6V vs 12 V & Flooded vs AGM vs Lithium Poll

[gypsmjim]

Originally Posted by Stingray75

Have a pair of group27 12v interstate batteries. With the trailer at the dealer again, I’m sure they will be dead for the second time in about a year. Good info here to help me decide what my next move will be.

If you don't already have one, install a battery switch. Then, put a HUGE red sign on the trailer telling the dealer to turn off the battery when they are not working on it.

[MacBean]

I am running 6- 12V, LiFePO4 (Lithium) batteries with 500 watts of solar and a 3000 watt inverter. The batteries will run everything DC for a week plus. With everything off they hold 13VDC charge for months.

[mlumia]

Hi All,

I currently use 2 Optima AGM Yellow top batteries and will move to Lion after we install solar. The only concern I have with Lion batteries is securing them so that it is hard to steal them - at $1K it would stink if someone stole them. Granted the Optima batteries are not cheap.

[mlumia]

I just checked out Amazon and there is a variety of locking systems for batteries. While I like the diamond plate boxes, they are pricey - the shackle device looks promising. Both would need a decent lock. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=locking+b...ss_ts-a-p_4_14

Another option is to go with a locking shackle strap - but there are some bad reviews about how easy it is to cut them. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=locking+b...ss_ts-a-p_4_14

[tpastorini]

I just checked my Lead Acid batteries after sitting for about 6 weeks. They were holding a charge at 12.6 volts. I put two solar panels on them, just to keep a top charge. That was more than I was expecting to see.

[gypsmjim]

Originally Posted by tpastorini

I just checked my Lead Acid batteries after sitting for about 6 weeks. They were holding a charge at 12.6 volts. I put two solar panels on them, just to keep a top charge. That was more than I was expecting to see.

I have only 1 solar panel. Naturally, in direct sun I get good amperage, but it does provide some juice even on cloudy days.

In the winter, It will show slight amps charging as long as the snow on the panel is 1" or less.

[mini4mw]

If you plan on keeping the unit many years and out of warranty, upgrade the charger (if necessary) and go lithium. If the plan is only a few years or still under warranty, go cheap and use lead acid.

IMO lithium is better, but for mostly hookup camping the house battery can be cheap. For more boondocking, solar and LiPo4 is the way to go.

[Duke4857]

Lead/Acid work fine for us. We are weekend campers and maybe 2 weeks boondocking. We do have generators to charge the batteries. I have one 70 watt solar panel that I home made many years ago when panel prices were sky high and a 30 amp PWM solar controller. I cannot go full solar, the wife needs the A/C. Putting in enough batteries and solar to run the A/C would take a separate truck to pack batteries around.

[Puddle Pirate]

Had 4 T105, switched to lithium - love it 8 batterys 100 amp's of usable power x 8 800 amps, =224 pounds of weight happy camper--4 T105 battery vent system=350 pounds , and these batterys i have charge 5 x faster than lead acid--

[Lake Huron]

I did a multi vote. I have a pair of 6v's lead acid in series, used only to power my residential fridge. Then I have a group 31 AGM 12v house battery. I got 5 years on the AGM and 4 years out of the pair of 6v's so far.