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10-18-2019, 03:23 PM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: puyallup
Posts: 17
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what is the best battery to have?
We just bought a vista cruiser 19csk 2020 it has one battery on the front. I am just wondering what is the best battery to have. I used to live on a sailboat and we used to have dry cell batteries but that was years ago and I just want to be able to go dry camping and not have to worry about the battery. Any advice is much appreciated.
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10-18-2019, 08:49 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 281
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Best batteries are lithium, longest life least weight cost the most
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Mike & Becky
2005 Crescendo 8356
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10-19-2019, 11:35 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Mechanicsville, Md.
Posts: 487
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Lithium Batteries
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frutza
Best batteries are lithium, longest life least weight cost the most
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Lithium Batteries require a different kind of charger than what is in the RV. The normal charger will cause the Lithium Batts to EXPLODE.
Ask me how I know!
Just use the biggest Deep Cycle you can fit for a camper in most situations
Sudsy
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2005 Sun Voyager Workhorse W24 with 8.1 ltr Chevy. Allison 2100 transmission. Full body paint.
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10-19-2019, 12:56 PM
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#4
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: puyallup
Posts: 17
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wow so how do you charge a lithium battery?
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10-19-2019, 01:10 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Mechanicsville, Md.
Posts: 487
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Look Here
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2005 Sun Voyager Workhorse W24 with 8.1 ltr Chevy. Allison 2100 transmission. Full body paint.
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10-19-2019, 03:54 PM
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#6
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: puyallup
Posts: 17
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It looks like the LiFePO4 are designed to drop in and replace the acid batteries.
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10-18-2019, 09:20 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 128
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The best battery is the one that lasts long enough. You need to figure out how much battery capacity you need, and for how long. Generally speaking, if you don't run the furnace (the blower motor takes a lot of power) and don't run a TV for hours on end off an inverter you can get away with a single group 31 for a weekend.
While LiFePO4 are the best, they're quite pricey and most people still use lead acid because of the low cost. (I use AGM because I don't like having to add water and like being able to mount them on their side. I also have a > 300 watt solar power system.)
Here's some information that might help:
http://trailertraveler.net/calculate-rv-amp-usage/
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2014 Innsbruck Lite 198BH
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08-08-2020, 08:32 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Rio Rico, AZ
Posts: 63
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2 batteries in parallel
I have a new to me 2004 BT Cruiser 5211, but think my question is generic.
The aux battery is as close to dead as you can get, won't hold a charge. I plan to replace it with same model, Interstate. There's room in the rack for another battery.
I'm thinking of putting in two new batteries while I'm at it. Seems like it's as straight forward as hooking them up in parallel. I assume they'll still charge normally, just more to charge. Likewise, a trickle charger for maintenance will work OK.
Anything I should be especially aware of ??
TIA, BillP
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08-09-2020, 08:35 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 142
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most of us with 6v House battery banks will tell you that if you are moving from a 12v house battery to a 'multi' battery configuration, then go with two 6v batteries, wired in SERIES, for a 12v output, as these batteries, like the GC2, or more well designed for 'RV' type usage - a 'slow' draw on the batteries while you are enjoying your 12v systems while camping.
While it may initially 'sound' like two 12v batteries would be better, that's not how batteries work. Two 6v 'deep charge' GC2 'golf cart type' batteries, wired in Series, are superior to two 12v batteries.
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...2014 Ameri lite 259BH...
the Turners...
two Campers, two Electric Cars
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08-09-2020, 11:37 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Rio Rico, AZ
Posts: 63
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Thanks for the advice and education.
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08-09-2020, 08:41 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,028
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If you have room for two batteries, consider using two 6 volt golf cart batteries in series to make the 12 volts you need. Charging this series stack is the same as with any lead acid battery, so no need to change the present converter in your RV. I did this to my camp trailer years ago when i did a lot of longer dry camping for deer and elk hunting. The cart batteries are true deep cycle designs with the ability to consistently give at least 80% of rated capacity, unlike a normal automotive 'starting' or even the mixed use 'marine' batteries. Plus they are not that expensive and come in 225 and 250 amp-hour capacities.
A further benefit of cart batteries is the series stack for charging. Charging lead acid batteries in parallel is tricky - you need to have the same age and manufacturer of battery and in the same/similar condition, and you need longer "topping" charging times. While it is a good idea to have same brand and age cart batteries, the series stack is not as critical to charge imbalances as the parallel setup.
As to recharging while camping, my winter hunting camps were not very conducive to solar charging...so I carried a small generator for just charging. It was made by Subaru and gave up to 80 amps at 12 volts and ran on a very small 2 stroke engine using about a quart of fuel per complete recharge. It was not very quiet, but only needed to run for about an hour or two (and there were plenty of chain saws in the woods making more noise that this generator which I ran about once a week.)
Chuck
__________________
2007 Tour Master T40C
Acura MDX toad
"It takes a great deal of time to recover from any improvement..."
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08-09-2020, 11:38 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Rio Rico, AZ
Posts: 63
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Thanks for the education. It seemed logical to me that 2 x 12 would be better than 2x6. So much for logic.
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