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What batteries?

I am needing to replace my house batteries. Any recommendations on brands and price from the collective genius?
Larry Warren
1996  U320 36' SBID "Lola" sold 2020
Build #4970
Motorcade #18318

Re: What batteries?

Reply #2 –
Thanks for the quick response. I will check them out. I get a discount from the company I work for with O'Rielly ^.^d

Larry
Larry Warren
1996  U320 36' SBID "Lola" sold 2020
Build #4970
Motorcade #18318

Re: What batteries?

Reply #3 –
I plan to buy the same batteries Chuck showed. Price I was quoted $409.00 ea.
1995 U320 40', 2013 chevy sonic toad, my real love are corvettes have owned 30

Re: What batteries?

Reply #4 –
Thanks Joe.

Larry
Larry Warren
1996  U320 36' SBID "Lola" sold 2020
Build #4970
Motorcade #18318

Re: What batteries?

Reply #5 –
Had mine 3 years and still works mg great.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: What batteries?

Reply #7 –

If your local O'Reilly store is situated so you can pull your coach up near the entrance, you can usually get the parts store guys to swap out the batteries for you.  Depending on where your batteries are located (in the coach) and how "fit" you are, this can be a valuable back saving perk.

My recommendation: use fresh military style battery connectors on your nice new batteries, clean up the cable ends, spray with Corrosion-X.

Amazon.com: Pico 0810PT Military Style Top Post Battery Terminal 1 Set...

Amazon.com: Corrosion-X 90101 6oz Aerosol: Sports & Outdoors

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
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: What batteries?

Reply #8 –
If you want more capacity than the 2-8Ds will give you you could look at FullRiver DC335-6 or DC400-6 or similar 6v batteries. Four of these will fit in 2/3 of the footprint of the 8Ds and give you 670 amphr or 830 amph capacity.  The price on the OR batteries is attractive though.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: What batteries?

Reply #9 –
Factory had two gels in your coach new.  They do not require equalization.  Other than the  Lifeline brand AGM's cannot be equalized to restore any lost capacity nor does your oem inverter/  Charger have a AGM equalizer profile.

No battery temp circuit was in a 96 coach so to keep from over and undercharging your new batteries I would readjust the battery charging voltage in the heart freedom regularly. 

After 22 years I assume your 96 has had the batteries replaced before?  What is in it now.

I'm extremely conscious of the battery system as from 30+ years in the rv biz batteries were a constant problem.

Boiled dry by single stage chargers like the alternator does still and flooded cells that corroded everything in the compartment.

The gels charge faster requiring less gen run time due to lower internal resistance and have double the cycle life, 

Per cycle the gels are less expensive and are much harder to damage from over or under charging which is why they were oem, 

I would set your alternator to 13.6 volts to avoid over charging all your battery banks in summer while driving.

I really appreciate the newer technology with multi stage chargers, battery temp charger controls, auto  combiners and solar to keep the batteries up in their charge.

Versus needlessly cycling the battery by having their SOC go up and  down a lot.

The more cycling the more capacity is lost over time and the sooner replacements are needed,

Just saying. 

Finally a real battery system setup,can be done after 34 years in the biz,

Without a btms  would really consider the gels as they match the chargers ability in your 96 better.

Heart freedoms past the 100,000 serial number which was in  mid 97's can be fit with a btms.



"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: What batteries?

Reply #11 –
Chuck, we also only use military style battery terminals on every post of both start and house banks.  Our preference is this style military terminal:
Buy Battery Parts & Tools - Free Shipping over  | Zoro.com

We also carry spare neg & pos terminals.

Re: What batteries?

Reply #12 –
It is very important to know that these come in both pos and neg.  I too replaced my six military style terminals when replacing my 3 house 8Ds last year.  Trying to use a pos on a neg terminal will result in possibly a too loose connection.  It is not that they are just marked differently, there is actually a couple mm difference.  Military Terminal,Bolt,Copper neg products - Grainger Industrial Supply
97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: What batteries?

Reply #13 –
Quote from: Tim –
Four of these lithium batteries would work. You would need four of them and they cost $600 each. No BMS is needed.

http://voltronixusa.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Voltronix-400Ah-Battery-Cell.pdf

Tim, what did you have to do to the inverter/charger to get it to work with the lithium batteries -- everything I read says what I have on my 1999 U320 won.t work with the lithium batteries.  I wanted to go that route but am reluctant since I am definitely am not a battery expert.  Any guideance would be appreciated
Thanks
Chris
1999 U 320 DGFE
Build Number 5523
Chris & Elka Lang
In the field, Lonoke AR

Re: What batteries?

Reply #14 –
Li battery's require stable temps.  Minimum charging temp is 18 degrees C.  65 degrees F. 
"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: What batteries?

Reply #15 –
I just bought two 4d and one 8d battery from AAA battery in Deleon Springs, Florida for $600.

Re: What batteries?

Reply #16 –
Thanks for all the input. I will be figuring out which way to go in the coming days. As always, I appreciate all the help.

Larry
Larry Warren
1996  U320 36' SBID "Lola" sold 2020
Build #4970
Motorcade #18318

Re: What batteries?

Reply #17 –
You might consider these: GPL-8DL - Lifeline Batteries
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320