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Topic: Starting Battery Replacement (Read 2047 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Starting Battery Replacement

Reply #25 –
Hi Brad;

For what it's worth, James T. (when I asked before replacing my Optima Red-Tops) suggested sticking with Red Tops. Mine were over 8-years old when the facility doing the front-end repairs ran them down to 5.3v. I recovered two of the three, but decided to replace all three with new Red-Tops. Everyone has an opinion on Optima Batteries, but I've had stupendously better service from them than any other battery I've owned. They're now in three of four vehicles we own.
Chad & Judy
'98 U320 - Build #5315
Motorcade 16317
Wickenburg, AZ

Re: Starting Battery Replacement

Reply #26 –
Quote from: P. Wyatt Sabourin –

My M11 actually cranks faster than it did using three red top start batteries. The voltage at the starter confirms this because it is now 0.75 volts higher.

4000 cca's versus 2400 roughly can't hurt the starting.  My fresh redtops start my m11 redtop quickly.



"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: Starting Battery Replacement

Reply #27 –
Quote from: Chad and Judy –
Everyone has an opinion on Optima Batteries, but I've had stupendously better service from them than any other battery I've owned. They're now in three of four vehicles we own.

Same thing killed two of the three redtops I had.  I had a 20 amp+  automatic trickle charger installed at the isolater block to auto charge the engine battery's from the house side whenever a charge is detected. I have a 130 watt solar panel  and the coach is outside so this should work. Boost switch is still there seperately.
"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: Starting Battery Replacement

Reply #28 –
Quote from: Chad and Judy –
Hi Brad;

For what it's worth, James T. (when I asked before replacing my Optima Red-Tops) suggested sticking with Red Tops.
I wonder if that recommendation changes with the addition of the additional electronics in the 2000-on coaches with slides?  Since the Red tops used to be the OEM, and Foretravel apparently evolved to Yellow Tops and even Blue Tops in subsequent years...and those are each at least 10% more expensive than the Red Tops for FT to purchase...  The Optima description seemed to be specifically concerned with electronics when it described choosing yellow or blue.

I do think that my next auto batteries will be Optima Red Tops.  Incredible performance, well over 2 times what we get from Exide here in the desert!
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: Starting Battery Replacement

Reply #29 –
I have never thought about replacing the engine battery's before they started to give me a reason to. I keep them and there leads clean and tight,I even have desulfators on the engine and house battery's. I have only used the boost to start when it's very cold out. I look at our starting system as very redundant. I can start with the engine battery's ,or help them start with the house battery's ,or use the house battery's to start the gen and then charge the start battery's. If a engine battery has a dead short I can even disk connect the engine battery's and start only with the house battery's. Gam
joseph gambaro
1999 U295 36'

Re: Starting Battery Replacement

Reply #30 –
RE: The Optima description seemed to be specifically concerned with electronics when it described choosing yellow or blue.

I think that one of the things that differentiate Optima from other AGM batteries is their targeted marketing and various related claims.  They have starting batteries (thinner plates?), deep discharge batteries (thicker plates?) and dual purpose batteries. Starting battery of equal or higher cold cranking amps is probably the most important thing to compare when replacing starting batteries. Generally batteries with more amps have more lead and weigh more, so battery weight can be another comparison factor. Most important is to be sure the batteries will fit in the space allowed, length, width AND height and that the terminals are in the same place and the same type.

Re: Starting Battery Replacement

Reply #31 –
I have 4 yellow tops as my starting batteries  and have been mentally dancing around this issue for a bit.  I must use the boost switch when starting my engine if it had not run in the last day or two. 

I see I will have to go through the Barry Beam battery course on his web site.

Questions:  Why do I have 4?  Have noticed that others here with the M11 Redtop use two or three.

Thanks again in advance for your thoughts.
                 
