Need New Non-Lithium Batteries

[TexSol20]

Good evening, all.

I need to replace my two 12 batteries for my rig, a 2022 Northpoint 310 RLTS. I am not ready to jump to lithium yet as we may add more solar next year and want to get the right batteries for the job when we do. Researching online, there is an endless number of 12v batteries for RVs, but what is the community using and find the best option for long-life? I'm looking at AGM for the minimal maintenance factor. All I'm finding in the forums are discussions on lithium batteries.

Many thanks!

v/r

TEXSOL20

 

[Jagiven]

Last set of batteries I purchased where 105 Ahr, AMG Duracell group 31 batteries from Sam's club. They've done well for me. Price was good at the time. Only downside is the wieght.

 

[OnTheGo]

Lifeline is expensive, but worth the cost. Mine gave me good service for about 15 years.

For less expensive I like Interstate, have had many and never a bad one.

 

[MANDERSEN]

Good evening, all.

I need to replace my two 12 batteries for my rig, a 2022 Northpoint 310 RLTS. I am not ready to jump to lithium yet as we may add more solar next year and want to get the right batteries for the job when we do. Researching online, there is an endless number of 12v batteries for RVs, but what is the community using and find the best option for long-life? I'm looking at AGM for the minimal maintenance factor. All I'm finding in the forums are discussions on lithium batteries.

Many thanks!

v/r

TEXSOL20

Texsol20, In MHO, you are better off spending your money for two 12V 100 AH LIFEPO batteries rather than lead acid. The amount of solar that you add to your RV does not determine the type of battery that you use. Your solar charge controller determines that. The amount of solar that you can add to your RV is driven by the amount of real estate free to host the panels, and the final panel array voltage and current that your solar charge controller can handle. If your charge controller can be set to charge LIFEPO batteries, you should make the change. LIFEPO are less weight, can provide a full 100AH vice lead-acid that can only safely provide 50% of charge, and can be fully discharged and charged roughly 3,000 times. If you did fully drain and charge LIFEPO ever day, that equates to almost ten years of useful battery life. You can't do that with lead-acid. I have a single 12V 240AH LIFEPO and love it. Provides everything I need and more. Just my opinion.

 

[BWG-JAY]

Get the LiFePO4 now like Mandersen suggests. There really isn’t a reason not to. Your charger / converter will have a switch (or it may even do it automatically - check with Jayco) to fully charge the new batteries.

 

[Skyline]

I recently purchased a battery for my car from Weize Batteries. They have been sending me information on their products and specials. I will need to my (3) 6 year old trailer batteries soon. I will buy from Weize again. They have lead acid, AGM, AGM deep cycle, as well as lithium. I suggest a look weizeus.com.

 

[Marc sierdsma]

Good evening, all.

I need to replace my two 12 batteries for my rig, a 2022 Northpoint 310 RLTS. I am not ready to jump to lithium yet as we may add more solar next year and want to get the right batteries for the job when we do. Researching online, there is an endless number of 12v batteries for RVs, but what is the community using and find the best option for long-life? I'm looking at AGM for the minimal maintenance factor. All I'm finding in the forums are discussions on lithium batteries

Good evening, all.

I need to replace my two 12 batteries for my rig, a 2022 Northpoint 310 RLTS. I am not ready to jump to lithium yet as we may add more solar next year and want to get the right batteries for the job when we do. Researching online, there is an endless number of 12v batteries for RVs, but what is the community using and find the best option for long-life? I'm looking at AGM for the minimal maintenance factor. All I'm finding in the forums are discussions on lithium batteries.

Many thanks!

v/r

I ha

Good evening, all.

I need to replace my two 12 batteries for my rig, a 2022 Northpoint 310 RLTS. I am not ready to jump to lithium yet as we may add more solar next year and want to get the right batteries for the job when we do. Researching online, there is an endless number of 12v batteries for RVs, but what is the community using and find the best option for long-life? I'm looking at AGM for the minimal maintenance factor. All I'm finding in the forums are discussions on lithium batteries.

