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Topic: Battery Life (Read 618 times) previous topic - next topic

Battery Life

Our coach has three Optima Yellow Top, D31T batteries that are between 5 and 6 years old.  I suspect one or more are at end of life or otherwise defective as charge does not hold as long as it use to. 
So my question to Yellow Top users is: How long have your Yellow Tops lasted before requiring replacement?
Bill and Joyce, The House2 and Dashboard Pig III
2000 U320 4210 CAI (The House2)
Build # 5733
2019 F150 King Ranch FX4

Re: Battery Life

Reply #1 –
I replaced my 3 yellow top with three new ones at 11 years.  The three old ones still charge well.  I use them (2 at a time) to run a 1600 watt 12v to 120v pure sine wave motor generator.  This is on a small trailer and I use it to run an electric chain saw back in the woods.  I can cut wood all day on one charge.

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

Re: Battery Life

Reply #2 –
I replaced the Honda's battery with a Yellow Top and it lasted 2 years only.  Last time I buy one of these.  The Red Tops in Forrest were replaced in March 2012 with Red Tops as well after 8 years of service.  I had considered Yellow Tops for their deep cycle property but decided that was overkill.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Battery Life

Reply #3 –
There is really no need for a deep-cycle (Yellow-Top) battery as the chassis battery. The Red-Top Optima provides a larger cranking current and is superior as a starting battery.
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: Battery Life

Reply #4 –
Quote from: D.J. Osborn –
There is really no need for a deep-cycle (Yellow-Top) battery as the chassis battery. The Red-Top Optima provides a larger cranking current and is superior as a starting battery.
I agree.  I installed the Yellow top in the toad because of the potential drain during towing.  That did not work as expected as the Yellow Tops I purchased were trash.  Now I just have a sealed cell battery with a disconnect switch for when we need to tow Henry behind Forrest.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Battery Life

Reply #5 –
When I bought my coach in July 2008 it had 2 high end NAPA brand chassis batteries.  After 11 months one failed and NAPA replaced both under warranty with Optima Red Tops as they had discontinued their own brand.  The Red Tops lasted 55 months.  I replaced them 18 months ago with Yellow Tops.  I switched to Yellow Tops as I felt the charge cycle was more like the MK house batteries and the charged resting voltage is almost the same as the house batteries whereas with the red tops it was not.  I disconnect the chassis batteries when stored as there is a small drain on the batteries from something.   

About a month after I bought the coach I replaced the house batteries with MK AGM batteries.  I should have bought MK GEL, but didn't know the difference at the time.  The AGM house batteries were replaced in May 2015 after 84 months/7 years with MK GEL.  If the top of an MK battery is black it is AGM; for GEL it is grey. 
Jerry Whiteaker former owner 96 U270  36' #4831 Austin,TX-Owner Mods LCD TV w/front cabinet rebuild - LCD TV bedroom - Dual Central AC, either can cool coach w 30 amp - Skylights at roof AC openings - Drop ceiling for ducting of AC - Shower skylight white gelcoat/wood/epoxy frame - Air Springs/Shocks replaced - 2014 CRV - 8K Home Solar - Chevy Volt

Re: Battery Life

Reply #6 –
The key to long lasting chassis batteries is a maintenance system to keep them charged .  I have the Xantrax ECHO charger, there are many others.  My buddy Harvey Nelson said he has had his chassis batteries for 7 years using an ECHO charger. I replaced my worn out Red Tops last November with Duralast Platinum AGM from Autozone.  750 CCA each-will see how long they last with my ECHO charger.

House batteries are Battery Giant gels made by DEKA.  Replaced the originals in 2013 in June.  Hope they will last as long as the other 2 did.
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing

Re: Battery Life

Reply #7 –
I thought about Red Tops. FT recommended the Yellow Tops in my 2001 because of the parasitic loads on the chassis batteries.  I have a Battery Minder connected when ever we aren't moving.  Red Tops likely would have been OK.

My now three year old yellow tops spin the ISM 450 very easily all by themselves. So as my friend Dave M says (sort of) "be happy, get what you want."

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

Re: Battery Life

Reply #8 –
You might want to consider the charging system on our coaches.  It has settings for various types of batteries.  Once the settings have been appropriately chosen for the type of battery the charger will be working with, then it seems to me that chassis and house batteries ought to be of the same type.  andy1
Carolyn and Lewis (Andy1) Anderson
1996 U270 36'

Re: Battery Life

Reply #9 –
Aside from having your charging system keyed to whichever battery type you made the decision to use,
add a Wizbang to each of the batteries.. please.

BTW, NAPA does sell WET, GEL & AGM style 8D's.  NAPA also has a 30% off sale going the 2nd Saturday of the month
from 7 to 9 AM (early bird special) in the greater Houston area.  Check around, they maybe doing this Nation Wide.. (I don't know.)

I was headed to GEL's but with my luck, decided to stick with the AGM's in case I (ever) had someone service my charging system that is typical of the service techs you cross paths with on the road.  You never know and AGM's are easier to replace
(cost and availability.)

FWIW, I'm a big fan of the 12V/10 AMP INTERACTER Charger.  Fully automatic and idiot proof if you have a senior moment and forget to remove it from your system (it's better left in place as a trickle charger.)  pc
S/W Houston 95" U320C SE/40' 
Build #4778  Cummins M11
Repairs & Covered RV Parking (BAO)
PPL is close..

Re: Battery Life

Reply #10 –
Quote from: pocketchange –
Aside from having your charging system keyed to whichever battery type you made the decision to use,
add a Wizbang to each of the batteries.. please.
A technician at Wizbang told me that their product does not work very well  with GEL and AGM batteries.  I don't remember seeing that on any of the instructions.  The device also discharges the battery when in use, so some means of charging has to be provided when stored. 
Jerry Whiteaker former owner 96 U270  36' #4831 Austin,TX-Owner Mods LCD TV w/front cabinet rebuild - LCD TV bedroom - Dual Central AC, either can cool coach w 30 amp - Skylights at roof AC openings - Drop ceiling for ducting of AC - Shower skylight white gelcoat/wood/epoxy frame - Air Springs/Shocks replaced - 2014 CRV - 8K Home Solar - Chevy Volt