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house batteries

time to replace the house batteries, Is it really necessary to have 3 8D gel batteries. We do boon dock but not that much? Thanks Tom

Re: house batteries

Reply #1 –
Tom,

If your house batteries are in a closed container, regular lead acid batteries vent very explosive hydrogen that, in the right circumstances,  can cause a lot of damage. So the advantage here is to a sealed battery (s).

A good source of sealed house batteries may be found on Craigslist. I looked and in a very short time, found a great deal. If you are handy, they don't necessarily have to be 8Ds.

Pierce

Re: house batteries

Reply #2 –
In the "for-what-its-worth" dept, I just replaced all three 8G8D East Penn batteries that were "original" in my '98 U320. Mine were wearing the "MK" logo, but they could also be labeled Deka; maybe sold under some other names I 'm not aware of, but mfg by "East Penn". These American made Gel batteries lasted 15-years, and while there are undoubtedly cheaper ways to go, such as AGM, or even off-shore manufacturers, I figure I couldn't have done much better, and replaced with identical 8D8G East Penn batteries. Interestingly, we tested the "old" batteries, and one of the three was still at 80% of spec. As always, "results may vary". Good luck!

Re: house batteries

Reply #3 –
Batteries last longer with less % discharge before recharge. So if you are always plugged in, not a big deal. But if you noon dock at all you will deep cycle them more frequently, so they will not last as long as three that are cycled less deeply in average.

How's that for a mo answer answer! My  U-270 had two, U-320 has 3. When time comes I am going with three, and before long I walk add one or two where the propane is

Re: house batteries

Reply #4 –
 Chad, the cheaper way to go is not AGM as they are way more expensive than Gel. My Lifelines are around $600 each now in US and $800 here in Canada. I have 3 too.
JohnH

Re: house batteries

Reply #5 –
We have 2 8a8d wet cell house batteries.  There is room for 3.  Replaced 3 Yellow Top with one Dekka.  Will probably go with 2 Dekka/MK for the house batteries when the wet cells die - maybe 3.  Not sure if the bank is worth the buck.  Still learning.

On our recent Boondocking experience the state of charge of the house batteries did not go below 72%.  Ran genset 1 to 2 hours in the AM and the same in the PM.  Did not recharge to 100% - usually 90 +/-.

Re: house batteries

Reply #6 –
Two 8D8G GEL batteries can serve your well instead of three of the same, if you are not dry camping / boondocking very long at one time. We have boondocked several times for over 10 consecutive days with two 8D8G East Penn GELL house batteries. Did run gen in eve & morning.

Re: house batteries

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Carol & Scott –
We have 2 8a8d wet cell house batteries.  There is room for 3. 

I wouldn't have expected a 2002 U320 to have an accessible, well-vented house battery compartment - consider yourselves lucky!  All the '02 and '03 U320's we have been in contact with all had their house batteries hidden in the midline of the coach, behind a removable panel on one of the bay side walls.

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Re: house batteries

Reply #8 –
I too added a 4th battery. I can go a long time now and even have room for a fifth.  I would stay with three.  I had two on my 270 then went to three and the difference was pretty big. I added a fourth there too as I did not want to worry about power and this meant I could go all day and night on one charge easily. 

Re: house batteries

Reply #9 –
I'm surprised no one has changed out the 8D's for a bank of 6V golf cart batteries.  That is what I'm considering when replacing the 3 8D's.

Nixk

Re: house batteries

Reply #10 –
Be aware that golf cart batteries are about half an inch taller than 8D batteries so if your current batteries are in a battery box it'll probably require modification.

Re: house batteries

Reply #11 –
6-volt batteries have no special advantage, because they are 6 instead of 12 volts, other than being half the weight.

But using 6-volt batteries can have features that make them preferable like:

They come in a variety of heights, which means you can fit more amps in the same foot print, if there is head room.
There is a larger selection of deep cycle sizes, and some are designed for deeper cycling.

