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Topic: Opinions on batteries (Read 1666 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Opinions on batteries

Reply #25 –
Quote from: Old Toolmaker –
Is there any other kind Wolfe?

Ya, sadly a lot of STUPID ones out there!

Stupid= one voltage is right for every situation (deeply discharge same as fully charged) and one voltage is right for 0 degrees F and 100 degrees F).
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Opinions on batteries

Reply #26 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Ya, sadly a lot of STUPID ones out there!

Stupid= one voltage is right for every situation (deeply discharge same as fully charged) and one voltage is right for 0 degrees F and 100 degrees F).

My 1973 Winnebago, bought new, had a harmonically regulated power converter that did a great job of boiling batteries.

The 1986 Rockwood, 13 years newer ditto.  That's when I learned all I know about lead acid technology, and the PD 9260 I purchased after some calculation and much luck served us well for 8 years.

*I think* I took out the dash mounted radio after forgetting that I had my Schauer dumb charger connected to the chassis battery.

When people are replacing chassis batteries after only a couple of years I have to ask why?  Granted that the PD 9100/9200 series are bare bones but they do the job.  Progressive Dynamics even offers a 9200L for Lithium batteries.
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

Re: Opinions on batteries

Reply #27 –
Did a 2003 U295 come from the factory with group 34 Optima's red tops? taking measurements of the battery tray it appears to be 13" wide, like it would accept group 31 battery's, in my particular battery tray it has wood on the sides and ends for a perfect fit for the group 34 Optima's, I'm thinking of swapping to a group 31 maintenance free battery if they will fit, I don't feel the Optima's are worth the money. I have a good battery charger it just wasn't hard mounted to the coach and I have been moving it around to my other vehicles it look like I need to install a permanent Battery maintainer / charger. AND (I need to thin the herd I have to many toy's to maintain) Thanks for the info. Mike
Mike & Donna Mariana + Angel & Rusty
2003 U295 3620
Build# 6118
2021 Jeep Wrangler 392

Re: Opinions on batteries

Reply #28 –
At the moment I have roughly 11 items that stay on tender/maintainers when parked....champagne problem my wife calls it. All but 2 are using Odyssey brand AGM. I average 8-14 years of life on those cranking batteries. I have a yellow top in our U295. Should ours ever go, I will update it to Odyssey as well. With exception of 1 battery in 20 years that went bad at about 18 months (they replaced it free of charge) , I myself have just had outstanding performance out of all of them I have purchased.
Mike in AL
2001 U295
8.3 ISC 350
Build 5918

Re: Opinions on batteries

Reply #29 –
mkc1962 Thanks for the info on Odyssey batteries, have you purchased any lately? Say maybe in the last 3 years? and what maintainers / tenders are you running if you don't mind me asking? I looked at the Odyssey's I just don't have any experience with them are you running the normal Odyssey's or the extremes?
Mike & Donna Mariana + Angel & Rusty
2003 U295 3620
Build# 6118
2021 Jeep Wrangler 392

Re: Opinions on batteries

Reply #30 –
Quote from: mkc1962 –
At the moment I have roughly 11 items that stay on tender/maintainers when parked....champagne problem my wife calls it. All but 2 are using Odyssey brand AGM. I average 8-14 years of life on those cranking batteries. I have a yellow top in our U295. Should ours ever go, I will update it to Odyssey as well. With exception of 1 battery in 20 years that went bad at about 18 months (they replaced it free of charge) , I myself have just had outstanding performance out of all of them I have purchased.
X2
They make a outstanding product. And they command a appropriate price. Yes you get what you pay for

Re: Opinions on batteries

Reply #31 –
Quote from: zmpm01 –
Did a 2003 U295 come from the factory with group 34 Optima's red tops?
According to the spec sheet ( Foretravel Motorhome 2003 Specifications Brochures & Photos [ForeForums... ), it came with Engine batteries: Optima D34 Deep Cycle (3).

My 2003 U320 has 3 x D31 batteries in it's tray.
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: Opinions on batteries

Reply #32 –
Quote from: zmpm01 –
mkc1962 Thanks for the info on Odyssey batteries, have you purchased any lately? Say maybe in the last 3 years? and what maintainers / tenders are you running if you don't mind me asking? I looked at the Odyssey's I just don't have any experience with them are you running the normal Odyssey's or the extremes?

Mike,
Ive bought 2 in the last 2 years. As for the maintainers, I have used the Deltran Battery tender brand for decades. Most of them are the 750ma tender Jr. I think they are not quite the quality they once were and are possible not even made here anymore, no shock on that. I usually get about 5 years of service out of a tender before it goes into a mode that it is still a great charger but the maintain circuit fails. I have a Tender Jr on my  bank of 2 Optima Yellow tops in my RV right now and it takes care of keeping them topped just fine.
 
Now Odyssey would have you believe they will not work on any AGM Odyssey battery. and that you Must purchase their special AGM maintainer.  But I have had every odyssey ive ever owned  since I discovered Odyssey back in 2000 when they were owned by Hawker electronics, On deltran or similar maintainers. I used to go with the bit pricier 1.5a models, but found the 750ma do the job just fine. ( I buy them in bulk every few years when I loose a few) I have only had the 1 ODY failure, and I think that was due to the fact that it was dropped when I had recieved it, not leaking but dented. Oddly enough about 18m into owning it would not charge above 10. They shipped me a new one no questions asked.

