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High Tech House Battery Replacement

As many of you know, I have had house battery issues.  I have resolved this matter, and recently received delivery of 3 North Star 210's from Energy 1 Batteries in Portsmouth VA.  These batteries are unique in that their output is the same as 8 D's, but they weigh 25% less and are 40% smaller, mainly in width.  Their dimensions are approximately 5" wide, 10" high and 20" long.  Therefore, for those of you who do a lot of dry camping, you could  double your battery capacity due to the fact that you could put 2 North Stars in the place of 1 8D.  I have had several conversations with Harris at Energy 1 Batteries, and he has offered to extend special pricing to members of this forum.  The pricing will depend on where in the country you are, if he has a distributor in that area, etc, etc.    Harris is extremely knowledgeable and very helpful.  I would urge anyone who needs to replace the house batteries to contact Harris and consider these high tech batteries.  They are 100% made in the USA.  More information is available at AGM batteries, Marine Batteries, Heavy Duty Batteries, dry cell batteries.  His phone number is 1-757-673-7200.  I know Harris will be out of the office until Monday. 

Gregory
2003 Designer

Re: High Tech House Battery Replacement

Reply #1 –
Greg, thanks for the info. I understand if you don't wish to give prices but generally how does the price compare to a standard 1400 CCM, AGM battery? How does the life cycle compare?
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: High Tech House Battery Replacement

Reply #2 –
Kent, prices are extremely competitive with other AGM's.  This battery's biggest advantage, in my opinion, is its state of the art technology as well as its higher power output in a very compact size.  Information is available on the website I posted, but as I recall it can be discharged to 50% of power 800 times. 

Gregory S
2003 Designer

Re: High Tech House Battery Replacement

Reply #3 –
Spec sheets:
http://www.aztecelectronics.co.za/NSB%20M12-420%20Specs.pdf
http://www.energy1batteries.com/Tech%20Papers/NSB210FT_Specs.pdf
NorthStar Specifications and Performance Tables

One price found:
Northstar NSB M12-210 Battery | Northstar 8D Replacement AGM Performance Battery

Specs look good - I will have to take some measurements, but if I could get 3 where I now have 2 with good pricing I would go for it. I'm lucky as they have multiple distributors in FL I could drive to in a couple of hours.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: High Tech House Battery Replacement

Reply #4 –
Here's an email complaint in '09:

Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:52:12 -0700

From: morris at novuscom.net

To: sentoa at lists.samurai.com
Subject: [Sentoa] AGM Batteries - A Cautionary Tale

Message-ID: <20090623085212.ulutifsgg0cws08c at webmail.novusnow.ca>
Four very expensive Northstar NSB M12-210 AGM Batteries have died 
after only one season of operation as my house bank.
I set my Xantrex MS2000 Pure Sine Wave Inverter/Charger to AGM mode 
thinking that I would be OK.  It turns out that the Xantrex supplied 
13.45v on float all winter, and these batteries require 13.62v.  When 
the Northstar rep denied me a warranty replacement, he said that my 
float voltage was  WAY LOW, and that it was my fault I had ruined the 
battery.  Sulfation is not covered by the warranty.
It turns out that these units are extremely susceptible to sulfation. 

In fact, Boat Electric in Seattle (not the company that supplied my 
batteries) strongly recommend using a Nanopulser unit to shake the 
sulfation off as you go along.

The Lifeline AGM batteries that I used for starting and bow thruster 
are OK.  Guess I will switch my house bank to Lifelines, which are the 
units that Nordic Tug have decided to use on new boats.
Happy Tuggin'

Jeff Morris

NT 37-144 Adventure-Us

Vancouver Canada
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: High Tech House Battery Replacement

Reply #5 –
After talking with my battery engineers/supplier, they feel as I about the .17 Volt DC low causing the issue refuaing warranty due to sulfation a horse hockey excuse.

Makes me more and more glad I went with the Gels, I was not aware of the sulfation issue with the AGM.  Just like the lead acid in that respect, so what is the great about AGM?  :(

As I have felt, Concerning batteries, there are many opinions and little facts.
Of course, I am opinionated.  ;D

Re: High Tech House Battery Replacement

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Dave M –
As I have felt, Concerning batteries, there are many opinions and little facts.
Of course, I am opinionated.  ;D
Yes Dave...in my opinion you are opinionated...but I agree with you on the GEL technology...IMHO... :-X
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: High Tech House Battery Replacement

Reply #7 –
Well more fuel for the issue, Energy1 is a branch of Western Branch Diesel The Detroit Diesel Dist. in Va, and per Northstar Battery info, that battery is to be maintained at 13.50 VDC and has a shelf life of 2 years.  Now since it was maintained at 13.45 instead of the 13.50 VDC, makes me feel stronger about the Horse Hockey (BS) comment earlier.
That is one way to have no warranty claims, just refuse everyone / everything.
Still glad I went for the Gel setup.  Down on AGMs for me :o
As usual FWIW

Re: High Tech House Battery Replacement

Reply #8 –
Reason I choose gel cell technology:
 
Source Reference:  http://www.dekabatteries.com/assets/base/0139.pdf
 
Does depth of discharge affect cycle life?
Yes! The harder any battery has to work, the sooner it will fail.
* You may experience longer or shorter life based upon application, charging regimen,
temperature, rest periods, type of equipment, age of battery, etc.

Typical* VRLA Battery Cycling Ability vs. Depth of Discharge
                                                                  Typical Life Cycles
Capacity Withdrawn                          Gel                          AGM
100%                                                    450                        150
80%                                                        600                        200
50%                                                        1000                      370
25%                                                        2100                      925
10%                                                        5700                      3100
 
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: High Tech House Battery Replacement

Reply #9 –
This page:
.: Battery Specifications : Energy 1
says the NSB210FT's capacity is 185 amp-hrs. A Lifeline GPL-8DL capacity is 255 amp-hrs. This does not appear to suggest I could double "capacity" (amp-hrs) with two NSB210FT's for every Lifeline GPL-8DL. It looks like its more like 370/255 = 1.45 not 2.


best, paul

Quote
As many of you know, I have had house battery issues. I have resolved this matter, and recently received delivery of 3 North Star 210's from Energy 1 Batteries in Portsmouth VA. These batteries are unique in that their output is the same as 8 D's, but they weigh 25% less and are 40% smaller, mainly in width. Their dimensions are approximately 5" wide, 10" high and 20" long. Therefore, for those of you who do a lot of dry camping, you could double your battery capacity due to the fact that you could put 2 North Stars in the place of 1 8D.
1999 U320 40' 1200 watts on roof. 12cf AC/DC Cold plate fridge/freezer. VMS 240 CL Honda Element

Re: High Tech House Battery Replacement

Reply #10 –
Hi Dave M,
  That Horse Hockey saying must be a Virginia deal! My Dad used it quite frequently. He was born, and raised in Virginia. Have not heard it much lately. Just when I'm letting my son know it's a HH, or BS story.

Raymond
Raymond & Babette Jordan
1997 U 320
1998 Ford Explorer XLT