Deep cycle battery?

[mlambertino]

Hi all,

I have never dealt with a deep cycle battery before and am hoping someone can help out.

My pop up currently has an Interstate (Mega-Tron) Marine-RV Deep Cycle battery. I have no clue how old it is. It was dead when I first got the trailer home. I plugged it up to a battery charger and after about 12 hours I was getting a voltage of about 12.3V. I decided to take it off to see if it would hold a charge. I checked on it 4 hours later and I was down to 0.1V. Because I've never dealt with Deep cycle batteries, I don't know what this means? Is there anything maintenance wise that can be done to this battery or do I need to just replace it?

TIA

[Doug]

Replace it.

[mlambertino]

Thanks, that was kind of what I figured. Any recommendations on a good replacement? Should I go for the same battery?

[stateboy]

It sounds like it's replacement time. Even 12.3 is marginal for a full charge. It should be close to 14.2 to 14.4 volts.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

[redsnapper]

Sam's club sells deep cycle Duracell branded batts.

Make sure you select the deep cycle and not just a starting batt

[mlambertino]

Thanks everyone. On the top of the battery it says SRM-24...I'm assuming 24 is the group size I need to be looking for?

[bdreinv]

If you replace it we have had good luck with 6v golf car batteries from Wall Mart. Enjoy your camper!

[bdreinv]

Group 27 if the costs is not that much more!

[stateboy]

There are 24 volt batteries out there but HIGHLY unlikely in your application (supported by your 12 volt reading after charging). I believe you're safe to presume the 24 is the group size. You'll need to take the old one in to save a core charge (plus free disposal).

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

[Danno]

Originally Posted by 36fire412

It should be close to 14.2 to 14.4 volts.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

Those are voltages while charging. A fully charged battery at rest will be around 13V +/- depending on the brand of battery.

[mlambertino]

This is the battery that is currently installed.

[Allen_C]

One 12v Deep Cycle Group 24 (27 if you have some room in the battery compartment) battery will do if you don't camp more than one day without plugging in to shore power

[Mustang65]

Originally Posted by mlambertino

Thanks, that was kind of what I figured. Any recommendations on a good replacement? Should I go for the same battery?

We need a little more information.

The type of battery depends on the type of camping you do...
Always hooked up to shore power?
Dry Camping without electrical hookup?
If dry camping how long?

Don

My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

[Gypsea]

Had similar situation with my 2010 Jay Flight 22FB we bought in February. Battery (2 yr old) was 'OK' when checked trailer out at the seller. Used lights and radio for a few minutes each time we checked on it during winter / spring storage - until last week. Was getting trailer ready for an overnight dry run / checkout. Was totally dead. Batteries Plus store checked it out, did a several hour quick charge followed by a 15 second discharge test. The battery dropped to 2 v within seconds. Bought a Duracell size 24 deep cycle there last week for $81.99 plus tax. Have a $10 rebate thru tomorrow 6/30. Must be mailed in by 7/15. Good Luck.

Note - we have three Batteries Plus / Duracell 4-D batteries in our sailboat. They've lasted eight years. Probably will replace before lengthy summer trip - just due to age... They are kept on a smart charger year round and checked for water level twice a year.

Lee

[mlambertino]

Originally Posted by Mustang65

We need a little more information.

The type of battery depends on the type of camping you do...
Always hooked up to shore power?
Dry Camping without electrical hookup?
If dry camping how long?

Don

My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

For the most part we stay in areas where there are electrical hook ups. In the event that there are not, we would not got more than two or three days most likely.

[Mustang65]

Originally Posted by mlambertino

For the most part we stay in areas where there are electrical hook ups. In the event that there are not, we would not got more than two or three days most likely.

- If you are mostly at CG's that provide power than a normal size 24 battery would be fine, but the 2 -3 days you would need more battery power.

Next questions...
How many days a year do you camp without shore power?

Do you use an inverter to watch Tv or anything else?

Do you have a generator that you take with you?

How do you charge your batteries for those 2 -3 days?

Don

[mlambertino]

Originally Posted by Mustang65

- If you are mostly at CG's that provide power than a normal size 24 battery would be fine, but the 2 -3 days you would need more battery power.

Next questions...
How many days a year do you camp without shore power?

Do you use an inverter to watch Tv or anything else?

Do you have a generator that you take with you?

How do you charge your batteries for those 2 -3 days?

Don

Right now, I don't know when/if we would camp without power. We have always gone to CG's and tent camped. This is our first time owning a camper. We don't watch TV while we are out camping. At the most the only things being used inside the camper would be the furnace (if it's cold out), the lights (Which I am in the process of switching to LED), and then to charge our cell phones and possibly a small boom box. Other than that I can't think of any other major uses we would have for the electric.

[Mustang65]

If you need your heater, you will only get one night out of it. The thing that you need to keep in mind is that the battery voltage should never go below 12.0VDC. So if you have a standard 12VDC RV/Marine battery of 85Amp hours you can only use about 40ish of those amp hours, going by the 50% rule. If you have no way of charging the battery, you pretty much have to stop using the battery until it is recharged.

These are probably the hardest questions to answer, because a slight shift in your camping style cold play a big part on your battery(s) life.

For dry-camping most members use (2) 6 volt batteries in parallel to give you 12VDC. The difference is that you have about 2x the Ah available for the heater and what ever else you need them for. BUT they will cost you a lot more that their 12Volt counterparts.

Personally, I would recommend going with (2) inexpensive 12VDC deep cycle batteries (Interstate RV/Marine deep cycle batteries) for your first choice. Reason... this will be mostly learning experience for you, and trashing inexpensive batteries is a lot better that trashing the (2) 6 volt expensive batteries. If dry camping and it is necessary to put a charge back into the batteries, you can charge them a little in the morning and in the evening using your TV. You can learn how to live off of battery power this way and transitioning to the expensive ones will be much easier (on your wallet).

Get a Digital Voltage Display for the TT so you can monitor your battery.

I am sure there will be other suggestions for you to follow....

Don

My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

[bdreinv]

Something maybe to consider later is some portable Solar.I think in 2006 we bought from Harbor Freight 145 watt set up..Spent maybe 150.00.Solved lots of battery problems.We mostly dry camp. On our 16 Eagle we install permanent Solar system.Never worry about batteries that are not fully charged any more.Our first camper was a Coleman pop up in 1990.It was a blast!Enjoy your new rig!

[Mustang65]

Originally Posted by bdreinv

......Our first camper was a Coleman pop up in 1990.It was a blast!Enjoy your new rig!

Question... on the pop-up's did you notice that you used more battery power to keep them heated at night. I would think with the canvas it would get colder a lot faster.

Don

My Registry

RVing with SOLAR