Only one-half of a 12-volt pair has to be replaced if a cell goes bad.

Re: house batteries

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Nick Cagle –
I'm surprised no one has changed out the 8D's for a bank of 6V golf cart batteries.  That is what I'm considering when replacing the 3 8D's.

Nixk

I put in 4 - 6V 145 (260 Amp hrs) wet cells = 520 amp hrs . Bought US Battery. I have had them for 3 yrs and still going strong. Have required very little maintenance ( I do keep my coach plugged in all year round).
With all the battery horror stories I have read about, accidental discharging of expensive batteries that never make it to the 10year life span because of a discharging accident. I don't worry too much about my house batteries. I found them locally from a seller on Craigs list that services Chicago area golf courses. I paid about $100 each for the batteries. If they die, they die. Out a few hundred bucks beats out a few thousand in my book. Great while they last. Easy to get at and not too heavy if you need to R&R them.
Costco has the smaller T105, 6V for under $100 each.
Maybe someday I can justify the additional expense of the AGM or Gell. In the mean time I have too many other projects that require expensive parts so I will put my resources in that direction for now.

Re: house batteries

Reply #13 –
Thanks for all the comments. We decided to go with 2 Deka gel 8D's and if we need the third we will put it in. Thanks Tom

Re: house batteries

Reply #14 –
Hi All,
  I saw AGM size 8D for $444.99 at the O'Riely auto parts store. It is their store brand. I have read here that most of these batteries are made by the same company in Pennsylvania. If there all the same, this seems to be a very good price. Anyone here use these batteries?
Thanks,
Raymond

Re: house batteries

Reply #15 –
As Pierce says check Craigslist: st louis 6-Deka promaster 6v, $450
Search; "golf cart batteries" ^.^d

hope these work for someone!

Re: house batteries

Reply #16 –
I bought a pair of 8D AGM batteries from O'Reilly's a month or so ago. Cost was just under $1000 for the pair installed. A couple of strong young guys did the work while I watched. Took them only a few minutes.

Re: house batteries

Reply #17 –
If you have a cell go bad in a 12 volt battery you can get rid of the battery with the bad cell and run on the other battery for the rest of its life and you'll still have 12 volts. If you have a bad cell in a 6 volt battery you'll have to replace the battery because you need both batteries to make 12 volts. In reality you'll probably need to replace both 6 volt batteries because pairing an older battery with a newer one is bad for the newer battery. I'd stay with 12 volt batteries because it doesn't take much to ruin a battery. Just the slightest contact of the plates and you've lost an expensive battery... or all of your coach batteries if they're connected in parallel... don't ask how I know this! haha

Re: house batteries

Reply #18 –
RE: Every year rotate the batteries position to equalize the load wears.

On each of our start & house battery banks, we have all the positive cables on one end, and all the negative cables on the other end of the parallel string. I would never thought this important, but have read that it is recommended to attempt to try to get parallel connected batteries to more equally share the load on the bank. In the end there is no way to force parallel batteries to equally share, they just do share if all things are equal with battery age, condition, temperature, cables, etc.

Re: house batteries

Reply #19 –
Quote from: Barry & Cindy –
RE: Every year rotate the batteries position to equalize the load wears.

On each of our start & house battery banks, we have all the positive cables on one end, and all the negative cables on the other end of the parallel string. I would never thought this important, but have read that it is recommended to attempt to try to get parallel connected batteries to more equally share the load on the bank. In the end there is no way to force parallel batteries to equally share, they just do share if all things are equal with battery age, condition, temperature, cables, etc.

End batteries take more load.  My guru buddy rotates normal installs yearly.

The best balanced setup would have exactly equal length cables from all terminals.  Attach the three positives to a single point and then take the current from that point.

My coach has cabling from the end batteries to a middle  one then draws from there.  House batteries. 

Engine are in a string.  May rework that one to match the house now that I think about it.