Battery upgrades

[brewcrew22]

Hello,
Just purchase a new 2021 jayfeather 24bh that is equipped with a 190w solar panel and a 30 amp charge controller. I would like to upgrade to 2 batteries on my unit so I’m able to boondock when we feel like it. Can anyone in here recommend good batteries that would fit my needs? And would I have to install an inverter to power certain things. I wouldn’t run the a/c but would maybe like to run a coffee pot or microwave every once and awhile. Possibly. Thanks!!

[billcf7]

Lithium if you can afford the upfront cost, end up cheaper over time

[bansai]

a pair of 6 volt Trojan t-105's wired in series is a *very* common upgrade if you have the space for them, or know how to weld, or are willing to pay someone to fabricate you a battery box for them. They have bigger ones too depending on your amp hour needs / and space. You would need an inverter strong enough to run your microwave and that's obviously a pretty serious drain on your batteries depending on how much you use it, you may even want to invest in a backup inverter/generator for those times when your power demands include the microwave. We love camping off grid, but in the summer, not being able to run the AC at all is a major problem throughout most of our camping areas. Our camper turns into an oven. totally depends on where you guys go of course. We bring the generator as a plan B for that, and a ton of other reasons. Always good to have options.

I'm 100% a coffee snob, but when camping off grid, we make our coffee in a french press that just requires us to boil some water on the stove. You might want to pick up a 12 volt coffee maker so you have one less thing to need an invertor for if you still want the 'drip' machine.

Envious that you have built-in solar. I would have definitely paid for that option if I could have.

[tpastorini]

I have been doing a lot of research on this. I have it down to two choices. Unless you are rich and want to do Lithium.

12 V 155 AH AGM battery (no water to maintain)
https://www.vmaxtanks.com/XTR12-155-...ry-_p_154.html

6 V 220 AH AGM Battery (no water to maintain)
https://www.batterystuff.com/batteri...y-gpl-4ct.html

I am going with the 155 AH 12 V. Will double my current capacity from my Costco 12V.

[billcf7]

Originally Posted by tpastorini

I have been doing a lot of research on this. I have it down to two choices. Unless you are rich and want to do Lithium.

12 V 155 AH AGM battery (no water to maintain)
https://www.vmaxtanks.com/XTR12-155-...ry-_p_154.html

6 V 220 AH AGM Battery (no water to maintain)
https://www.batterystuff.com/batteri...y-gpl-4ct.html

I am going with the 155 AH 12 V. Will double my current capacity from my Costco 12V.

Your 12v 155 AH battery is almost $400 and only have 75 of that useable. You can buy a 100 AH lithium for as low as $600 for 100 AH useable and will last 10 plus years without degrading. You will also get rid of more than half the battery weight NO BRAINER

[RAurand]

Question,
With the AGM batteries, will the chargers in the Jayco RV's properly charge the AGM batteries or will they over charge them?
My battery needs replaced and I am struggling with using (2) 6 volt 235 AH lead acid batteries in series or 2 group 24 Lead acid batteries in parallel, thus doubling my AH rating.

The plus side of the 2 12 volt batteries is if one fails, you still have 12 volts whereas with the 6 volt batteries, one fails, you have no battery power.

[tpastorini]

billcf7.... do you have a link to a $600 LiPO? everything I have seen has been in the $900.00

[deepsea5]

Originally Posted by tpastorini

billcf7.... do you have a link to a $600 LiPO? everything I have seen has been in the $900.00

Amazon has a few that are in the $500.00 price range.

