Replace house batteries

[Palms]

Looking for AGM or other excellent deep cycle Group 27 batteries to replace the OEM ones that came on my ‘17 Precept 35S. Looked at Optima Yellow Top but seemed like a lot of money. Current ones give problems and Jayco advised to replace and send invoice. Looking for good quality that is also good value. All suggestions very welcome.

[Grumpy]

Interstate has always been reliable for me.

[jimp]

Lots of good reviews on the Cabelas AGM batteries used for trolling motors on fishing boats.

[Vicr]

You want to look at Full River, Trojan, Deka and Rolls for true deep cycle batteries. I added two group J-185's because we dry camp a lot.

[txbonds]

Vicr are those charged by the house charging system or did you have to change that to something different?

[Vicr]

The batteries requires 20-55 amps to charge so I use this Noco Genius.

[txbonds]

Nice. Thanks. So you disconnected the house charger somehow? And this one is tied in to charge whenever the generator or shore power is plugged in?

Do they charge from the alternator?

Does the battery tender charge the engine battery?

[Vicr]

I have a battery selector switch. I can charge the house batteries normally with the converter or I can switch them off and use the Battery Tender to maintain them in the winter with the coach unplugged and "off". I only use the Noco to charge the Full River J-185's.

[Vicr]

Originally Posted by txbonds

Nice. Thanks. So you disconnected the house charger somehow? Yes, with the selector switch. And this one is tied in to charge whenever the generator or shore power is plugged in? No

Do they charge from the alternator? Only the house batteries when switched on.

Does the battery tender charge the engine battery?

No, it is connected to the house batteries.

[txbonds]

So these are extra additional batteries as opposed to just replacing your two factory house batts?

[Vicr]

Yes, I have a total capacity of 1160 minutes at 25 amps. This photo was taken before my complete installation of the system was done.

[txbonds]

Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

[NickM]

Vicr,

We don’t boondock but I need to replace the cheapie house batteries, they no longer hold much charge. Will the Fall River batteries fit in the tray for the oem house batteries?

[Vicr]

Yes Nick, Fall River makes group 27 batteries.

[Palms]

Put 2 Duracell AGM group 31 which fit perfectly in my 35S tray and did away with auto battery level keeper. Under warranty for quite a while.

[NickM]

Were the Duracell rated 100 or so amps? Was looking at them through Sams Club

[Palms]

They are rated at 105 amps each. Purchased on7/13/18 and have warranty until 1/13/2021, 30 months. 12V 31DT Duracell Ultra AGM at $215.99 each, with 10% coupon from the Batteries + Bulbs website. They installed the new ones, removed the water system from the old ones and kept the cores. Very happy with the result.

[NickM]

Thanks, I found them at Sams club in Traverse City, MI for $179 each. We are headed down that way on Monday so I’ll stop and get a pair and dump these junky house batteries.

[Vicr]

Duracell batteries are manufactured by East Penn which also manufactures DEKA batteries. They are one of the biggest and best battery manufacturers in the country. Two thumbs up for the Duracell AGM's!

[NickM]

Wow, that’s great news in my book. Thanks Vicr.

Now if I could just find the fuse for my 7 pin connector charging circuit I would definitely be a happy camper.