Battery selection has a lot to do with how you will be using your coach. If
you travel from RV park to RV park and are usually connected to shore power
when not on the road AGM may be a good choice. AGM (and GEL) offer the
advantage of not needing watering, will not spill, have a lower self
discharge rate, and have a more efficient charge/discharge cycle. Their
downside is that AGM batteries are more expensive, only tolerate light
cycling, have about 15% to 20% less capacity, and contrary to what salesmen
tell you have a shorter life than flooded lead acid that are properly
maintained. In a general sense longer life for AGM or GEL is true because
most folks do not think about their batteries until they give them problems.
If you are going to use a Gel or AGM battery make sure you have a charger
that you can control. You will really shorten the life of these batteries
if they are subjected to an "equalizing" charge rate.
If you will be dry camping and deep cycling your batteries a GEL battery is
much more suitable. If you perform regular inspection and maintenance on
your batteries you will experience longer life and lower cost from a good
quality flooded lead acid battery. With any of these batteries you do not
want to charge them at more than about 15% of their 20hr discharge rate. In
our coach I have four T105 batteries. Their maximum charge rate would be 54
amps so I use a 60 amp charger that way if I connect the coach to power with
no DC devices turned on I am within their charging tolerance.
Bottom line is there is no choice that is right for everyone. As always it
depends....
- Chuck Wheeler -
82 FC 31 SB
Fort Worth, TX
_____
From:
WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Eric Johnson
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 7:56 AM
To:
WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: 4 Battery plastic tray
Kerry,
Consider replacing your conventional lead/acid batteries with Concorde or
other AGM.
They're not cheap but, significantly outlast lead/acid and you no longer
have to contend
with checking levels and dealing with acid corrosion on the tray.
I tried a lot of different fixes, i.e., acid resistant rubber liner, updated
Xantrex smart
charger, battery filling systems, but still experienced relatively short
battery life (2 years),
low cell levels, corrosion. Concorde batteries solved it all!
Eric in San Antonio
84FC35SBWL2
--- In WanderlodgeForum@
yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards"
wrote:
>
> Anyone know where to buy a 4 battery plastic tray? Now that I've replaced
my power
steering
> hoses, the battery tray will no longer have its continual oiling
protecting it from battery
acid.
> Some time ago, I saw a four battery plastic tray on Ebay that would fit
nicely under those
4
> batteries. I should have bought it because I can't seem to find any for
sale by googling.
> Anyone have any idea where a person might purchase a 4 battery plastic
tray to put
under
> the batteries?
>
> Kerry
> 82 Fc 35
> Denver
>
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