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Topic: O'Reilly batteries (Read 3227 times) previous topic - next topic

O'Reilly batteries

Thinking about getting batteries and trying to compare the life of the O'Reilly AGM's to the lithium. I can buy 3 sets of the AGM's (9 batteries) for the price of 4 lithium 100 ahr batteries. How old are the O'reillys on the forum that are still going strong?

Re: O'Reilly batteries

Reply #1 –
Not much time on mine, but going strong one year later.

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Reply #2 –
Just replaced my 10 year-old Deka / East Penn AGM batteries that we're going strong up until a couple weeks ago with O'Reilly's,  same battery.  One developed internal short, sold the other for $100 on Craigslist that was in good shape.

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Reply #3 –
got 10 years out of mine before they ballooned up....replaced with same 3 years ago...all good

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Reply #4 –
As I'm sure you've noticed, Craneman, many here have used their batteries with great success.

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Reply #5 –
My chassis battery is from O'riellys and it's starting it's 8yr the coach battery I replaced last fall after 7yrs. Both batteries are sealed 8D wet cell, the new one cost $219.

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Reply #6 –
Quote from: Moby –
As I'm sure you've noticed, Craneman, many here have used their batteries with great success.
Have seen many posts of them being installed but was looking for their lifespan to make a decision. Personally turning 76 this year I didn't think putting out 4K for lithium would be a benefit to me, and was hoping for around 8 years for the 3 O'reilly's. I am sure the lithium group will mention increased coach value with lithium, but probably would not regain the cost.

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Reply #7 –
Craneman I have 8D AGMS from ORileys 5 years old and going great

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Reply #8 –
X2 what Bruce said.

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Reply #10 –
While the info is nice it's all anecdotal.  How about actual capacity at what age.  Any AGM not perfectly  charged will lose capacity.  Not equalizable.  Except for Lifelines supposedly. 

So the quote that I got so many years before I HAD to replace them has no info as to how much capacity was lost at so many hours.

If you took any battery into a shop they hook up a meter that tests the battery and prints out a small piece of paper with the measured capacity.

Somewhere along the line these AGM's had started losing capacity.  More gen run time.  Quicker voltage drops from the same uses.  You used to use a 100 amp hours and be at 12.6 volts for a random example and are now at 12.4....

East penn discharges every battery it makes a set amount then recharges them.  I have zero proof but my feeling is the top rechargers are sold as east penn/mk's.  The slightly less strong ones are private labeled?

That's what I would do wouldn't you?

I  notice no private label east penn Gels.  Not that I can find. 

The gels can be partially discharged then not fully recharged quite a few times without damage when finally fully charged.

East Penn states that the Gels are the least expensive battery they make on a per cycle basis.

Lots of ten to twelve life's on oem Gels per here and my conversation with mk's engineer.

He mentioned that east penn had made additional plate separator mods and adopted a way to pre charge the plates before installation that might allow 20 year lives. His words not mine.

My issue is the steady loss of capacity.  It would irritate me to not have at lest 90% capacity. 

Solar recharging every day limits some capacity loss. Still much shorter cycle life versus gels.

If I were selling a Unicoach I would absolutely install new mk gels and optima redtops in the coach.  Period.  Just like new.

Eliminates the prospective customer asking any questions on the batteries.

Just me after selling hundreds of used high line coaches over the years.  Wiper blades. belts.  Coach water pump.

Every coach.  Way more easy to sell profitably.

But heck what do I know. 

If you had tested good gels I would not discount my buy price for a coach personally. 