Many thanks!

v/r

TEXSOL20

I have the same northpoint ..I put in 2- 200 amp lithium

Good evening, all.

I need to replace my two 12 batteries for my rig, a 2022 Northpoint 310 RLTS. I am not ready to jump to lithium yet as we may add more solar next year and want to get the right batteries for the job when we do. Researching online, there is an endless number of 12v batteries for RVs, but what is the community using and find the best option for long-life? I'm looking at AGM for the minimal maintenance factor. All I'm finding in the forums are discussions on lithium batteries.

Many thanks!

v/r

TEXSOL20

I put in 2-200 amp litium and added another 200 watt panel. Total of 600 amp. the 30 amp controller that came installed can handle 600 watts The lithium batteries last a lot longer than lead acid and there is no maintenance plus u can discharge 100 percent without hurting them

 

[Highlander-cMac]

Agree with others on LiFePO4 and wouldn't spend money for AGM for a year when you might add solar. I think are plenty of value LA batteries out there that would suffice for year if you don't want LiFePO4. Really depends on how much boondocking you do.

One thing to note on LiFePO4 batteries is that a lot of the Lithium ready converter/chargers (Progressive Dynamics/WFCO) are actually single stage chargers. Lithium ideally should be charged with multi-stage to maintain them long term. Do research on what you have in your Northpoint for a charger or power center (converter/charger combo) and if the Lithium setting is actually single or multi-stage.

 

[Cookiejar]

Just check with Jayco before converting to lithium. Email customer service with your vin # and they'll respond if your unit's controller is capable of the lithium switch. My 2021, 25RB controller isn't compatible (has no switch to accommodate the swap). So, I'd need a new controller if I went with lithium. Seems 2021/2022 is about when they started using controllers that have the switching capability, but the changeover was spotty. Safe travels.

 

[COCJ]

I have been using Deka AGM batteries in my RVs for years and they have been great. Never had one fail yet. I also use them in my daily drivers and my ATVs. Made in the USA, too.

 

[elfox]

TexSol20 - we have the same exact camper as you, 2022 310RLTS. Our camper is stored indoors and is always plugged in to keep the batteries tended. Our first trip this year the batteries didn't last more than one day when boondocking. The factory installed batteries are junk.

After research, I decided on two Newtipower 300Ah LiFePO4 batteries from WalMart. They have a 10-year warranty. And no, I am not affiliated with WalMart or Newtipower. Battery info: 12V/300Ah (NewtiPower 12V 300Ah Smaller LiFePO4 Lithium Battery,200A BMS,10000+ Cycle for RV and Power Storage)

We have been camping three times since then, and they have maintained a 100% charge every time we went camping on the weekend (3-day camping). As mentioned above, they are a little spendy, but with a 10 year warranty, I felt they were the best way to go for us.

If you have the same power panel as ours, there is a small switch you will need to switch over for LiFePO4 batteries. It is located through a little opening in the top right of your DC power panel (breaker panel).

Additionally, if you have the same Go Power! 30 MPPT Solar Controller that was installed in our camper, you can download their app to your phone so you can monitor your battery status, charging status, etc.

 

[RoyB-JAY]

I'll throw in my opinion since it hasn't popped up yet. I've been using WalMart EverStart Maxx RV deep cycle batteries at current pricing of $119.87 each. Nothing to brag about except the price but in tech tests they hold their own against batteries that cost multiple times as much. Their are available all over the country on a daily basis. I'm not a solar or dry camp guy so they work for me.

 

[Learjet]

after going with Li and not having to water the batteries, I will never go back. As other have said get the Li Batteries now. You could add one of these and get another later if you need more power. Here are the batteries I use.... Vatrer 12V 300AH Bluetooth LiFePO4 Self Heating Lithium Battery

 

[Maine Camper-JAY]

Good evening, all.

