Initial Battery set-up

[BigRedd]

I dont know why I am going back and forth on this so much but I am having a bit of an issue figuring out a battery set-up that will work for our family.

I have gone back and forth between 2 6v 200 amp batteries, and one 100 amp Battle Born battery. We are only planning to camp a couple weeks this year but will spend a couple months in the trailer from May to Sept next year. We plan to travel with a Honda EU2200i generator, so when we need to top up batteries we can. We are also planning to upgrade the charge controller to help our batteries charge faster but I have a couple questions. Most of our camping will be at Provincial or Rec Sites so no power will be available to us.

As we are planning to use the Honda EU2200i, and since it is only a 15 amp generator, is there any point to a 55 amp charge controller? Or am I missing something there? 15 amps in means 15 amps out right?

The battery dilemma, I keep on going back and forth. I decided against the flooded batteries for charge time, I am not concerned about maintenance. The AGM's seem to charge a lot faster and less time with the generator on seems to be our preference. No plans on putting solar on at the moment. My wife and I like the shade as it will keep the heat down in the camper as well. But I am torn over a Lithium battery. The upfront cost is horrendous, but over time it seems like they pay for themselves. We are not full timers, and if that was the case we would probably go lithium, but for the couple weeks of use and a hand full of weekends, I feel the AGM will suit us for a long time.

Your expertise would be appreciated.

Cheers

 

[GHen-JAY]

I have similar questions. I currently have just two hybrid flooded batteries that came with the trailer.
If I upgrade to other battery options how does that affect how long it takes to recharge. If I have a Honda 2000, how long will it take to recharge each type each day. I guess I need to say something like if each option had the same amp capacity. But, I also know that some can discharge to a lower level. I know some experts read this, maybe there is a chart that will help.

If I only want to run the generator for two hours a day' how does that affect my options?

 

[Robbbyr]

When you refer to your charge controller are you talking about your onboard converter or a separate solar charge controller? You mention no solar now so I am guessing you mean your converter.

The amps of a 120-volt AC (alternating current) generator and 12-volt DC (direct current) components such as a converter or charge controller are related but significantly different. If there were no conversion losses (and there are), a 2,200 watt, 120-volt generator equates to about 18 amps at 120-volts, but that is over 180 amps at 12-volts. Your 55-amp converter is rated at 55 amps output at 12-volts so that requires about 5.5 amps at 120-volt AC. Again, that converion ignores any electrical resistance or conversion losses, and there are losses when your converter takes AC voltage and converts it to12-volts DC.

The choice between lithium and lead-acid is one hotly debated. Lithium batteries require specific charging regimens that most stock onboard converters cannot do. So if you go lithium, prepare to also invest in a new converter or a separate charging system too. However if you go lead-acid, most newer converters can handle either AGM or flooded cell batteries adequately.

 

[Bullitt6283]

I've had the same dilemma, trying to decide between AGM or lithium.

I've decided to buy two Lifeline GPL-6CT 6-volt AGM batteries. This would give me 300Ah capacity (150Ah at 50%). I sent an email to Lifeline and they've confirmed that my PD4060K charger is fine to use with their AGM batteries.

 

[BigRedd]

When you refer to your charge controller are you talking about your onboard converter or a separate solar charge controller? You mention no solar now so I am guessing you mean your converter.

Thats totally what I meant, thanks for the clarification. I was wondering why Amazon was showing me search results for solar charge controllers.

....a 2,200 watt, 120-volt generator equates to about 18 amps at 120-volts, but that is over 180 amps at 12-volts...

That was the exact information I was wondering about. I guess I could of googled AC to DC amp conversion and figured it out myself but I figured amps were amps. Thanks for the electrical lesson. I was reading through the manual and found that some TT's come with a Converter with Charge Wizard, which seems to do a good job of charging the batteries up fast, I will go look when I get a chance to see which one is equipped in my TT.

The choice between lithium and lead-acid is one hotly debated. Lithium batteries require specific charging regimens that most stock onboard converters cannot do. So if you go lithium, prepare to also invest in a new converter or a separate charging system too. However if you go lead-acid, most newer converters can handle either AGM or flooded cell batteries adequately.

I am still a little undecided on lithium batteries. Although there seem to be some good companies out there I still feel the technology is new and although the cost over time seems like lithium is the right choice I might wait and see if the price drops over the next couple years as more people enter the marketplace. I might kick myself later but who knows we might be getting 300Ah batteries for the price of 100Ah batteries right now.

I've decided to buy two Lifeline GPL-6CT 6-volt AGM batteries. This would give me 300Ah capacity (150Ah at 50%). I sent an email to Lifeline and they've confirmed that my PD4060K charger is fine to use with their AGM batteries.

I like the 300Ah capacity but they are heavy. I was looking at the GPL-4CT or the Trojan. Need to see what the availability is up in Canada. Did your TT come with the PD4060K or was that an upgrade?

Thanks for all your help on this guys, I really appreciate the insight.

 

[Bullitt6283]

I've had the same dilemma, trying to decide between AGM or lithium.
I've decided to buy two Lifeline GPL-6CT 6-volt AGM batteries. This would give me 300Ah capacity (150Ah at 50%). I sent an email to Lifeline and they've confirmed that my PD4060K charger is fine to use with their AGM batteries.

