I'm beginning research on replacement coach batteries.
I would like to add 4, 6V, L16 batteries to replace the 4, T145, 6V I now have.
Looking at different brands I came across a couple that I have not heard of. I would appreciate advice from any body that has experience with these brands.
CROWN BATTERIES - They make a wet cell L16 6v that produces over 400amp. hrs @ 20%
FULL RIVER - They make a AGM, L16, 6V, that produces over 400amp.hrs @20%
Opinions/experience, on these brands?
Handy Bob, an opinionated internet solar power resource, swears by Crown batteries.
HandyBob's Blog « Making off grid RV electrical systems work (https://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/)
I actually just purchased 6 Crown L16's (the sealed AGMs with 390 6V AHs), but they are still sitting in the shed for another 2 weeks. Wholesale solar currently has them on sale for about $100 cheaper each (after shipping) than anywhere else, but I would call the Crown factory in Ohio directly to see if I could get a better price if that's what you decided to go with. I'll let you know if a year or two if I like mine!
Other brands ...
Trojan
Rolls-Surrette
US Battery
Be sure to include shipping in your total cost if that if part of the decision process. And shop around. The same batteries are often available at widely different prices depending on who they are getting sold to. Golf cart users usually pay more than fork lift users for example. If you can find them local to you then shipping may be free.
DC battery specialists in Miami is pretty competative. I got 3 lifeline 8Ds delivered for less than any other source.
Keep in mind, if going to 6 L16's its far better to go with the 2v models so you have one bank, not multiple banks in a series parallel configuration.
This is the route I took five years ago and have been very satisfied with the results. I installed six Lifeline two volt batteries in place of the three original 8D twelve volt batteries. I have essentially the same amp hours but the 2 volt cells were much easier to handle by myself and, connected in series, they make up a single large battery.
If you are interested in going with the suggestion of 6 2v batteries, this is a pretty incredible deal. (http://www.batteriesasap.com/dc1150-2.html) Wish I hadn't recently bought new batteries.
I saw this mentioned casually elsewhere as well, and I did
a lot of internet / phone calling research on this specifically before I made the decision to go 6 x 6V L16 in a series+parallel arrangement. Needed L16s to maximize AHs without altering the battery compartment walls, and I really wanted to use the new Crown One AGM L16s, but they don't have a 2V L16 AGM model (yet?).
General consensus from those I spoke to was that a 2-in-series, 3-in-parallel system (2x3 system) would have more i's to dot and t's to cross, but at the end of the day you were still connecting the same number of batteries with the same total battery size/weight with the same length/number wires to achieve the same end voltage & bank size, and that either method is more or less the same. General consensus also was that if series¶llel must be used, 2x2 is preferred, 2x3 is OK, and 2x4 is not recommended (Although interestingly I also found out that most laptop batteries are in either a 4x2 or 2x4 arrangement.).
Primary danger is that a single bad cell in a series¶llel system causes significantly higher temperatures in the terminals/wires than a single bad cell in a series-only or parallel only system. Besides the inherent danger of these types of temps, this also would cause one bad cell to ruin other cells more quickly. BUT, this is not an overnight problem, as long as you are paying attention. I'll need to use beefier connectors and wires to compensate, and need to check the connection temperatures using an IR gun more often - but that's good practice anyway!
So, while RvTrvlr is definitely correct in general, hopefully in this instance there is more than one way to skin the cat, and I wanted to share.
(Also I want to give anyone who disagrees vehemently with any of that information the opportunity to do so, before I install this system in about 10 days!) If I'm wrong, and the batteries burn out after 2 years, I'll be sure to post about the CBs I burned here so nobody else does the same!
My installation is for 4 L16 batteries, not 6.
Yes sorry, that was a slightly off-topic response.
Because it's hit-or-miss to bench test still-in-service batteries, in my research I found that specific batteries are only declared "exceptional" once they are something like 9 years old and still in service! And by then those particular batteries may not be produced anymore. In addition, in our case, there is a relatively small percentage of the trailer/RV population who use L16s. So specific experience is very limited, and you're on the right track by looking for general manufacturer feedback.
Trojan T-105's are written about all over the internet and well-respected. You'll find some write-ups with negative connotations after manufacturing location changes, but the brand is also generally well-respected.
Based anecdotally on the overwhelming number of solar installers and internet retailers I encountered who sell them, I'd guess that Lifeline batteries are right near the top of currently most commonly installed AGMs for RVs/Trailers. I haven't seen much negative on Lifeline. I haven't read any overwhelming praise either - but with batteries the saying: No News Is Good News probably applies.
I personally went with Crown primarily because of Handy Bob's relentless recommendation, and I knew from calling that the batteries were shipped direct from the factory (so I wouldn't get a set that had been sitting around for a year or two already).
I didn't read much positive about US Battery, and I'm entirely unfamiliar with Full River or Rolls-Surrette. Some on the internet say go with the cheap-o brand and maybe you'll get lucky with extended life. Other say 'quality' batteries are cheaper in "per year" prices. I don't know what is right.... and I don't think there is necessarily a right answer (at least, not until 10 years from now when you can use hindsight). Probably the best thing to do is google each of those brands until you've read enough to be comfortable with your own decision and price point.