Best battery

Dreinig · 09-04-2023, 09:54 PM

Hello everyone!
This is a rookie question but I value your opinions. For my 2018 Four winds 28Z - not that it has relevance - what is the best way to go for the house battery? I have found the standard 12v deep cycle batteries to be a pain. I camp seasonally in NY and have a site with shore power for the season. To me the deep cycle batteries are a pain - constantly monitoring the water level, and then during the off season I have to occasionally check and or charge the battery or else they go bad. I was considering an AGM battery. Any thoughts?
I handle all the maintenance on my own and am trying to make life easier so I can enjoy the season. Thank you.

ducksface · 09-04-2023, 10:30 PM

100 best battery threads.

Best is relative.
$2,000 is a good start toward lithium.

Scubawise · 09-04-2023, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducksface

100 best battery threads.

Best is relative.
$2,000 is a good start toward lithium.

Amen

**16ACE27** · 09-04-2023, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreinig

Hello everyone!
This is a rookie question but I value your opinions. For my 2018 Four winds 28Z - not that it has relevance - what is the best way to go for the house battery? I have found the standard 12v deep cycle batteries to be a pain. I camp seasonally in NY and have a site with shore power for the season. To me the deep cycle batteries are a pain - constantly monitoring the water level, and then during the off season I have to occasionally check and or charge the battery or else they go bad. I was considering an AGM battery. Any thoughts?
I handle all the maintenance on my own and am trying to make life easier so I can enjoy the season. Thank you.

So if you park the RV at the seasonal site for the season with SP always available and never "dry camp" you can get by with the smallest/cheapest AGM battery you can find. That would be best in your case.

Dreinig · 09-05-2023, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

So if you park the RV at the seasonal site for the season with SP always available and never "dry camp" you can get by with the smallest/cheapest AGM battery you can find. That would be best in your case.

I don’t have shore power during the off-season, but I also am not camping so I usually remove the batteries and bring them home to store where they are dry and controlled temp. This is my first rv so I found out about the batteries needing water by experience. Reminds me of the old days of car batteries. I know the AGM are more expensive, but I don’t think I need top of the line since I am camping weekends for 6 months of the year. Occasionally I’ll go up after season for the day. I bought this for my husband but didn’t realize that meant I’d be doing all the maintenance. I bought a trickle charger for the engine battery so that stays charged when I miss a weekend or two.

Lt Keefer · 09-05-2023, 12:53 AM

I went AGM last time I needed batteries and have not looked back. No water level worries and no off gassing to corrode the terminals. All for a couple hundred bucks. Win win to me.

Dreinig · 09-05-2023, 12:57 AM

Thank you I think it is the right move for me as well. Between maintenance and replacing it’ll save me money in the long run. I am looking at the Battle Born batteries to start with.

TheGoodLife · 09-05-2023, 01:29 AM

AGM works great for us.

Lt Keefer · 09-05-2023, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreinig

Thank you I think it is the right move for me as well. Between maintenance and replacing it’ll save me money in the long run. I am looking at the Battle Born batteries to start with.

I thought all BB batteries were lithium. I also thought that lithium batteries require a new converter for charging. I do know that a thousand bucks for a battery for a seasonal camper is too much money.

**16ACE27** · 09-05-2023, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreinig

Thank you I think it is the right move for me as well. Between maintenance and replacing it’ll save me money in the long run. I am looking at the Battle Born batteries to start with.

Battle Born makes Lithium batteries, not AGM. A lithium battery will require a converter/charger change as well, at a minimum. Other changes may also be required.

**EA37TS** · 09-05-2023, 12:29 PM

Since you are in NY and say it is used seasonally I wouldn’t waste the money on Lithium. Lithium batteries don’t like cold weather and a heating pack might be necessary.

Save the money and go with AGM and add a 100 w solar panel and controller for charging. No maintenance required.

cgeace29.3 · 09-09-2023, 07:50 PM

I bought my 2016 ace in January 2020, the dealer installed new house interstate batteries I check the water level every month I have yet had to add any water.
We camp about 10 times a season from 5 night trips to 2 week trips.
From my experience it wouldn’t be worth the extra expense.

TheGoodLife · 09-09-2023, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgeace29.3

I bought my 2016 ace in January 2020, the dealer installed new house interstate batteries I check the water level every month I have yet had to add any water.
We camp about 10 times a season from 5 night trips to 2 week trips.
From my experience it wouldn’t be worth the extra expense.

Our two house batteries are situated under the steps such that one has to be removed to access half of the fill caps on the other. That of course is no good in the case of FLA batteries, so we went with AGM once the OEM batteries went toes up (which only took about 18 months).

Alaska · 09-09-2023, 09:05 PM

Best as in performance and price

**EA37TS** · 09-09-2023, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alaska

Best as in performance and price

Google best AGM battery and read to your heart’s content.

Alaska · 09-09-2023, 11:05 PM

Thanks, not looking for what Goggle has been paid to say.
Looking for REAL life reviews from RVers that have purchased and used

Dreinig · 09-09-2023, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGoodLife

Our two house batteries are situated under the steps such that one has to be removed to access half of the fill caps on the other. That of course is no good in the case of FLA batteries, so we went with AGM once the OEM batteries went toes up (which only took about 18 months).

Thanks - yes mine under steps as well. You do have to remove to fill and on my unit the battery box is so tight you risk tripping the main circuit every time you remove the terminals to take it out. I’ve gone through two batteries in 4 years even maintaining and bringing them home off season. I think I’ll go with an AGM and save myself the aggravation.

TheGoodLife · 09-09-2023, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alaska

Thanks, not looking for what Goggle has been paid to say.
Looking for REAL life reviews from RVers that have purchased and used

We’re using two Renogy 100ah AGM batteries, so far so good.

**16ACE27** · 09-10-2023, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alaska

Best as in performance and price

Several members here have installed the VMAX AGM batteries in their RVs and have been very pleased with them:

https://www.vmaxtanks.com/AGM-Batteries_c_21.html

macdaddy1111 · 09-10-2023, 02:48 AM

Lithium battery and new bmi!

100 ah battery for 300 dollars and Lithium bmi for 160ish and you are set! Replaces 200 amp hours of lead based batteries. It has low temp cut off!
I have replaced so many crappy lead batteries! I have upgraded dozens of RVs to this basic setup! Everyone is happy and then they get addicted to the juice and want more!

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