I need to replace my two 12 batteries for my rig, a 2022 Northpoint 310 RLTS. I am not ready to jump to lithium yet as we may add more solar next year and want to get the right batteries for the job when we do. Researching online, there is an endless number of 12v batteries for RVs, but what is the community using and find the best option for long-life? I'm looking at AGM for the minimal maintenance factor. All I'm finding in the forums are discussions on lithium batteries.

Many thanks!

v/r

TEXSOL20

We just boondocked 10 days in our 2017 Jayco 212qbw. Was not impressed with battery life considering it was nothing more than LED lights and the occasional water pump. We realize the range hood light and fan are conventional so try to use those as little as possible.

The battery, a 120ah, 12v is only a year old.

We are boondocking much more than usual this summer. A majority of the time is usually with hookups.

I was curious about adding a second 12v, or lithium, etc. So I stopped by our dealer and he suggested going to a pair of 6v, 220ah, connected in series I believe. We get the 12v, but we will get 440 +/- ah. 350% increase? He didn't feel lithium was for us when considering how much we would really need it, then adding in the cost.

They are on order. We have another 10 days of boondocking coming up before July is over so I am looking forward to seeing if this is the answer.

 

[billcf7]

I'll throw in my opinion since it hasn't popped up yet. I've been using WalMart EverStart Maxx RV deep cycle batteries at current pricing of $119.87 each. Nothing to brag about except the price but in tech tests they hold their own against batteries that cost multiple times as much. Their are available all over the country on a daily basis. I'm not a solar or dry camp guy so they work for me.

Here in Canada the Walmart Everstart is $229 and a 100 amp/hr lithium on Amazon is $242 For me it would be lithium without a doubt

 

[Sandraze]

I was facing the same thing on our rig. After the first six months, one of the lead acid batteries started leaking. I really wanted to add Li, but ended up going with two AGM batteries. A) We never boondock and less/no maintenance than the typical lead acid. I couldn't justify the cost right now. In the future should boondocking come into play, I will entertain more solar and Lithium at that time. Best of luck and safe travels!

 

[Nevr2late]

We just boondocked 10 days in our 2017 Jayco 212qbw. Was not impressed with battery life considering it was nothing more than LED lights and the occasional water pump. We realize the range hood light and fan are conventional so try to use those as little as possible.

The battery, a 120ah, 12v is only a year old.

We are boondocking much more than usual this summer. A majority of the time is usually with hookups.

I was curious about adding a second 12v, or lithium, etc. So I stopped by our dealer and he suggested going to a pair of 6v, 220ah, connected in series I believe. We get the 12v, but we will get 440 +/- ah. 350% increase? He didn't feel lithium was for us when considering how much we would really need it, then adding in the cost.

They are on order. We have another 10 days of boondocking coming up before July is over so I am looking forward to seeing if this is the answer.

If the old 120 ah is a LA then the transition to 440 ah is more like a 600% increase as the LAs are only good for about half the stated ah before they low volt. The LiFePO4s are good for closer to 85% of their rated ahs before they low volt.

 

[billcf7]

rep regarding plugging into 240v. That advice has the potential to destroy electronic components in your trailer.

If I were in your situation, I would hire

If the old 120 ah is a LA then the transition to 440 ah is more like a 600% increase as the LAs are only good for about half the stated ah before they low volt. The LiFePO4s are good for closer to 85% of their rated ahs before they low volt.

I don’t know what kind of lithium you’re using but I have never seen one low volt before it reaches 0% state of charge

 

[Learjet]

One additional thing I like about the Li is the resting battery voltage stays higher than lead acid. You will not get a low voltage warning on the BmPro screen in the winter when the heater or other large loads are on and you are not plugged in or when you run the jacks and are not plugged in. I think it's better for the system over all with the Li battery's ability to hold a higher and more stable voltage.

 

[Nevr2late]

This is typical for most LiFEPO4 batteries. Granted most deliver at or near their rated amp hours but most battery manufacturers will tell you not to discharge down to 0 volts if you care about the life of your battery. I think my Epoch BMS will cut it off somewhere between 11 and 12v but I haven't verified that.

The point was comparing LA capacity to LiFePO4 capacity is not an apples to apples comparison.