| Author | Message | ||
| Leonard (Tizer4)
Registered Member Username: Tizer4 Post Number: 7 Registered: 12-2009 Posted From: 4.227.198.207 Rating: N/A |
What battery setup do you have for your inverter? I'm considering two Deka absorbed glass mat deep cycle batteries. The part number is 8A8DM. The price per battery is expensive at $481(two for $399 each). Who has the best prices for batteries? What are my options? Thank you. | ||
| Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Registered Member Username: Pvcces Post Number: 1314 Registered: 5-2001 Posted From: 65.74.67.17 Rating: N/A |
Leonard, we use 500 lbs. of deep cycle batteries so that we can go a week without starting the generator. We also have 220 watts of solar panels. For what it's worth. Tom Caffrey | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 820 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.32.95.26 Rating: N/A |
Leonard, that's not a bad price 399.00 dealers cost on a Lifeline AGM 8d 255 AH battery with 12 month free warranty and 48 month prorated is $385.01 plus shipping they list for $532.00 | ||
| Terry Batchelor (Batchelorpad)
Registered Member Username: Batchelorpad Post Number: 6 Registered: 8-2008 Posted From: 97.106.27.71 Rating: N/A |
Leornard, I have 2 8D GEL cells that are over 7 yrs old & still going strong. I have a 2500 Combi Heart w/charger & can run everything (we have a side-by-side ref & 110 wtr htr) except the air for 3 days w/out running the gen. We have a friend that changes his glm's about every 14 to 16 mos. Go w/the gels & set your cgr as per the mfg of the batteries.. | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1772 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.68.121.10  Rating: N/A |
I was running my Trace 4024 on a small collection of cast off golf cart batteries, which have succumbed to time. With lead acid, you have to keep up with the crap that grows on the terminals, and pay attention to the water levels, but the price was right for fooling around, as I'm not really using the coach for much yet. You might consider not buying good batteries until you will be using the coach regularly. Time can be harder on batteries than misuse. You also might want the experience of battery care without wrecking an expensive bank with mistakes or oversights. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 1820 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157  Rating: N/A |
If I were you and this is your first stab at this, I'd go with the old reliable golf cart batteries; new that is. Once you see how your use of coach works out, then you could go with the latest, greatest. | ||
| Tom Christman (Tchristman)
Registered Member Username: Tchristman Post Number: 165 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 66.218.33.156 Rating: N/A |
Once you have AGM batteries, you'll never go back to a watered battery. AGM's you can mount them in any position (except upside down), don't need watering, they hold a charge for a long time, need quite a bit less time to recharge, and never need to clean the terminals since they don't out gas. Well worth the extra money in my book. Good Luck, TomC | ||
| Rob Norgren (Robsedona)
Registered Member Username: Robsedona Post Number: 208 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 71.105.53.119  Rating: N/A |
Where have you seen these Batteries for $481??? does not the 8g8dm have a better stats??? for about the same price??? Rob | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1060 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.210.174.159 Rating: N/A |
Not sure "why" folks don't seem to want to start a generator now and then...enlighten me!...please  We have been using 3 cheap (Sam's) group 31 for starts...5 group 27's for house batteries for about 5 years now. Replaceable at any Sam's, but have not experienced that yet. As I recall, the group 27's are dated 2004. The group 31s 2007. No, no A/C on batteries, but do run everything else with no problems so far...(2000 Trace...also 5 years old,,and a "reconditioned" unit at that). Our practice is to run the generator for an hour and a half...maybe two, depending on what we have used...in the morning and repeat in the evening. We have two 10 watt Solar Chargers...one for each set. Batteries are "serviced" every couple of months (cleaning posts, filling cells, etc). Also have a desulfator on each set. I have nine (9) batteries on board and have nowhere near the cost of one of the above mentioned... Just our way. Thought we were in a recession.. FWIW RCB (Message edited by Chuckllb on January 05, 2010) | ||
| Leonard (Tizer4)
Registered Member Username: Tizer4 Post Number: 8 Registered: 12-2009 Posted From: 4.227.196.218 Rating: N/A |
Rob The prices were quoted at a dealer in Grand Junction, CO. The D 8G6DM is a GEL with the following stats: CCA-1150; RCA- 475; W- 157 $480 The 8A8DM is a dual purp. AGM...CCA-1450; RCA-480; W-158 $488 I'm interested in the AGM. Thanks for the post. | ||
| Leonard (Tizer4)
Registered Member Username: Tizer4 Post Number: 9 Registered: 12-2009 Posted From: 4.227.196.218 Rating: N/A |
RCB Presently, I'm using my generator full time because of two dead 8D house batteries. The notion of no mess, no problem with an AGM is the way to go for me. The previous owner used all flooded batteries, starter batteries as his house batteries, too. It was a real mess. Yes, it is more for the GEL or AGM but, I'm paying for the piece of mind among other things. AGM batteries are just superior batteries on multiple levels. I haven't made my final discussion because of the cost factor. Thanks for your insight. I will continue to entertain options. Leonard | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1046 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 69.19.14.15  Rating: N/A |
Not sure "why" folks don't seem to want to start a generator now and then...enlighten me!...please:-) If its a diesel noisemaker, most are noisey and stink. If not stinking in your coach , it stinks too the other campers that are not buttoned up and breathing canned air. Anyone nearby with operating windows gets the stink.. Your Diesel noise is hardly why other campers go camping. Propane at least wont KILL (or sicken)the folks downwind , and with a gas engine as the base is far QUIETER than any diesel. FF | ||
| Leonard (Tizer4)
Registered Member Username: Tizer4 Post Number: 10 Registered: 12-2009 Posted From: 4.227.198.176 Rating: N/A |
Excellent point,Fast Fred. | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1061 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.210.16.226 Rating: N/A |
It ain't diesel... and I've been told, very quiet . FWIW...we don't stay in "posh" places for LOTSA' reasons...it has been our experience that most folks run the "noisemaker" during allowed hours; ergo, no one minds and is into the "thing" themselves. (national campgrounds, state parks, etc, etc.) ...do it ur way, eh FF? RCB (Message edited by Chuckllb on January 06, 2010) | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 1825 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157 Rating: N/A |
Fred, if you run veggie oil from your turkey fryer or french fryer in the diesel noise maker, it has a nice fragrance, although it might draw all the dogs in the campground. As far as noise; just consider them as the old guy"s boom box. |