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320

Re: Starting Battery Replacement

Reply #32 –
We didn't have good luck with our two Optima red tops - got 2.5 years out of them and then they wouldn't start without the boost switch on, so recently replaced them with one East Penn Deka 8A8D AGM at the same time we replaced our two house batteries (also with Deka 8A8D AGM's).  Now the engine starts without boost!
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: Starting Battery Replacement

Reply #33 –
Best thing I dd was replace the ground stud and run a second cable directly to the starter and not thru the spliter box.  Coach turns over fast and no need for boost.
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: Starting Battery Replacement

Reply #34 –
Thanks, John,

I have three recent Yellow Top Optimas at the suggestion of FOT.  Where does the second cable to the starter from?  Probably a starter solonoid?  What is the splitter box?

And I hope your treatments turn out positive.  Six weeks is a long time.

Thanks.

Roger
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Starting Battery Replacement

Reply #35 –
Our new to us 2004 U270 3610 has Walmart Flooded batteries for the starting batteries. We will replace them with Optima batteries. The question is should we replace them now or wait until they go bad. Thanks.
Larry
Larry and Terry
Ex 2004 U270 36'

Re: Starting Battery Replacement

Reply #36 –
Your choice, consider the options,
1- Wait until your stuck in a bad place, then try to get new batteries.
2- Replace at your connivence while you control the easy outcome

Are you a lucky person, as your leaning on luck if you go with option 1

Do what makes you happy

Re: Starting Battery Replacement

Reply #37 –
Sounds like you do not have your start batteries under charge with something like Trik-L-Start, because you find it harder to start after a few days. And only smaller engine coaches came with 2 start batteries.

Re: Starting Battery Replacement

Reply #38 –
Quote from: LTG –
Our new to us 2004 U270 3610 has Walmart Flooded batteries for the starting batteries. We will replace them with Optima batteries. The question is should we replace them now or wait until they go bad. Thanks.
Larry

Walmart batteries may not have the best reputation compared to others. Really cold weather with high current draw means a cell connector on marginal batteries may fail leaving you with the cell phone option. On the other hand, do a Google search for Optima battery quality control problems and you will find quite a few forums that discuss these batteries.

I replaced our start batteries when we bought our U300 with 3 Autozone Duralasts @<$100/ea. (Detroit 2 cycle engines use 3 starting batteries). They are 3 years old now and spin the Detroit like a top even in sub-freezing weather. I never have to use the "boost" switch.  Group 31 commercial batteries are also a good choice and will probably fit the stock rack but will need to be measured. They are extremely heavy for their size. Usually, battery weight is a good indication of quality.

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

Re: Starting Battery Replacement

Reply #39 –
My service old buddy used two different electronic battery testers.  Trick.  Showed 795 cca's on one recovered red tops and 620 and 720 respectively for the other two.  Out of 800.

He mentioned if I remember correctly the end ones working harder. He did say that was what he normally saw for wear.

I have to look and see if he rewired the engine start like the house where the positive comes off one battery and the negative off the opposite end of the string.

He did the house like that versus the oem's setup.  They took it off the middle I think. 

Bob
"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: Starting Battery Replacement

Reply #40 –
Have two  Autozone Duralasts  for start batteries like the ones Pierce has, and two  Deka 8A8D AGM house batteries like Dave has.  They are connected by a Trik-L-Start unit.  Have not had to use the boost switch since installing the Trik-L-Start!  They are being charged by a Progressive Dynamics 9270 70 amp power converter with  built-in Charge Wizard.  Combination seems to be working well for the past year, and is 100+% better than what the coach had when we brought it several years ago.
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Starting Battery Replacement

Reply #41 –
Replaced our 4 Optima Yellow tops with one East Penn Deka 8A8D AGM.  Per Dave K's suggestion.  Will also add the Ultra trik-l-start next week.  Will change the two Flooded house batteries in the near future so all of our battery technology will be the same (it is a real pain to check water solution in the house battery compartment- have to remove both slide-out trays and everything in them).  Getting ready for the solar jump. 
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320