P.S: a good desulfurization device on any AGM battery should greatly extend its service life and may restore lost capacity cheaply

Re: O'Reilly batteries

Reply #11 –
Craneman everyone has to make they're own decisions when you're thinking of AGM versus gel cell versus lithium batteries. I think that if you're just looking at cost then hands down AGMs are the way to go. No question. However batteries are more than about cost. And lithiums are more than about cost. I think that when you consider the additional value of a lithium battery setup versus an AGM setup they win in every category hands down for full-timer. For someone who uses the coach on a vacation type basis or once in a while they don't make as much sense. And if you stay plugged in when you get to your destination they don't make as much sense either. Nothing new for people interested in this type of technology and I'm about to say. Lithiums Excel in the weight category. Hands down not only will your coach weigh a little bit less but if you're the one that's lugging those batteries around it makes a huge difference. Lithium is Excel in a size category. Their footprint is just smaller. That really comes in handy on a small boat or RV, or even a van. Lithiums Excel in their ability to not only accept a large charge quickly meaning less generator runtime, but also in their ability to deliver large amounts of power quickly. So if you're not all electric coach for instance and you're running a microwave while also using an induction cook time a lithium battery setup will give you much better performance. Lithiums Excel and a cycle category. AGMs will never deliver the same amount of cycles that a lithium battery will be able to do. That's where the cost benefit can really play out with a lithium setup.
All those factors are more or what led me to my desire to have lithiums in my coach, or my boat. I'm not saying that you can't get good performance out of AGMs cuz you can.  Or gell cells.
The only downside on the lithium battery setup really is two fold. And that is initial cost and their inability to charge in cold weather. The initial cost of them are high and if you're not full timing you will not get the benefit of this technology. In my opinion anyway. Then not accepting a charge during cold weather is easily mitigated in several ways. In my way they're installed inside the coach. And a BMS make sure that they are not chargeable when the temps get low. Lithium and I am batteries do not like cold weather when charging, and neither does my body. So when it comes time to travel and some cooler weather I'll make sure I have my aqua hot on and running.
When I toured the foretravel factory I asked them why they weren't using lithium-ion batteries. He told me they weren't ready for prime time yet. Frankly I totally disagree with that statement. Thousands of people have used these batteries and every type of way and most have no issues with them.
Personally if I was in your situation now, I would just get the AGMs and be done with it. unless you think you're going to be driving your coach into your '90s, then I get the lithiums. 😁🤔😎
Each of us have to make her own choices on things like this.

Re: O'Reilly batteries

Reply #12 –
 :D Chuck, Just getting ready to reply to your PM... I bought our four O'Reilly AGM's the summer of 2015, almost summer of 2020 now (feels like it anyway!). So far, they seem just fine. I don't pay a lot of attention, I generally am able to keep them above 85% and I can't recall them going lower than about 75%. I only currently have about 400 watts of solar, and we boondock or dry camp occasionally for a week or two but try to pick the time and places so the temperatures are as comfortable as possible without too much generator time for A/C. I will replace them with lithium someday (soon?), and if they still have life left then ( I suspect they will), I will repurpose them for our trailer or possibly my CONEX box shop. Overnight with the compressor based marine fridge and various computer use etc., we are typically around 85% to 90%
Don

Re: O'Reilly batteries

Reply #13 –
Quote from: Caflashbob –
.....East Penn states that the Gels are the least expensive battery they make on a per cycle basis.

Lots of ten to twelve life's on oem Gels per here and my conversation with mk's engineer.......

I agree with what Bob says in the above post. I believe the Gel would be a better choice, than an AGM. That being said, you must also weigh your needs, how you use your rv, budget, etc.  That is how I ended up with the Oriellys AGM8D batteries over Gel and Lithium.

I also enjoyed Oriellys 10% off to veterans discount.  They also did not charge to help me installing them.  At approx 160lbs each, I disconnected mine, they took the old ones out, placed the new ones  in place.  I took pictures to make hooking the new ones up worry free. 
https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b/fleet---heavy-duty-5000/marine---boat-30733/deep-cycle---marine-batteries-17354/409e0a64fe51/super-start-fleet-heavy-duty-group-size-8d-battery/agm8d/4742645

8G8D | MK Battery 12v 225 AH Deep Cycle Gel Cell Battery with Automotive Post

Re: O'Reilly batteries

Reply #14 –
No body asked me but if I were a prospective coach buyer on my list would be does the coach have an auto battery combiner like every new coach made.  Nearly impossible to be perfect.  The odds are that any engine batteries have lost capacity.