I like the 300Ah capacity but they are heavy. I was looking at the GPL-4CT or the Trojan. Need to see what the availability is up in Canada. Did your TT come with the PD4060K or was that an upgrade?

Yeah, the GPL-6CT are 90 lbs each. I'm working on reinforcing the compartment floor. I'm going to lay them on their sides. The PD4060K charger is the unit that came with the camper.
.

 

[Siamese]

It sounds like your battery needs are similar to my own.

me:
2017 Jayco 26BH
upgraded converter to Progressive Dynamics unit
small generator (Briggs and Stratton 2200)

We usually have full hookups, but do the occasional off grid for a night or two.

We had a welder put some stouter rails on the tongue of our trailer to handle the weight of a pair of lead acid 6v batteries. That gives us the amp hours we need to run the furnace all night in freezing weather without worrying about it. And, lead acid isn't a wrong choice.

I like to keep my batteries topped off. A couple hours or more of charging each day with the generator does the job, and keeps the batteries healthy. We run it in the early evening when we might be using the microwave, television, etc.. We'll run it again in the morning for hair dryer, coffee, and charging.

This has proven entirely adequate, easy, and cost effective.

Oh, and we keep the generator tied down in the pickup bed with a topper. When it's time to run the generator, I just open the rear window of the topper, and yank the starter cord. You can hear the generator in the trailer, but it's just a low purr. I wouldn't want to have to lug the generator around every time I used it.

 

[BigRedd]

It sounds like your battery needs are similar to my own.

We are planning to spend most of our time at Provincial Campgrounds or Rec Sites,(Canadian BLM) neither of these usually have hook-ups for power, so essential we'll be on battery or generator the whole time we camp. Most of these sites are pretty heavily treed in B.C., so solar is of no use to us either. Although they do get sun, it is sporadic at best and I don't feel solar would be cost efficient at all.

I have no idea what our power needs will be. But if being at home is any indication my lights will probably be turned off and on 60 times a day ( twin toddlers). But mostly it will probably be the water pump, bathroom fan, lights and maybe the radio. Only time will tell what our needs are I guess.

I wish the TT just came with a battery setup, but they charge you for them so I am glad I got to choose I guess. A dealer in town has 6V Valiant 220Ah AGMs for $299, and Trojans for $399, Canadian $.

 

[arcaguy]

For what little use the OP is going to put the batteries to I'd stick with the AGMs and save my money for fuel. The coach is already set up for that type of battery, although maybe not optimized for it. Full-time/solar completely different answer. One thing to keep in mind is that many lithium batteries are rated in usable amp-hours where flooded and AGM batteries you need to cut the amp-hours in half to get usable. Good luck.

 

[RobieMo]

Big Redd,

Ohh the great question... To Lithium or to not Lithium. As you can see there are some very very smart, educated and helpful people on this site. Me, I'm kinda a neck down type of guy but here is my two cents..... Take the leap, invest in the Lithium and don't look back. Spend your time worrying about your two little ones and not your batteries. I did and couldn't be happier. I had a TT for years and we always played the battery game. When we finally bought our Class C after our first trip out and having the cheepo battery die the first night I was done. Switched over to Battle Born and couldn't be happier!!! We have taken multiple trips and love everything about them.

Take the leap of faith and come over to the Lithium side. Life is too short to worry about batteries.

Again...just my two cents.

Rob

 

[RPR]

One post said going to lay batteries on their side. When used in electric pallet jacks they found the sealed 6 volt AGM batteries lasted longer standing them up on end and not on their side. If I remember correctly the plates in the batteries held up better because the plates are laying flat and not on their end. Movement and bouncing of vehicle.

 

[Bullitt6283]

One post said going to lay batteries on their side. When used in electric pallet jacks they found the sealed 6 volt AGM batteries lasted longer standing them up on end and not on their side. If I remember correctly the plates in the batteries held up better because the plates are laying flat and not on their end. Movement and bouncing of vehicle.

A pallet jack, with solid wheels and no suspension, and perhaps frequently running over uneven dockplates, would be a rather extreme case.


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[Jaytalk]

I'm looking to replace my single 12-volt, group 27, flooded battery with an AGM battery, 100 amps. Can anybody recommend a brand of battery to fill that need? At this time, I'm not interested in getting two 6 volt batteries, because I don't have the storage space.

Thanks.

 

[Bullitt6283]

I'm looking to replace my single 12-volt, group 27, flooded battery with an AGM battery, 100 amps. Can anybody recommend a brand of battery to fill that need? At this time, I'm not interested in getting two 6 volt batteries, because I don't have the storage space.

Thanks.

From what I've seen, to get 100Ah you'd need to fit a Group 31.

A Group 27 AGM runs about 89Ah.


https://www.trojanbattery.com/motiveagm/


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[Trailgypsy]

If money isn't an issue I would go with Lithium. I couldn't justify the expense so I went with 4 6 volt batteries for my rig. If I spend $400.00 every three years for new batteries I can go 30 years before I get to the money I would have spent on Lithiums. I know there are other pluses but for what I use it wasn't worth it. Just my opinion

 

[RPR]

Lithiums big advantage hold steady voltage during most of the discharge. Disadvantage when the get to a certain point in the discharge they voltage drops out. So get the proper controllers.