I will say this.....I have yet to buy a group 31 or 34 large battery like our RV's use, but I have bought many for full size vehicles (350chevy, 302 ford,), 850CCA range, (3.2 porsche, 3.6 GM) a few boats with V6/V8, and lost count of the Motorcycle batteries I have and have had. I have a small 200cca I Pulled out of a bike 2 years when it was 10 years old, new one in the bike as had a long trip planned and put it as the crank battery for my Generac entire home gen. 12 years old now every sat Morn at ten it test runs just fine.

As for  price, when they first came out and were owned by Hawker, you could expect to pay double for just about any battery they ofered. Now a day higher yes, but not that much. I replaced my porsche battery last year. Huge 80lb monster to replace would have been about $200 plus, same ability, much smaller, about 27 lbs $250. And they alwasy ship for free. not that I need any at the moment but most RV batteries I have seen have a tacked on hefty shipping per battery fee. Never paid a shipping fee on an Ody yet.
Odyssey Group 31 or 34  priced around $450+.

Ive been sold on them for a long time. And as Scott stated, cost more but you get what you pay for. Most of mine are the std, but every one I have bought in the past 5 years has had the word extreme on the label,. and though all Odyssey batteries are deep cycle rated, I have never bought one that I would call a coach type Deep cycle, only Cranking batteries.
Mike in AL
2001 U295
8.3 ISC 350
Build 5918

Re: Opinions on batteries

Reply #33 –
Thanks' Mike for the reply and all the info. It is appreciated!
Mike & Donna Mariana + Angel & Rusty
2003 U295 3620
Build# 6118
2021 Jeep Wrangler 392

Re: Opinions on batteries

Reply #34 –
Quote from: WS6_Keith –
According to the spec sheet (Foretravel Motorhome 2003 U295 Specifications | All Things Foretravel), it came with Engine batteries: Optima D34 Deep Cycle (3).

My 2003 U320 has 3 x D31 batteries in it's tray.

Keith, has there been any modifications done to your battery tray to accept the group 31's? I thought group 34's were the only thing that would fit in my 2003 battery tray.... It's looking like it's about time for start batteries for me and I would like to change to group 31 if no modifications are needed..

Keith
The selected media item is not currently available.Keith & Jo
2003 U320T 4025 PBBS Designer series
Build 6203    Cummins 500hp
2000 U320 4010 WTFE / Build 5762 —Sold—
Motorcade #18070   
Pasadena, Texas
2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara-Sunset Orange pearl coat
Don't argue with a fool, people watching might not be able to tell the difference.

Re: Opinions on batteries

Reply #35 –
I am in the middle of switching to group 31s. Here are a couple photos of our 2004. I too had pieces of wood on the sides to block off for smaller width batteries that I removed.  No problems accommodating 31s.
Someone had done a rough job of cutting out the front of the rack to accommodate more depth on prior batteries. I cleaned it up a bit and put a couple of coats of POR15.
Bruce & Linda
2004 U295, Build # 6268, ISL400 CAPS
2016 Ford Explorer Sport or 1985 Jeep CJ7

Re: Opinions on batteries

Reply #36 –
Quote from: bpal –
I am in the middle of switching to group 31s. Here are a couple photos of our 2004. I too had pieces of wood on the sides to block off for smaller width batteries that I removed.  No problems accommodating 31s.
Someone had done a rough job of cutting out the front of the rack to accommodate more depth on prior batteries. I cleaned it up a bit and put a couple of coats of POR15.

I wish my batteries were located there, it would be a lot easier change or modify the batteries. Unfortunately with a tag axle they are in a different location, a location that warrants the engineer that designed it to be taken out behind the wood shed and worked over with a big stick.... I see WS6_Keith has a '03 tag coach like mine and hopefully he can report the same as you.


Keith
The selected media item is not currently available.Keith & Jo
2003 U320T 4025 PBBS Designer series
Build 6203    Cummins 500hp
2000 U320 4010 WTFE / Build 5762 —Sold—
Motorcade #18070   
Pasadena, Texas
2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara-Sunset Orange pearl coat
Don't argue with a fool, people watching might not be able to tell the difference.

Re: Opinions on batteries

Reply #37 –
Keith, are your batteries on the drivers's side, behind the tag, accessible from the rear most louvered door for the A/C condenser?  If so, it looks like they may have had a different position for U320 batteries like ours, vs U295 batteries (Group 34's from the spec sheet).

Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: Opinions on batteries

Reply #38 –
Since we're on the subject, here's a great writeup on proper connection to the battery stud:
Battery Melt Down Narrowly Averted - Marine How To
Bruce & Linda
2004 U295, Build # 6268, ISL400 CAPS
2016 Ford Explorer Sport or 1985 Jeep CJ7
 

Re: Opinions on batteries

Reply #39 –
When I installed the 3 group 31 batteries, I had to weld up another rack for them as the 31s are a couple of inches longer than the 34 series. Painted backerboard lines the bottom of the rack. I was able to use the OEM cables as the width of the batteries is the same so no changes were needed. Small tabs were welded on to the new rack so it can be bolted to the old rack. I used 316 stainless for the hardware.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)