Preference on Battery

[hunter535]

Hello!

I am trying to decide what battery(s) to purchase for my cargo conversion. There are so many different manufacturers out there. Does anybody have a prefernce on which one to buy? I'd like to get 2 - 6 volts but I don't think that I can afford that so I am leaning towards 1-12 volt. Seems to be cheaper that way.
The best price I could find for a 6 volt was $120 for one with 110 AH. That was a Exide battery.

[PaulC]

I tend to lean towards the deep discharge style of batteries for my builds. And I like gel in preference to any of the others. That part is a personal thing, any deep discharge will do, in the end. They will also last longer than a normal car battery.
Cheers
Paul

[Steve_Cox]

My battery preference is a maintenance free deep cycle gel type. Less mess, and less corrosive gas off that has to be vented. The 12 volt - 6 volt question is about capacity, which leads to the style of camping you plan to do. Without exception my camping has been where there are electrical hook-ups. I have on board battery chargers in both trailers so I have a small capacity battery. If I lived somewhere else and the typical camping was without hook-ups, I'd be looking at more capacity and possibly solar charging. My campers are air conditioned, but that has nothing to do with the 12 volt circuits which are for the lights and Fantastic RV fan. This is really more of a math question than anything. Load times hours of use equals need.

[wlooper89]

A more recent type of sealed battery is AGM. The name refers to the material between the plates that is absorbed glass mats. It allows the battery to be sealed like gel cell, but is less likely to be damaged by charging at a higher voltage as might occur if charging from the tow vehicle alternator.

The three types of battery used most in trailers are gel, AGM and flooded cell. Any of the three can be deep cycle, depending on the shape of the lead plates. A solid plate holds up better under deep cycle while a sponge shaped plate gives more cranking amps due to greater surface area. With a trailer battery there is no engine to start so usually deep cycle is better.

Flooded cell batteries are generally less expensive but give off more hydrogen and oxygen gas. The water that is vented as gas needs to be replinished occasionally. It is best not to put this type battery in a compartment with ignition source such as electrical gear that might produce a spark. A separate vented compartment is better.

Even the sealed batteries can give off some gas through a pressure relief valve but less than the flooded cell type. The material between the plates, either gel or AGM, absorbs the gas to be used again.

My choice was a 12V 110AH AGM deep cycle battery by a company named Fullriver. I do have a problem with its weight at 78 lbs. I actually installed a block and tackle attach point in my garage ceiling to lift it up and lower into my trailer tongue electrical compartment. Deep cycle batteries are usually heavier than starting batteries for a given AH rating because of the more solid lead plates. Next time I will go with something that weighs about half as much since we usually camp where there is AC hookup.

Bill

[Nitetimes]

Hello!
Does anybody have a prefernce on which one to buy? ]

Yup, I'll say it.....12 volt...I believe it was 'group 24' size...WallyWorld....about $60 bucks, it goes bad in a few years buy a new one.

[hunter535]

Picked up a battery today from walmart. I hate going to walmart but I was able to purchase a series 29 marine deep cycle with 125 amp hr. for $79.99 with a 18 month full replacement warranty and 36 month prorated. For that price I couldn't pass it up.

[wlooper89]

That sounds excellent! Also you appear to be young and strong enough to lift this battery. I had to borrow son to help me place my 110A one.

Bill

[hunter535]

Hi Bill,

I did a fair share of grunting and groaning when I placed the battery in the cart then on to the counter for checkout.

[digimark]

I'd like to upgrade my trailer's capacity, but need advice. My Pace trailer came with the el-cheapo series 24 Interstate HD24-DP 55 AH battery. They installed it in a white plastic, vented battery box. I understand I shouldn't try to draw more than 27.5 AH from it without recharging from a Battery Tender Plus connected to the AC shoreline or from the TV. (I put a HF battery disconnect switch on it, disconnecting it when the trailer is connected to the TV, so I won't lose the 30% of charge I understand you lose from the TV's power.)

For 12V power sinks, I have a Fantastic Vent 5000RBT (low 1.86A to high 3A), two inside dome lights, two outside porch lights and two 12V wall power points available for plugging in 12V stuff. I've also ordered an Endless Breeze 12V fan, and may also use 12V to charge cell phones.

If I wanted to replace it with a beefier battery, say the series 29 110AH ones, would it likely fit in the same battery box?

If I wanted to increase the battery capacity still further, I'd probably have to go the 2x 6V batteries route. Assuming I have the room for them, and I put in the right battery case, does anyone think the Battery Tender Plus will be a problem at that point?

Thanks.

[wlooper89]

The Battery Tender should be fine and also charging from the tow vehicle. I added a WFCO converter that can charge the battery as well as power the trailer, but that is an option. Your setup with the loads you described should be fine. My trailer sometimes stays at a storage facility but if it is at home in the garage I use a Battery Tender to maintain the trailer battery.

I have a 110 AH battery but it is very heavy, 78 lbs. I installed an attach point in the garage ceiling for a block and tackle to lift and lower the battery into position. Just something to consider. My back can no longer handle 78 lbs.

Bill