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 > switching to two 6 volt batteries?

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gitpicker2009

texas

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Posted: 07/10/23 08:55am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I'm about to replace my two AF1150 batteries. They're currently Interstate Deep Cycle 12 volts wired in parallel.
I'm thinking of going with two 6Volt golf cart batteries. Sam's sells the Duracell EGC2 for 150 bucks. Specs:
20 amp hour rate: 230
5 amp hour rate:174
Battery electrolyte composition: acid
Battery end type: top post
Battery purpose: deep cycle
BCI group size: GC2
Freight class: 65
Minutes at 25 amps: 448
Minutes at 75 amps: 120
Terminal type: DIN
Volts: six

I was thinking that with the 2 two wired in series, I'd be better off on the Amp Hour rating. Any opinions?

Thanks as always

CA Traveler

The Western States

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Posted: 07/10/23 11:22am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

If your 12V are Marine type then they are a modified starter battery and not nearly as good as GC2s. Do your 12V batteries have a 20 amp hour rate? Likely 180AH+ vs 230AH. Be aware that GC2s are taller.


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#1Flyboy

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Posted: 07/10/23 11:53am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

….. I’d recommend 2 - 6 Volt AGM ( No adding water, No acid fumes, Maintenance free, can mount in ANY position, Lasts Longer, proven technology, etc., etc. ) batteries … I also removed the battery tray from my AF to get rid of some weight & make more room in the battery compartment……

3 tons

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Posted: 07/10/23 11:56am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

As a cost performance quotient definitely go with the GC’s because they are more robust, meaning routinely capable of a somewhat greater DOD (depth of discharge) without adversely affecting longevity as used in golf carts, versus a 50% DOD with your present battery …They are about 3/4” taller to top of battery post than your present battery…

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Grit dog

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Posted: 07/10/23 12:02pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Yes you’ll get more useable capacity out of the 2 6v. Yes it’s that easy to just hook them up in series. Not other mods needed.
No, 99% sure they won’t fit in your battery compartment, at least not without removing the sliding tray.
For our old AF TC I got Mighty Max SLA, good ole Amazon specials. They are 200 or more ah but are shorter and fit with the tray installed.


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Latner

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Posted: 07/10/23 01:29pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

gitpicker2009 wrote:

I'm about to replace my two AF1150 batteries. They're currently Interstate Deep Cycle 12 volts wired in parallel.
I'm thinking of going with two 6Volt golf cart batteries. Sam's sells the Duracell EGC2 for 150 bucks. Specs:
20 amp hour rate: 230
5 amp hour rate:174
Battery electrolyte composition: acid
Battery end type: top post
Battery purpose: deep cycle
BCI group size: GC2
Freight class: 65
Minutes at 25 amps: 448
Minutes at 75 amps: 120
Terminal type: DIN
Volts: six

I was thinking that with the 2 two wired in series, I'd be better off on the Amp Hour rating. Any opinions?

Thanks as always


Good choice. Mine are going on 7 years now and seem to be as good as when I bought them.

valhalla360

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Posted: 07/10/23 03:14pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

#1Flyboy wrote:

….. I’d recommend 2 - 6 Volt AGM ( No adding water, No acid fumes, Maintenance free, can mount in ANY position, Lasts Longer, proven technology, etc., etc. ) batteries


Unless you plan to roll the trailer, not much advantage with AGM and a lot of extra cost. Boil an AGM and there is no putting more water in, they are simply trash. Standard 6v batteries that are not abused should be good for 6-10yrs.

As to the OPs suggested batteries, they should be a nice upgrade over the current starting batteries (which are simply re-labled as marine or dual purpose). 6V batteries are true deep cycle designs.

Side note: It does seem odd that the 20amp rating is 230amp-hr but the 5amp rating is 174amp-hr. Typically, the slower you pull the amps the more amp-hr you get out of a battery.


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#1Flyboy

California

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Posted: 07/10/23 04:07pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

valhalla360 wrote:

#1Flyboy wrote:

….. I’d recommend 2 - 6 Volt AGM ( No adding water, No acid fumes, Maintenance free, can mount in ANY position, Lasts Longer, proven technology, etc., etc. ) batteries


Unless you plan to roll the trailer, not much advantage with AGM and a lot of extra cost. Boil an AGM and there is no putting more water in, they are simply trash. Standard 6v batteries that are not abused should be good for 6-10yrs.

As to the OPs suggested batteries, they should be a nice upgrade over the current starting batteries (which are simply re-labled as marine or dual purpose). 6V batteries are true deep cycle designs.

Side note: It does seem odd that the 20amp rating is 230amp-hr but the 5amp rating is 174amp-hr. Typically, the slower you pull the amps the more amp-hr you get out of a battery.
…. I would think that NO maintenance & NO acid spilling in the battery compartment & NO acid fumes would be a BIG advantage over regular FLA batteries!…………

valhalla360

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Posted: 07/10/23 05:37pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

#1Flyboy wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:

#1Flyboy wrote:

….. I’d recommend 2 - 6 Volt AGM ( No adding water, No acid fumes, Maintenance free, can mount in ANY position, Lasts Longer, proven technology, etc., etc. ) batteries


Unless you plan to roll the trailer, not much advantage with AGM and a lot of extra cost. Boil an AGM and there is no putting more water in, they are simply trash. Standard 6v batteries that are not abused should be good for 6-10yrs.

As to the OPs suggested batteries, they should be a nice upgrade over the current starting batteries (which are simply re-labled as marine or dual purpose). 6V batteries are true deep cycle designs.

Side note: It does seem odd that the 20amp rating is 230amp-hr but the 5amp rating is 174amp-hr. Typically, the slower you pull the amps the more amp-hr you get out of a battery.
…. I would think that NO maintenance & NO acid spilling in the battery compartment & NO acid fumes would be a BIG advantage over regular FLA batteries!…………


10min to add water a couple times per year...ehhh. Should be checking on connections etc anyway.
Never spilled acid or had fumes do any damage, so...ehhh.

AGM were designed for planes (and to a lesser degree boats) where the batteries might wind up at extreme angles resulting in flooded batteries dumping the acid. If your RV batteries are rolling that far, you have much bigger problems than a little spilled acid.

* This post was edited 07/11/23 08:16am by valhalla360 *

pianotuna

Regina, SK, Canada

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Posted: 07/11/23 06:01am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Consider recondtioned telecom batteries. Mine are 139 amp-hours each @ 12 volts. Measure to make sure they would fit.


Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.

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