Battery life

[Dchafe]

Hi all, we have a 2020 Seneca. My question is 2 parts. How long should the batteries last in these units before replacing? When you replace, should you replace all batteries including the chassis batteries?

[Rustynuts]

The factory Harris batteries aren’t that great and their life varies depending on how they were maintained and treated during use. Most reports I see on them, they can last 1-4 years. The chassis batteries do not need to be replaced when the house batteries are, most reports, people are getting 7+ years out of them with normal use unless abused. My chassis batteries are going strong going on 7 years.

[EricM22]

I noticed a dropoff of the stock Harris AGMs after year two. Not terrible, but noticeable dropoff of capacity.

I just last week switched to five 100ah lithium batteries with a smart shunt. Boondocked last weekend and after using full power all evening, overnight, and after morning coffees, still had 80% usable capacity. Solar panels had them charged back up to 100% by around noon. Very happy.

Bought chinese "Enjoybot" brand lithiums for about $350 each, that have both high temp and low temp auto-shutoff. They were rated favorably on YouTube by the various people who tear them apart, test and compare components, so I decided to try them over the $1000 Battleborns.

[TaftCoach]

Your other question: I would treat the chassis battery differently than the house batteries. They have different purposes and generally different lifespans depending on how much dry camping you do.

[billcf7]

Originally Posted by Dchafe

Hi all, we have a 2020 Seneca. My question is 2 parts. How long should the batteries last in these units before replacing? When you replace, should you replace all batteries including the chassis batteries?

Lead acid batteries will last for years if they are maintained. NEVER allow them to go below 50% discharge and let the water in the cells drop below recommended level. This includes year round. AGM need to follow the same maintenance with the exception of checking the water level. 50% discharge of a lead acid or AGM battery is 12.2-12.3 volts

[CAG]

While many get long life out of their batteries, it generally depends upon location, climate, and use.



In the desert the normal life span of a lead acid car battery, in a vehicle is 18 months. Mainly because of the heavy draw they get during high heat. A/C running, car/truck running in 110+ etc. It tends to kill batteries before their time.

House batteries in RVs last longer but the best I have done with either lead acid or AGM is three years. Not quite as much heavy draw on them but it still gets hot even in the mountains here and they get a good amount of A/C draw at time.



I think you are in Texas from the location and if so you are probably going to be closer to our experience that someone in the northeast.

[Rustynuts]

This would be a good time to point out the real value of going to Lithium batteries for the house. The average person get 3-4 years about of Flooded or AGM and the average AGM only gets about 500 charge cycles in its life. Lithium (Lifepo4) on the other hand can easily last 10 years or more and has an average of 5000 charge cycles, plus Lithium charges twice as fast.

[billcf7]

X2

[CAG]

Yes, what I failed to mention that I did.

[Dchafe]

Thanks all. I guess my concern is while out somewhere on some long 2 month plus trip they would all decide to go out. I keep the rig on shore power with the main house batteries switched off when not in use. I know on my duramax Denali batteries are good for 3 years tops.