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Topic: Pretty Good Price on AGM8D? (Read 1020 times) previous topic - next topic

Pretty Good Price on AGM8D?

My recent project to replace the "dumb" charger/inverter with a "smart" unit has gotten more expensive.  It's the "one thing leads to another" syndrome.  After pulling all the cables off my house batteries, I got a chance to test the 2 individual "no-name" flooded 8Ds that came with my coach.  These were installed by the PO in Sept, 2010.  One showed 4 volts, the other 5 volts.  On load test the needle dropped to dead zero.  This is after sitting in my driveway for several weeks, plugged in to 50 amp, with the old "dumb" charger feeding them 14+ volts whether they needed it of not.

Went looking for some new AGM 8Ds (I DEFINITELY want to avoid ANY battery that requires "watering").  Thanks to a fairly recent post by Kent Speers, I was aware that O'Reilly sells a AGM8D built by East Penn.  Checked their price, and it looked pretty good:

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/SSBL/AGM8D/N2493.oap?ck=Search_N2493_-1_-1&pt=N2493&ppt=C2389s

Went by the local O'Reilly store today - talked to the manager.  Told him my situation - he said if I bring my coach to the store, he'll have 2 of his guys pull the old batteries out of my coach and slide the new ones in, thus saving me a broken back.  Put in my order and will pick them up Friday.  The new batteries + my new smart charger/inverter should put my "house power" in good shape for the foreseeable future.  Thanks to Kent for the tip!

PS: My second choice (next lowest locally available price) if O'Reilly hadn't panned out was NAPA:

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx/Battery-Commercial-BCI-8D-NAPA-Batteries/_/R-NBE9275_0386175609
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Pretty Good Price on AGM8D?

Reply #1 –
Clean up your positive cables and get some red electrical tape wrapped around them before you do the swap!!!!  And just for kicks, take pics before starting too!!!

And I am very happy with my East Penn (Deka) AGM 8D batteries.
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Pretty Good Price on AGM8D?

Reply #2 –
Chuck,

Thanks for leads on batteries. I was just going through this as we speak.  Big help.  Would not have thought of these two outlets.

David
David West
2001 U320 40'

Re: Pretty Good Price on AGM8D?

Reply #3 –
See if you have any local battery outlets also. I bought my Deka AGM's at a local outlet a few miles down the road for less than $400 a piece.

Mark
The selected media item is not currently available.
Mark and Tanya
Milton , Florida
US Navy Veteran (DV)
1999 U270 Special 40' CAI , 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

Re: Pretty Good Price on AGM8D?

Reply #4 –
Mark,

I'm sure living anywhere in Florida, with the large resident and transient RV population, you have access to many more sources of anything for your coach.  Some of us are not so fortunate.  I checked any and all battery sources in a 100-mile radius, and nobody could beat the O'Reilly price.

Another plus for O'Reilly: in the unlikely event of a problem, their 1-year warranty is good nationwide at any company store.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Pretty Good Price on AGM8D?

Reply #5 –
I'm still waiting for the source of the $376 8G8D batteries that was reported last week by someone here.  That would be a hellova deal.
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: Pretty Good Price on AGM8D?

Reply #6 –
Chuck, the link you posted for the O'Reilly battery shows water caps, although the description says AGM. Please let us know what you actually find. I'm going to replace my two house batteries fairly soon, too.

Re: Pretty Good Price on AGM8D?

Reply #7 –
The picture I see on the Orileys ad shows the valve regulated caps.
The selected media item is not currently available.Bill&Doris 97 U270 36'
University of Parris Island Class of 66
Semper Fi  Build# 5174 MC#17094

Re: Pretty Good Price on AGM8D?

Reply #8 –
I noticed the same thing
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Pretty Good Price on AGM8D?

Reply #9 –
I think Foretravel switched to gels at a certain point.  And red tops for engine start?

I went back to what was installed in mine in feb 1997.

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: Pretty Good Price on AGM8D?

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Caflashbob –
I think Foretravel switched to gels at a certain point.  And red tops for engine start?

I went back to what was installed in mine in feb 1997.

Bob
In 2002, it was 2 Gel house batteries and 3 Optima YellowTops from the factory in my U270.  (Yellowtops are still there and starting without a boost.  My Trik-l-start must still be working.)
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: Pretty Good Price on AGM8D?

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Brad & Christine Slaughter –
In 2002, it was 2 Gel house batteries and 3 Optima YellowTops from the factory in my U270. 

And in 2003 we had 3 gel house and 3 Optima BlueTops for starting in our U320.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Pretty Good Price on AGM8D?

Reply #12 –
Regarding the Oreilly batteries, I checked with East Penn and gave them the part number for the Oreilly 8Ds before I bought them in December 2013. They confirmed that they were AGM deep cycle batteries made by East Penn and were of equal quality to the East Penn brand batteries. I have had mine for several months and been very satisfied with them. They do have caps but are supposed to be spill free. Since I don't plan for them to be upside down I don't plan to check that claim.
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: Pretty Good Price on AGM8D?

Reply #13 –
"Since I don't plan for them to be upside down I don't plan to check that claim." Don't you like inverted driving? <grin>

Re: Pretty Good Price on AGM8D?

Reply #14 –
My Daddy always said "Greasy Side Down, Shiny Side Up". He also said "Do As I Say, Not As I Do".

Sometimes he was a pretty smart guy.
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: Pretty Good Price on AGM8D?

Reply #15 –
The 'caps' on East Penn AGM / GELL, like the popular MK label, are free turning covers over pressure relief valves for each cell. AGM & GELL are pressurized and if any pressure is lost due to opening valve or over voltage charging, the pressure cannot be replaced and the battery is toast. All AGM & GELL of any brand have pressure relief valves.

Re: Pretty Good Price on AGM8D?

Reply #16 –
Picked up my new O'Reilly AGM batteries today.  They are exactly "as advertised".  Photos below:
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Pretty Good Price on AGM8D?

Reply #17 –
Those look exactly like the "Power House" brand batteries that I just replaced. Ridge patterns on the body look the same.

My batteries were about six years old and served us well during the four years we've owned the coach. It appeared that one failed with some kind of internal short and took one of the parallel batteries with it before I noticed that the batteries were drawing too much current when they should have been floating.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX