Which Battery Do You Use?

[Smitty0]

Hey there, Hoping to get some insight into my upcoming battery purchase. I have done some research and can see the benefits of the expensive batteries however I don't boondock. I'm usually connected to shore power even when its stored at the house we have a 30 amp connection to keep it plugged up to. I was looking at the optima deep cycle. Anyone have any experience with those? I want a good battery but I don't need to be able to power my camper for more than 20-30 mins tops. Then it will be hooked to the shore power or a generator. What do you guys use? I did look in to the converter I have and it does have the battery minder / tender as to not overcharge it. Thanks for your time.

[RogerR]

I had several different batteries over the years. Hope this one will last a long time. It is a Renogy Lithium with a 5 year 80% guarantee. No water to add, no worries about running it down by accident and damaging it. No need to use a trickle charger or check water all winter long.
Several less expensive batteries on Amazon but I like Renogy as they have USA offices. Pretty much you get what you pay for, Renogy, Battleborn and a few others. With Renogy I got a referral from a prior buyer 7% off plus 5% off of the sale price.

With my 200 watts of solar I just have no worries of my battery going dead at night and leaving me cold and dark like my old lead battery.

[billcf7]

Even though you are always plugged in you dont have power when travelling down the road. Running your refigerator will kill a lead acid battery in a couple hours. I run a 200 a/h enduro power lithium in my 5er

[TaftCoach]

My last couple have been Duracell from Batteries Plus. 100 amp hour rated deep cycle.

[Loaded-N-Rollin']

Originally Posted by billcf7

Even though you are always plugged in you dont have power when travelling down the road. Running your refigerator will kill a lead acid battery in a couple hours. I run a 200 a/h enduro power lithium in my 5er

If running down the road during the daytime, is this still true if I have 400W solar panels, or is that enough to run fridge?

[adsfhjq]

Renogy lithium 100ah.

[GarlicDude]

I bought a Crown battery, when I googled it for reviews up came an Amazon link

https://www.amazon.com/VMAXMB107-Cyc.../dp/B00BDV6TM8

I also installed a guage after I learned that discharging a battery below really shortens the life. I'm plugged in 100% of the time at home.

[jetlag]

Originally Posted by Loaded-N-Rollin'

If running down the road during the daytime, is this still true if I have 400W solar panels, or is that enough to run fridge?

We have the Jayco solar system with 2 190W panels, and along with the power from the truck while connected, have not had any issues whatsoever. I monitor the batteries through the JayCommand App, and they stay fully charged while traveling.

[Randyman69357]

I only have one solar panel factory installed and with it and the truck charge have no problem traveling with the residential fridge. The dealer installed 4 AGM Interstate batteries as part of our PDI when we picked it up a year and a half ago. Mine shows on the Jay command app that it is staying charged up as well.

[TaftCoach]

Originally Posted by Loaded-N-Rollin'

If running down the road during the daytime, is this still true if I have 400W solar panels, or is that enough to run fridge?

Especially if you aren't opening and closing the fridge.

[TxLoser]

I’ve been running a couple Duracell 6V. They’re either 215 or 230 AH. 10-12 hrs on the road with my residential fridge running and they’re good still when we arrive. I’d like a better setup, but this works for us as we always have at least 30amp.

[RogerR]

Originally Posted by Loaded-N-Rollin'

If running down the road during the daytime, is this still true if I have 400W solar panels, or is that enough to run fridge?

Your fridge and the temperature, use, etc. vary the load so the best way to get an answer is to find the amount of amps your fridge pulls in a day and the amount you use elsewhere for furnace, lights, misc. loads.

[boatless]

I'm just installing a Lithium battery bank. Do I need to do anything different with the charge coming from the vehicle while we're driving?

[Murff]

Originally Posted by Loaded-N-Rollin'

If running down the road during the daytime, is this still true if I have 400W solar panels, or is that enough to run fridge?

If driving down the road, and the fridge is propane, the tow vehicle will keep the trailer battery charged. I am not so sure about the 120 volt fridge.

Murff

[kirkelli]

I'm using Battleborn Lithiums. If i could do it over again today, i would go with the SOK Lithiums. Battleborns are a good battery with a 10 year warranty but they are expensive as heck.. SOK's have the same warranty and 2/3 the cost of the Battleborn... And SOK have gotten nothing but positive reviews. If you are looking at the conventional wet cell, the Interstate battery are as good as any of them..

[PeteV]

We will need to change out our house battery and I found a few good Deep Cycle AGM options. Does the built in in inverter in our RV have built in over change and discharge protection? Any battery recommendations? I am looking at the 12V 100aH Renogy AGM. Thanks!

[Hollander Mutthaulers]

We don't boondock much either, just a night now and then. We just bought an Everstart Maxx 29dc for ~$100 to replace our still-working-but-wondering-for-how-long original six-year-old Mighty Bruin brand group 24 battery Thorjayco dumped in the trailer when they built it in 2016. From what I could determine, Wally's battery is best bang for the buck for my purposes. Just need enough to keep refrig instrument panel going, a fan or two, brief water pump, and lights as needed.

[DrSmart]

Got fed up with the weight and maintenance of the lead acid. And 100AH lead acid is only good for 50AH.If you discharge below 50%, you'll damage the battery. Went with 2 Renogy 100AH lithium batteries. We have a residential fridge. That and the flat screen TV are on the 1200 watt inverter. We have lost power in the campground a couple of times. Didn't even know it, except the microwave clock was zeroed. I estimate the 21 cu ft res fridge would run for 12 hours minimum on the lithium.

Keep in mind that if you switch to Lithium, you'll need a lithium charger. Our power panel/converter has an option plug to change to lithium charge profile.

[Lord-Dogbert]

I built my own out of lifepo4 cells. I have a 75 kWh (2800 ah at 24v) pack in the same space that 6 FLA or Battleborn batteries would consume. Cost $3500.
The same setup with Battleborns would consist of 56 batteries or $44,800 assuming $800 a piece and i'd run out of physical space after the 12th battery. Plus in 24v the batteries would get out of alignment with their state of charge and cause ripples.
If you don't want to built your own then I recommend SOK or Lion from Costco, 2 for $1400 which is how I started.
I went 24v due to my inverters and charge controller; I use a 24-12 converter.
We just camped for 4 days with very cloudy rainy days so solar was weak and didn't touch the generator once. Battery was down to 86% with a resi fridge, cooking and normal living.

[dbahn]

Originally Posted by billcf7

Even though you are always plugged in you dont have power when travelling down the road. Running your refigerator will kill a lead acid battery in a couple hours. I run a 200 a/h enduro power lithium in my 5er

I thought that the power controller directed some current from the chassis battery to the house battery (although not as effectively as the generator). If so and you're travelling down the road won't the alternator keep the chassis battery charged and wouldn't that keep the house battery safely charged?

Is that arrangement something that differs from model to model? I have a 2016 29mv and have never worried about maintaining 12 volts or more in the chassis battery during drives, even for a full day of driving.