So minus for new batteries.  Minus for a new combiner installed. Minus for used  AGM's. 

I have learned the hard way than any prospective buyer needs to only nod his head up and down.  Never sideways.  Never.

Cannot overlook and detail if you want retail. 

Any defect(s) start at $5k discount and go up from there. 

Just me but if I had a slideout painted coach for sale on my lot it would have gels, optimas, new Michelin's.

absolutely would get back in the selling price those costs. Plus centrimatic balancers.  Koni FSD's.

Demo drive would be better.  Coaches that shine on demo rides sell for more money. Duh

JackL will chime in here I assume. These are highline coaches.  Any deviation from top of the line features and equipment will cost dearly IF you are selling

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Reply #15 –
Exactly Craneman........who will live longer......you or the batteries. Save money.

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Reply #16 –
Looks like the Oreilly's are what I will buy when the time comes. The Lifelines that came on the coach are dated 2013 and I have no history on them before the end of '15 when I got the coach. They got through the night last  year in the Sierra's in Oct. charging on solar and 1 hour charging time at 9:00pm. I will add desulfators to the O'reillys and the 2100 watts of solar should keep them going when not at home and plugged in. The cost of gels or lithium are not a financial problem, just feel I would be throwing the money away unless the difference could come back when we sell, if we sell. Could get passed down and kids could get lithium much cheaper when that time comes.

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Reply #17 –
Probably a major reason Foretravel used Gels is that the last 10 to 15% of the charge cycle takes twice as long in time versus going from 50% to 85-90%.

Partially charging then discharging seems to permanently damage agm's.

Not easily fixable if at all.

Gels or li-ions can take the non full recharge cycles best

Re: O'Reilly batteries

Reply #18 –
Quote from: Caflashbob –
Probably a major reason Foretravel used Gels is that the last 10 to 15% of the charge cycle takes twice as long in time versus going from 50% to 85-90%.

Partially charging then discharging seems to permanently damage agm's.

Not easily fixable if at all.

Gels or li-ions can take the non full recharge cycles best
Bob,
That won't be a problem for us. At the Q in Jan. the solar put the batteries in float by 2:00 with my Xantrex SW3012 in the AGM setting. The Q is the only time of the year with the short days that we use the coach. If there is no sun I will just have to use the generator that's why the coach has one.

Re: O'Reilly batteries

Reply #19 –
Good for you.  And anyone else with large solar systems.  You have more money and/or time invested in the solar system which I envy than what 3 new mk gels would cost.  Am I not correct? 

I would sure add the auto battery bank combiner to guarantee 100% reliable charging of the engine battery side. 

If you already have done that I am done. 

I, as a motorhome appraiser hundreds of times, would deduct for used agm's and non optima's. Too easy for a buyer to knock the coaches battery to work me for a discount.

And after having used countless rv's with old flooded cell and battery boiler charging systems I am paranoid about having the best batteries in perfect condition.  Too many times stranded or having to run the gen excessively long ago.

Putting customers out in less than perfect batteries had a percentage chance of costing me a repeat 2-3 year customer.  Stupid not to give them the best possible experience for as long as possible.

Same reason why Foretravel put the best batteries and tires.  Pennies versus another sale.

I replaced good flooded cell house batteries  and interstate group 31 sealed batteries when we got the coach 8 years ago.  House's are still there.  Engine optima's died  from accidental discharge. 

Added solar and a combiner and new optima's to fix this.

Then replaced the heart 25 with a BTMS capable and run Ms 2812 to govern  the charging profiles better.

Exactly like a new coach has as far as I know.

My guru was afraid to go past the low 20 volt solar rv systems as he worried about danger to a fireman on the roof in event of a fire from the high voltage systems