice.co...atteries-gcq-g



Just cur a hole in the lid and attached this $9

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Box-V...e%2C220&sr=1-2

[allenclme]

Thank you both for the suggestions.

[mazboy]

You don't have to go over board, just get 6 volt deep cycle batteries that are not AGM to save money if you don't do a lot of dry camping.



Two batteries should cost you no more than $200....

[lightsout]

Originally Posted by mazboy

You don't have to go over board, just get 6 volt deep cycle batteries that are not AGM to save money if you don't do a lot of dry camping.



Two batteries should cost you no more than $200....

2 6v at $100 each are not gong to be quality Batteries. Costco has Insterstate 6v at $98 each that they are JUNK. Spend a little extra and buy Tojans

[Greg n Tracy]

You said "domestic", but wonder if you meant DOMETIC, which would be the RV type fridge, with the capability to run off of propane? If so, it has been my experience that it is near impossible to run it in ELECTRIC mode from the inverter. The RV fridge makes it's "cold" from a heating element method, and that eats electricity. Much more efficient to run it on propane in that case?

[whiterose]

Don’t blame Keystone for the number and type of battery. It is the responsibility of the dealer when it comes to batteries. The only battery used during delivery to the dealer (and then removed) is one provided by the delivery trucker to power the electric brakes.

Dealer also provides the battery box, which they can obtain from Keystone$$$$.

Misconception regarding venting; fumes are heavier than air, box needs to be vented at bottom, connection at top is to provide incoming air.

[mazboy]

have to disagree with lightsout. have used walmart and sams club batteries and they work just fine and have a great warranty with them. it is just his opinion to buy a more expensive battery.



regardless, get 6 volt batteries rather than 12 volt for your rig.

[lightsout]

Originally Posted by mazboy

have to disagree with lightsout. have used walmart and sams club batteries and they work just fine and have a great warranty with them. it is just his opinion to buy a more expensive battery.



regardless, get 6 volt batteries rather than 12 volt for your rig.

AI Am not saying all 6V brands are bad but there are many with less then stellar track record of reliability especially with 6V.

I have also bought Walmart batteries however this were 12v automotive and or marine starting batteries. Walmart does not even sell 6v Deep Cycle GC2's that is a different animal with much different quality controls that 12V.

Sams Club Sells Duracell which is a middle of the Road commodity Battery, still not the level of Trojan which is the gold standard for Deep Cycle Flooded batteries. Not to mentions throughout the US and Canada there are very few Sams Clubs still open for business. Also not the reviews for the Duracel EGC2 are not very good which is comparable to the Trojan T105-plus which Has stellar reviews.

Then there is Costco who also sells a cheap 6v made by Interstate, read the reviews (1-star) almost all the reviews did not even get 2 years out of their Batteries.

Like anything these days you Pay for what you get... I an somewhat Bias towards Trojan as I am nearly 8 years in on 8 6V on our 48' boat and they are still performing fine (maybe another year left). However with Duracel and Trojan being the same price it is a no brainer Trojan all day long...

By the way I was not required to provide a core nor was I charged for a core so $125 for Trojan T105-Plus 225AH batteries with no core charge impossible to beat.

[GILAELKHUNTER]

Originally Posted by mazboy

have to disagree with lightsout. have used walmart and sams club batteries and they work just fine and have a great warranty with them. it is just his opinion to buy a more expensive battery.



regardless, get 6 volt batteries rather than 12 volt for your rig.

I bought 2 12v Interstate batteries at sams club for my 6.0 diesel truck, the first ones didn't last 6 months, I took them to my local Interstate dealer for replacement and was told the black case Interstate batteries were a Sams special and they would not warranty them, was told to take them back to Sams. Returned them to Sams and got 2 more and they didn't last 4 months. I have always/and still use the white and green Interstate batteries and have great luck. Will never buy the ones at Sams again.