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Old 02-28-2018, 06:43 PM   #1
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Time for New Batteries

I have 2 batteries that will not hold a charge. They are NOT maintenance free.

What should my replacements be?? I assume AGM, 2 6 volt or 2 12 volt???

Where should I purchase?

What is the difference between Group 27 and Group 31.

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Old 02-28-2018, 08:29 PM   #2
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You are going to get a lot of opinions. I will just tell you what I did and why. I replaced the stock batteries with 2 12 volt interstates in 2015. I have a Hurricane and do not have room for 6 volts. I have used Interstates in my boat and had good luck with them and AGM were too expensive for me. We are close to the three year mark and they are still doing fine. I had them checked last year during my annual service and they checked good.

Good luck, there are a lot of options. If you have room for 6v
volts that may be the best choice.
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Old 02-28-2018, 08:46 PM   #3
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You can always go into a WalMart, and buy replacement batteries...

But I wouldn't!

I'd probably look at the choices from Interstate first.

But that's just me!

Good luck, and happy shopping!
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Old 02-28-2018, 10:12 PM   #4
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I found 12V, deep cycle batteries at Costco for around $100 each. Other suppliers were much more costly.
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Old 02-28-2018, 10:46 PM   #5
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Sams, Costco, Wal-Mart's will be the cheapest places & wouldn't hesitate to buy from any of them.
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Old 02-28-2018, 11:00 PM   #6
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Saw a camping world flyer today with a “member price” of $79.95.
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Old 02-28-2018, 11:37 PM   #7
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I've always been a bit "Squeamish" about buying non brand-name batteries.
Is there actually a difference between them; and their generic counterparts?
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Old 03-01-2018, 12:32 AM   #8
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Stock Axis/Vegas batteries suck (in a word) they died after a deep discharge. Replaced in the first year with Interstates. No problems now. Plan to replace with Lithium next year.
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Old 03-01-2018, 03:24 AM   #9
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I stayed overnight at WM last trip and replaced my chassis battery with a 5 yr Maxx 750 for $100. They wouldn't change but loaned me the tools. Going through the pax dash wasn't as bad as I expected.
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Old 03-01-2018, 04:26 AM   #10
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Just bought 2 group 27 deep cycle Duracell for the 5er & 2 maintenance free Duracells for my truck at Sams so far no complaints.
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Old 03-01-2018, 02:14 PM   #11
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Lithium 100ah Batteries

Thanks everyone for the quick replies. I am looking at the AGM Group 31 Duracell at Sam's for $160 x 2.

Does anyone know of a good buy on Lithium 100ah batteries?
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Old 03-01-2018, 02:24 PM   #12
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We have 4 Group 31 12V AGM Interstate batteries. We had the dealer install the two additional batteries as part of the deal and we upgraded to AGM when we added 400W of solar panels on the roof.
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Old 03-01-2018, 02:25 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rickymac View Post
Thanks everyone for the quick replies. I am looking at the AGM Group 31 Duracell at Sam's for $160 x 2.

Does anyone know of a good buy on Lithium 100ah batteries?
I will be putting those same two in my Axis this weekend funny thing about yesterday was before I went to Sam's Club I was at Costco the kid there showed me where they switched to all Interstate at Costco but he said the funny part was when the rep came in to do the changeover they just ripped all of the Kirkland labels off the batteries and replace them with the appropriate Interstate Battery labels. If you read on many of the forums there seems to be only 3 battery companies that make batteries now.Attachment 9204Click image for larger version

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Old 03-01-2018, 02:53 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by rickymac View Post
Thanks everyone for the quick replies. I am looking at the AGM Group 31 Duracell at Sam's for $160 x 2.

