| [GMCnet] Coach Batteries [message #260080] |
Mon, 25 August 2014 20:35  |
glwgmc
Messages: 1014
Registered: June 2004
Karma:
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Two great choices for 6 volt batteries to be mounted in series to make one 12 volt equivalent battery these days - wet cell like your current Trojans, or AGMs. Both wire exactly like your Trojans and both will charge properly with almost any three stage charger like PD or Iota. Wet cells must be mounted upright only and in a vented outside compartment as they give off hydrogen gas and a bit of a fog of acid as they charge. They will require periodic maintenance. AGMs can be mounted anywhere, in any orientation inside or outside and require no maintenance. 6 volt wet cells are commonly available in three different amp hour ratings ranging from 200 to 260 amp hours each and they differ only by height. AGMs will charge faster, can be discharged further so offer more usable amp hours, and last longer. They also cost more to acquire, but life cost is about the same.
They also are available in different amp hour ratings and depending on form factor can be 200+, 300 or 400 amp hours each. In either case you need two wired in series to make one 12 volt equivalent house battery. AGMs mainly come from China, some very good, some not so. A few are made in the US like Lifeline but you pay quite a premium for that.
You can also get either wet cell or AGM batteries in 12 volt. The 4d size will usually offer around 220 amp hours while the 8d will go upwards of 260 amp hours. They are about twice the size of the 6 volts units and about twice the weight so handling 4d or 8d batteries is quite a heft. Either a 4d or an 8d will generally fit beside the generator. If you put them there you need a heavy fuse or CB at each end of a heavy wire to run to the front to the battery switch. Remember, if you put the house battery to work trying to start you engine you will be drawing 200 to 300 amps so wire accordingly. Use a battery combiner to allow both your house bank and your starting battery to charge from the alternator, generator or shore power automatically. A diode battery isolator will drop most of a volt across the diodes so your batteries may not fully charge from shore power or generator sources. The alternator operates off of a sense wire so it will compensate for that voltage dr
op. While some feel combiners are not as reliable as diode isolators, I find them quite superior in both my coaches and have never had a failure. They are easy to wire and fit for me into the category of all gain and no pain.
The Clasco has one 4d AGM beside the generator with a 1500 watt Samlex inverter velcroed to the top to keep the cable run to a minimum. As I reported the other day that will run a 12.7 amp conventional convection microwave oven just fine. The Royale has four 6v wet cells sitting in the rear compartment that holds the propane tank on a GMC floor plan. I will replace them with 6 volt tall AGMs when they reach the end of their useful life.
Some interesting math to consider. The four Interstate 6 volt wet cells wired series parallel in the Royale make up a house battery bank of 460 amp hours (when new). You can discharge them to 50% so the effective bank is 230 amp hours (when new). The single 4d AGM in the Clasco is 220 amp hours (when new) and can be discharged to 80% for an effective bank of 172 amp hours (when new). Doing it again I would use an 8d instead of the 4d and have 260 amp hour for an effective bank of 208, not all that different from the four 6 volt wet cells.
Jerry
Jerry Work
The Dovetail Joint
Fine furniture designed and hand crafted in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building in historic Kerby, OR
Visitors always welcome!
glwork@mac.com
http://jerrywork.com
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Message: 9
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 16:57:02 -0600
From: Wayne E LaMothe
Subject: [GMCnet] Coach Batteries
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Message-ID:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
I currently have two worn out and dead Trojan T105 coach batteries that came with the coach. I am inclined to replace them with the same thing but
will entertain ideas about substitutes. I know a lot of this can come down to personal preference and do not want to start a flame war with "my
battery is better than yours" comments. Really, no one here would do that would they? :)
Anyway, just looking for ideas and thoughts about the best place to order them from.
Thanks
Wayne
--
Wayne and Lisa,
Bolton Landing, NY,
Big Blue Bus AKA Triple B, 78 Royale center kitchen,
Patriot Guard Rider,
Standing for those who stood for us.
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Jerry & Sharon Work
78 Royale
Kerby, OR
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