[mini4mw]

Most chargers will handle AGM, sealed, flooded batteries fine. Its the LiFePo that the require additional dongle or new charger, usually depending on the age of the charger. If you get your charger model you can look up on Progressive Dynamic's web site (most likely the vendor you have) and see what they say. They do have a chart for conversion there as well:
https://www.progressivedyn.com/lithi...acement-units/

[billcf7]

Originally Posted by tpastorini

billcf7.... do you have a link to a $600 LiPO? everything I have seen has been in the $900.00

These are CAD$

https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=lithium+ir...ts-doa-p_11_12

[tpastorini]

Ok, I will add consideration of LiPo to my list. Looks like I have to upgrade my Progressive Dynamics converter too. Another $380++
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...4060LICSV.html

[billcf7]

Some converters are compatible with lifepo or can be set. Be sure to get batteries with a BMS

[dvspl]

Originally Posted by tpastorini

Ok, I will add consideration of LiPo to my list. Looks like I have to upgrade my Progressive Dynamics converter too. Another $380++
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...4060LICSV.html

Instead of upgrading my Progressive Dynamics converter, my LiFePo4 battery manufacturer suggested that I could just add the Charge Wizard remote pendant. This allows me to manually select the charger to Boost mode (14.4 V) so the batteries will get a full charge. Since the Lithium batteries keep a higher voltage at low SOC, the charger won't automatically detect a low SOC to go to Boost mode. So it's not as convenient as automatic sensing, but the pendant costs less than $15.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HS0PAI/

[tpastorini]

dvspl. I did look into that. It doesn't look like that works with my series converter. Thanks for the tip though, that should work for a lot of people on this link.

[RAurand]

Sent this e-mail to WFCO:
WFCO Product Model Number : WF-8955PEC
I need to get a new battery for my Jayco 2016 28BHBE trailer. I have the above WFCO power converter with distribution panel.

Will this work with AGM batteries?

What about LifePO batteries?

Their response:
AGM batteries will work on a WF-8955PEC.
Lithium batteries will not charge to 100 percent. We do offer a lower section replacement for the WF-8900 series, part number WF-8950L2-MBA for strictly for lithium batteries only.

[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by RAurand

Sent this e-mail to WFCO:
WFCO Product Model Number : WF-8955PEC
I need to get a new battery for my Jayco 2016 28BHBE trailer. I have the above WFCO power converter with distribution panel.

Will this work with AGM batteries?

What about LifePO batteries?

Their response:
AGM batteries will work on a WF-8955PEC.
Lithium batteries will not charge to 100 percent. We do offer a lower section replacement for the WF-8900 series, part number WF-8950L2-MBA for strictly for lithium batteries only.

If you want the ability to use lead acid (flooded and AGM) as well as LiFePO4 then I would swap out the converter/charger with a Progressive Dynamics PD4655VL which has a jumper to support either Lithium or Flooded/AGM Lead Acid. I did this swap-out on the WFCO 8955 in my ORV last spring and it's pretty simple and straightforward wire for wire. There is a jumper on the converter board that you set depending on which type of batteries you are using so it's easy to switch between the two types when needed.

[DNelson]

If you are considering LiFePO4 batteries take some time and watch some Will Prowse videos on YouTube. He tests many batteries and solar equipment. Unfortunately many are poor quality or lack things like low temperature protection. He also has a website where he lists only high quality batteries and solar items. For the money he is fond of SOK but they sell like hotcakes so one has to purchase quickly when they are in stock.

Will Prowse: https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...ry=will+prowse

Will's website: http://www.mobile-solarpower.com/

SOK: https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...ry=will+prowse

[tpastorini]

Thanks to the group for the recommendations. I am now going to make the LiFePO jump with the Ampere lithium iron phosphate battery 12v 100ah batteries and an upgrade to my converter. Amazon has them listed at $500 each and an the upgrade to the PD converter will cost another $400 or so. It will be about $1,000.00 more than the AGMs i was going to do, but i think the extra power and longevity convinced me to do it. Thanks again and happy RVing!!

[billcf7]

You will not be disappointed with your decision Happy Camping

[Genr8rs]

Jayco responded to me that my Jayco charger will handle AGM. I am goin the 2 12 volt 24 for several reasons including backup for my tow truck and flexibility of the extra battery.