Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: House batteries (Read 792 times) previous topic - next topic

House batteries

My nine year old 8D lifelines don't seem to be coming back to full charge like they should. At Lifelines direction going to do an equalizing charge on them and see what happens. Here is the question if replacement is required, Deka AGM,s 245 Ah $450.00 from Orileys or Lifeline,s at $650.00 plus. I know some folks here are using Deka,s.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: House batteries

Reply #1 –
Quote from: bbeane –
My nine year old 8D lifelines don't seem to be coming back to full charge like they should. At Lifelines direction going to do an equalizing charge on them and see what happens. Here is the question if replacement is required, Deka AGM,s 245 Ah $450.00 from Orileys or Lifeline,s at $650.00 plus. I know some folks here are using Deka,s.

Gels have roughly double the cycle life over AGM's
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: House batteries

Reply #2 –
Bruce I replaced mine this past summer using Dekas but they were Gel. Those batteries are big and heavy so I don't want to have to replace them any sooner than I have to. Nine years is pretty good service.
1995 U320 40', 2013 chevy sonic toad, my real love are corvettes have owned 30

Re: House batteries

Reply #3 –
I went with gells too. Deka is fine and gells have more cycles in them.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: House batteries

Reply #4 –
Quote from: John S –
I went with gells too. Deka is fine and gells have more cycles in them.

My guru buddy in Rv electrics only uses the deka  gels.
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: House batteries

Reply #5 –
I went with Gel's from Battery Plus when I replaced mine.  They are made by East Penn
and have stores all over the country.
Jimmy Freytag,  Ardmore, Ok
1999 36ft U320. — -SOLD—-
1988 40ft GV        1990 36ft U280
1993 40ft U280      1996 36ft U280
  TRAVEL WHILE YOU CAN THE TIME WILL COME
            WHEN YOU NO LONGER CAN.

Re: House batteries

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Caflashbob –
Gels have roughly double the cycle life over AGM's
Bob (or anyone):
 
What constitutes a "cycle"?
 
Is recharging after a short trip where you only discharged them to 95% a cycle?
 
Does it have to discharge to a certain (unknown) level before recharging would complete a cycle?
 
{I have a similar question about lithium-ion batteries, which definitely have a limited number of cycles, but I will save that question for another forum.}
 
If any recharge activity constitutes a cycle event, should we avoid keeping the charger ON all the time to extend the life of our batteries?
 
How about a trickle charger; does that create a cycle event everytime it is not in float mode?
 
So many questions, so little time.
 
Thanks for any information y'all can add to our body of knowledge,
 
Trent
Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: House batteries

Reply #7 –
Those are full deep discharge/recharge cycles. Lesser discharges count proportionally less. Best to keep it as charged up as you can.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: House batteries

Reply #8 –
I replaced my house batteries last year with Battery Giant gels ( made by DEKA).  They were original, not bad
2001-2013.  Hope I get the same use out of the new ones.

Ted
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing

Re: House batteries

Reply #9 –
We did figure out that my Harbor Freight motorcycle jack is invaluable in lifting the battery to the upper shelf in the center of the bay on a U320.

1500 lb. Capacity ATV/Motorcycle Lift

Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

The selected media item is not currently available.
 

Re: House batteries

Reply #10 –
The Lifelines where put in when we bought our coach 9 years ago and have never been below 12.10 volts, coach is eather plugged in or generator is on auto start. We'll see how they do with equalizing charge this weekend. What I'm reading gel' are a lot more sensitive of charging voltages especially from the engine alternator. Just wondering if anyone has changed from lifelines to dekas noticed any diminished performance realitave to the $700.00 plus price difference between the 2. So far any prices I have seen gels are a good bit higher priced.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country