Lead Acid Battery Recommendation

[Willy]

You might want to look into lead/carbon batteries. Yup, they weigh more than lithium, but seem to have equivalent deep discharge/charge cycles & are just as happy with partial states of charge. They also charge at MUCH lower temperatures with no BMS to make life interesting. Supposedly, they're also considerably cheaper (1/2 the price) than than lithium, but I haven't seen that over here in Canada.
A year ago I picked up a 150Ah LiPO4 &, while it's OK, I with that I'd done more studying & bought lead/carbon. My buddy Nic picked up 2 100Ah lead/carbon batteries to replace his pooched AGM's & loves them.

 

[eDJ_]

I was just watching a Travel Tour show on KET (Kentucky Education TV). They were in Scotland on the island of Eigg (which uses a large bank of Deep Cycle Batteries for the communities power system. It's charged with Solar, Wind, and Hydro devices. In the tour the Battery bank was identified as being produced in Canada by Rolls Battery Engineering in Nova Scotia. So I looked it up and found this tour of their facility if anyone would like to see how high quality Deep Cycle Batteries are produced there.

This was produced by,

https://www.islandswithoutcars.com/

Youtube Video below.

Rolls Battery Engineering Deep Cycle Battery Production

 

[DLTooley]

The battery market is continuing to evolve. Hopefully prices will continue to drop.

I have not heard anything about lead carbon batteries, sodium is the next tech I’m watching. Reportedly costs are now competitive with LiFePo4 and expected to decrease as production comes to scale.

 

[eDJ_]

I also noticed these two youtube presentations that I found informative. You can view them and reply what you think.

I'm by no means an expert on batteries so I found the information
to be of value.

Selecting a Deep Cycle Battery Type for Your RV​

Part 1

Part 2

 

[DLTooley]

I also noticed these two youtube presentations that I found informative. You can view them and reply what you think.

I'm by no means an expert on batteries so I found the information
to be of value.

Selecting a Deep Cycle Battery Type for Your RV​

Part 1

Part 2

Those videos were done seven years ago.

 

[eDJ_]

So for those who don't know much of anything about batteries, like many newbies who come to this forum to learn, is there anything in them that could be of benefit ?

 

[dustytrailhead]

Hello All:

I cannot currently swing the cost of a lithium battery and need to replace my house battery. Does anyone have recommendations for a maintenance-free (I don't have to add water) lead acid battery for around $200.00?

I have a Thor Freedom Elite, Class C Motorhome. A functional battery is required for my propane auto-igniters (they cannot be lit manually) for the fridge, hot water heater, and heat pump.

I have an Onan on-board 4000 watt generator and 100 watts of solar that I intend to connect to the battery when I boondock to help keep the battery from discharging.

I appreciate your thoughts/feedback!

Thanks!!!

What model year is your class C? It looks like Thor is still manufacturing the Freedom Elite and been building it since 2012. If it is an older model, then your charger’s charging profile would probably not support lithium. So, you would have to (should) upgrade the power center, one that has a charger with a lithium charge profile. Otherwise, the battery type that the coach came with will require no modification.
Have you had the batteries and charger diagnosed? Interstate Batteries will do that for free and they do a good job.
It will be far cheaper and easier for you to fix what you have. Just don’t assume it’s the batteries without having them tested and the charging system tested. Charging includes the coach power center’s charger and the vehicle’s charging system (alternator down to the switching device, such as a solenoid).
As for solar, solar charge controllers have charge profiles for whichever battery type you have, and they can be wired directly to your house batteries. Just make sure it’s fused.

 

[Willow4303]

What model year is your class C? It looks like Thor is still manufacturing the Freedom Elite and been building it since 2012. If it is an older model, then your charger’s charging profile would probably not support lithium. So, you would have to (should) upgrade the power center, one that has a charger with a lithium charge profile. Otherwise, the battery type that the coach came with will require no modification.
Have you had the batteries and charger diagnosed? Interstate Batteries will do that for free and they do a good job.
It will be far cheaper and easier for you to fix what you have. Just don’t assume it’s the batteries without having them tested and the charging system tested. Charging includes the coach power center’s charger and the vehicle’s charging system (alternator down to the switching device, such as a solenoid).
As for solar, solar charge controllers have charge profiles for whichever battery type you have, and they can be wired directly to your house batteries. Just make sure it’s fused.

Thank you for the info! The rig is a 2017. I will likely go the lead acid route. I had the rig inspected before purchase and power systems checked out. I discharged the battery a couple times after purchase while waiting for trickle charger to arrive.

 

[Willow4303]

You will know that your Onan is using the house battery for starting if your interior lights dim or flicker briefly when you fire up the generator.

In this situation, I recommend you go with an RV/Marine starting/deep-cycle battery:
AGMs are spendy, but a flooded battery that will do the job with both types of terminals (post and wingnut) and will be less than $100 at most Walmarts and most autoparts stores.

My interior lights flicker when I fire up the generator, so it IS using the house battery for that task.

So If I go with an AGM battery, I don't need to do anything but swap the batteries, correct? Someone mentioned that I would need to have a controller and battery management system if I wanted to go the Lithium route . . .

 

[tx2sturgis]

RV/Marine Starting battery. Yes you can get those in lead acid AGM.

 

[Willow4303]

RV/Marine Starting battery. Yes you can get those in lead acid AGM.

Thank you!!!