agm batteries

[Mike Nunn]

Help. We are thinking about replacing our wet cell batteries in our '07 Contessa with Lifeline AGM.  How much extra weight is the tray able to hold? We are wondering if we should go with a larger agm that is 300AH as opposed to the 220AH, but the larger batteries weigh 90lbs. each vs 60lbs each.  Do you think there is enough advantage to get the bigger, more expensive, and heavier batteries?  Thanks Mike and Judy

[Gerald Farris]

Mike and Judy,
I would not be worried about the extra weight as for as the battery tray is concerned, however the purchase decision as to which battery is best for your needs, has to be made by you.

Most Beaver owners do not dry camp enough to need the extra battery capacity, and even if you do dry camp regularly, what extra benefits will you receive from the extra capacity. For most coach owners, the extra battery capacity will only decrease the frequency that you will need to run the generator when dry camping. However the total generator run time will remain approximately the same, it will just be longer but fewer run times.

If you dry camp when running a C-Pap machine, use a lot of electronics, or a residential refrigerator, you may need the extra capacity to make it through the quiet time at night when generator use is restricted. So with these things in mind you will need to examine the cost versus benefits to determine your needs.

Gerald  

[Mike Nunn]

Thanks Gerald. If we got the bigger batteries would they be sufficient if we had to upgrade to a residential refrigeator later? We  know the newer coaches with the residential fridges have 6-8 batteriies. We didn't know if 4  300AH would be enough for a residential fridge.

[Gerald Farris]

Mike and Judy,
A 1200 AH AGM battery bank will be large enough to run one of the high efficiency residential refrigerators that are used in RVs.

Gerald

[Brad Burgess]

Mike and Judy

I installed four of the 220 AH six volt Lifeline AGM batteries (GPL-4CT) in series/parallel to provide 440 AH of twelve volt capacity.  I do not have a C-Pap but we do have a Samsung RF197 residential refrigerator.  The newer residential fridges are so efficient, especially at night when they are not opened, that we have not had any issues with battery capacity.  Granted, we do not dry camp often but most folks run their generators for some period of time during the day when dry camping anyway and this would provide sufficient re-charging of the batteries.  Our Magnum MS 2800 pure sine wave inverter powers the Samsung just fine from the 440 AH battery bank.  Based on cost I do not believe that the step up to the 300 AH batteries (GPL-6CT) is worth the cost for the minor increase in capacity (80 AH @ 50% discharge.)  Also, even if I had wanted to upgrade to the larger batteries I did not have the vertical clearance in the battery compartment as they were taller (3") than the 220 AH version - go to Lifeline's website for the exact dimensions of the various batteries and be sure to measure your own area.

FWIW I purchased the four six volt Lifeline AGMs and two twelve volt Lifeline start capacity AGMs from Tom at Trans Specialists - they were delivered to my house, in the garage, for less than the best price that I could find locally for pick up - http://www.trans-specialists.net/.  I have no connection with Trans Specialists other than to be a satisfied customer.

Brad Burgess
06 Monterey

[Mike Nunn]

Gerald and Brad,
Thank you so much for all the good info. We can now make an informed decision. When we go to the agm house batteries and change the inverter settings do we also have to change out the starting batteries to agm. We have sealed starting batteries now but unsure if they are agm or gel. Also Brad, did you get the cabinet depth rf197 fridge and did you do it yourself or have it done. We forgot about haviing to go to a pure sine wave inverter  with the new fridge. We have the 2000 modified sine wave inverter now. So much to think about. Thanks again. Mike and Judy

[Richard And Babs Ames]

We replaced the deep cycle batteries with http://www.dekabatteries.com/ Deka AGM batteries. Largest independant manuracturer in the world. We bought ours through Posey Battery in Tampa, FL. They deliver to your residence and  will take the old batteries. Still expensive but less expensive than lifeline.

[Joel Buchan]

Once you have AGM batteries you will never back. Go with the LifeLine, well worth the extra $$$. I dry camp about 80% of the time and use solar exclusively. Generator is rarely used.

[Gerald Farris]

Mike and Judy,
No, you will not need to replace the cranking batteries when you install AGM house batteries. Although there is a little different charging profile between different types of batteries, the charging profile that you will be using on the AGM batteries will be adequate to maintain your chassis batteries. The main recharging function for the chassis batteries will be accomplished by the engine alternator as you drive, and that charging profile will not be changed,

Gerald

[Mike Nunn]

Thanks to everyone for shariing your knowledge with us.  We called trans -specialists that Brad suggested.  The guy there was great and very  knowledgeable also.  We have definitely decided to go with the Lifeline, but still have to determine if the larger size wil fit.  Their price beats any that we have found on the internet or locally.  Thanks again!!!

Mike and Judy

[Brad Burgess]

Hi Mike and Judy

Yes, I installed the refrigerator myself with the help of some young guys to assist with the heavy lifting.  I will post some photos on the "improvements" board here.

If you go to the Monacoers board - http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Monacoers/ - there are many, many posts re: Samsung fridges and inverters.  The consensus there is that the Samsung will work on modified sine wave so you if you are comfortable with that then you would not have to change out your inverter - 2000 watts should be plenty to run the fridge.  It also appears that the RF 197 is generally no longer available but the RF 217 is - I think two inches deeper but not sure.

I changed out my chassis batteries at the same time as the house batteries because they were old and it was just time.  Gerald's comments regarding the chassis batteries are valid if you are driving the coach often.  When in storage the parasitic drain on the chassis batteries needs to be replenished by the inverter/charger.  Gerald is also correct that the AGM charge profile for the house batteries will work for your existing start batteries albeit not in an optimum way.  I would use your existing chassis batteries until they expire - when they are replaced I would replace them with AGMs as well so that your combined bank is all the same type of battery.

Brad Burgess
06 Monterey

[Mike Nunn]

Thanks for all your help. We will check out the monaco website and when it's time we will get agm starting batteries. Larger agms will not fit in tray( too tall) so we will getting the Lifeline GPL4ct from Trans-specialists . Will look for your pics of the refrigerator. thank you, Mike and Judy

[Gil_Johnson]

Mike,

I wouldn't be too concerned with using a modified sine wave inverter, at least not one of the larger ones from a respected supplier.  I now have a bus conversion and all conversions have standard residential refrigerators.  Mine is a 99 and the refrigerator is original.  I also agree that the smaller more efficient residential refrigerators don't need a lot of battery capacity.

FWIW, most bus conversions are total electric and some even power sir conditiioning from inverters.  My bus has 6 8D house batteries and two 2500 watt inverters.  I just replaced these batteries so I know too well the cost.

My Beaver was an 08 Contessa and I replaced the house batteries with wet cells.  My decision to stay with wet cells was based on the storage area being well ventilated, isolated from other systems and easy access to check fluid levels.  In the bus I needed AGMs.

Best of luck,

Gil