Does anyone know of a good buy on Lithium 100ah batteries?
WARNING, WARNING. Be very careful if you are intending to switch to LiIon batteries. I am an Electrical Engineer with lots of experience with LiIon batteries. The charging systems in automobles and RV's are woefully incompatible with LiIon batteries! LiIon batteries require careful and accurate charging parameters...that is why we see so many fires with hoverboards and airplane LiIon battery systems.
LiIon batteries require a 2% accurate maximum charging voltage to reach maximum capacity safely. They cannot experience over voltage due to high charging rates during top off charging. They require very low current charging while their charging from a low charge condition and a reduced charging rate when reaching their maximum charge state level. There are specialized integrated circuits with these techniques designed in such that these conditions can be met when charging from a higher voltage source such as an automotive generator or a 120VAC to 12VDC convertor used in RVs.
DO NOT JUST CONNECT A LiIon BATTERY DIRECTLY TO YOUR 12V LEAD ACID COMPATIBLE CHARGING SYSTEM OR YOU WILL HAVE A BIG BIG FIRE.

I do not have any knowledge of how these systems are being adapted to RV's so I may be wrong in some of my assumptions but be very careful when considering LiIon batteries to replace your 12V, deep cycle lead acid batteries.
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Old 03-01-2018, 04:49 PM   #15
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Don't overthink this.

Buy the biggest battery that will fit. For that size specs are very close brand to brand.

Get a deep cycle type, they are built different.

Important - if a 2 battery setup, buy 2 -6v batteries. Why, slightly more power but more important, batteries in series are safer, do not have to be matched. Even new batteries built the same day become mismatched over time.

Get at maintenance free battery. Watering batteries sucks and if one goes dry it never comes back.

Don't be cheap about this, good batteries cost a more.
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Old 03-01-2018, 05:27 PM   #16
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There is a tiny battery shop near me, that sells, in addition to named brand batteries, his own no-name, which he has built to his specs. I have had great luck, with his no-name batteries, seven plus years in the cars, five + in my former DP, they were still holding a charge when I changed motor-homes.
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Old 03-01-2018, 05:42 PM   #17
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Changed mine out last year to 2 GC12's, 12 volt golf cart batteries, 155 ah each, about 90 lbs each. Also upgraded to a xantrex full sine wave inverter/charger. Very satisfied runs the residential fridge nicely. Edk
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Old 03-01-2018, 06:09 PM   #18
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jpmihalk,

You have a 35C and I have a 34f, I am assuming that our battery storage is in the same location and the same size. Did you have any trouble getting the 4 batteries to fit? I only have 2 now, but I do have a lot of room.
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Old 03-01-2018, 07:10 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by Edk View Post
Changed mine out last year to 2 GC12's, 12 volt golf cart batteries, 155 ah each, about 90 lbs each. Also upgraded to a xantrex full sine wave inverter/charger. Very satisfied runs the residential fridge nicely. Edk
Nice.

Which model and size inverter/charger did you go with? I'm also curious if your rig had a converter to charge the batteries, and if so, what you did with it (remove it or just unplug)? Sorry if I asked this of you before, can't recall, since I'm interested in how others actually go about their upgrade in more detail.

Your 310 Ah battery bank sounds like it has a lot of usable capacity, so I'm also wondering if your Xantrex charger gets it back to 100% in reasonable time after a deep discharge.
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Old 03-01-2018, 11:09 PM   #20
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Nice.

Which model and size inverter/charger did you go with? I'm also curious if your rig had a converter to charge the batteries, and if so, what you did with it (remove it or just unplug)? Sorry if I asked this of you before, can't recall, since I'm interested in how others actually go about their upgrade in more detail.

Your 310 Ah battery bank sounds like it has a lot of usable capacity, so I'm also wondering if your Xantrex charger gets it back to 100% in reasonable time after a deep discharge.
Freedom xc 2000 with remote. Unplugged the stock unit,. Left it in place just in case. Haven't done a long camping stay yet, just overnight. The old batteries. Wouldn't even do overnight. My spring project is fabricating a slide tray for the a third battery. Bad news I loose a compartment. Original batteries where under the steps. And the 2 new cg12's just fit under the step. Now I will relocate to the slide tray. Edk
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