Time for my Battery Education - Montana Owners Club

bncinwv · 03-12-2010, 05:24 AM

It is time for the MOC to provide me with an education and to recommend a battery replacement choice for the rig. To preface all of this, we do not boondock (don't need 6 volt). Our biggest requirement is probably to run the furnace and a couple of lights during extended hauls (15 - 16 hour annual trip to Florida). I also don't want to change the OEM charger/converter. So is my best option a cheap acid filled deep cycle, or can I use something like an Optima gel cell with the existing charger. All thoughts, advice, experience, etc. etc. will be considered.
Bingo

thor · 03-12-2010, 05:45 AM

we run with a deep cycle 12 volt acid battery deep cycle because it can take the drain and recharge better than a car battery.you can buy them anywhere.the last 5 to 7 years if mantained right.

Bill-N-Donna · 03-12-2010, 06:13 AM

Bingo, I think as long as it’s a deep cycle you’ll be ok.

RCN.Stoker · 03-12-2010, 07:14 AM

http://www.batteryuniversity.com/ if you want to read a good review on batteries.

If you discharge more than 50% in your trips I would go to a true deep cycle battery such as an Active Glass Matrix or add another battery to share the discharge and stay above 50%. A regular lead acid battery's life expectancy (including deep cycle marine batteries)is quickly shortened by repeated deep discharging. Gel batteries can have special charging requirements although some are more tolerant than others.

TLightning · 03-12-2010, 07:17 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by thor

we run with a deep cycle 12 volt acid battery deep cycle because it can take the drain and recharge better than a car battery.you can buy them anywhere.the last 5 to 7 years if mantained right.

Same here...check Sams or Costco.

NCFischers · 03-12-2010, 08:34 AM

Bingo,
I'd go for a good deep cycle battery.
Jim

FLSTS03 · 03-12-2010, 11:39 AM

Bingo, Walmart and Sam's are everywhere, good thing if you need warranty and are on the road. Replacing ours this year with a Interstate, no specific reason other than I like the RV dealer and would rather pay him my hard earned money. Our Walmart Battery has held up just fine. Two years and no camping I just want fresh lead under our wheels.

Steve

exav8tr · 03-12-2010, 12:22 PM

Bingo, my OEM started dieing at the Keystone service center after three years of use. They recommended going to Wally World and getting the $79.00 special deep cycle marine battery. That's what I have now. They said unless you do alot of boondocking it was not worth the money to buy anything more expensive. I don't run furnace while driving so it doesn't run down much......Plus, as stated above, WW everywhere for warranty if needed....

firetrucker · 03-12-2010, 12:57 PM

Although more expensive, the AGM (absorbent glass mat) battery has the advantage of not requiring a battery box and being a very similar in shape to a standard auto battery. It is a true deep cycle battery and works well with 3-stage chargers. Not all converters are 3-stage chargers, but I know that the IOTA can be changed with a relatively inexpensive ($30) add on called the IQ4 (also from IOTA).

In any case, the 3-stage charger is a very good investment. I have had my pseudo deep cycle batteries for 6 years without ever having to add water (but realize now that I've said that, I'll have to change them before our next trip).

Bob

Mudchief · 03-12-2010, 02:08 PM

I have always used the deep cycle ones from Sam's In the RV and boats and get about 4 years out of them. $70-$80 range. I purchase a Optima gel cell once for around $190 and got 1 extra year out of it.

Waynem · 03-12-2010, 02:38 PM

When I had my 3400RL I had the dealer add a second deep cycle. I never had a problem with not enough "juice."

Montana_10714 · 11-09-2010, 03:45 AM

Newbie here::::delivery date 11/21...Montana 3580
The dealer said there will be ONE battery on the trailer...
Do I need a second one ???? or do most of you only have one ?
.
Thanks for teaching me....

Joe

bncinwv · 11-09-2010, 04:48 AM

Joe,
It depends on your usage, for weekend trips and vacations, we have always been fine with one battery.
As a follow-up to this thread, I don't even know what kind of battery I ended up purchasing. Seems it is surrounded by a new 2011 3750FL and I haven't even had a chance to look at it. See what happens when you ask the MOC for battery advice!!!!

Bingo

**Rondo** · 11-09-2010, 07:25 AM

Joe-- If you will be doing any boondocking, it would be a good idea to have two batteries in the rig hooked in parallel. One won't last long unless you are using a generator also. If not, I've been able to get by with just one. I do plan on taking my generator with me this next year so incase I find a camping spot I like and it's not in a CG with power hookups, I can park the rig and run the generator for power.

noneck · 11-09-2010, 12:32 PM

See my sig for what I have been using... This setup allows me to do Nascar 3 day dry camping (supported by generator for daily recharging, by coach system) but know I can go to "Whisper" state at 6 pm - 11:30 pm running my entertainment center (DirecTV Receiver, DVD/VCR, 25" Tube TV, 12vdc lights, Refrig, Hot Water, outdoor lights, LCD TV outdoors, Stereo to boost TV sound).

timandsusan · 11-09-2010, 01:27 PM

We boondocked once in the first year of RVing with only 1 battery. I now have two 12VDC Deep Cycle--no problems since that 1 incident. I recommend 2 batteries--as Wayne says--"no shortage of juice".

pvcoach · 11-09-2010, 02:50 PM

Bingo - Two 12V deep cycle batteries in parallel here too. Boondocked at the beach for a week each summer and did great!

teeohem · 01-07-2011, 05:14 AM

Hi All,

Newbie to RVing and this forum. Thanks for the great advice so far! My wife and I are going full-time and are planning on dry camping on occasion to keep costs down. We have a 2010 3400RL and plan to get 2 12 volt batteries in parallel to replace the single we currently have. We have 2 Honda 2000 gens that we can hook together for power when needed and to recharge the batteries. My question is, how long would it take to recharge the batteries if we cranked up the generators (~4000 watts) everyday? I'm sure the answer is probably more involved so let me know what I am not taking into account. Thanks!

Tom and Janet

Sheepdog · 01-07-2011, 05:34 AM

When I bought my 2011 3150RL last May I had the dealer install two size 27 Deep Cycle batteries in //. Works great!

Art-n-Marge · 01-07-2011, 06:11 AM

I don't know the cost difference but for my next batteries I'm looking for maintenance-free, sealed deep cycle. I currently have two conventional batteries and I'm tired of checking and refilling the water.

I had two deep cycle 12v batteries in parallel. If you have two batteries in this manner just make sure that if one of the batteries positive terminals is connected to the rig, that the OTHER battery is the one that is grounded. This ensures both batteries are used equally. One battery finally failed and now I use the single deep cycle by itself. It is doing fine so far, but we run most times off shore power.

We are planning to boondock more often in the future so our next battery system will be a single set dual 6v deepcycle maintenance free batteries in series to start with. If necessary, I will add another dual 6v system in parallel to the first, but I'll wait to see if I need to add it since I also have dual Hondas as a power source, too.

The recommendation is always to use a single Deep cycle 12v battery as a minimum. Adding a 2nd battery, using AGM type or Maintenance-free and converting to 2 in-series 6V are supposed to be improvement type upgrades to consider. This can depend on general usage and boon-docking frequency. The recharge system is another story but it is recommendation to use a battery charger that also provides some battery maintenance to prevent over-charging. Solar panel are often used as well. Lots of stuff to check!

You may also like: