GlennWest Posted March 19, 2016 Report Share Posted March 19, 2016 My Teton came with a residential fridge so it got 4 12v batteries. Mine are getting some age and swelling. It is damaging the sheetmetal compartment also. Would like a battery with no vents as agm. We are always unless traveling in a campground with hookups. Any recommendations? Do I really need 4? 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat & Pete Posted March 19, 2016 Report Share Posted March 19, 2016 We've 'made do' very nicely in our 36' MH ( 1200 series Norcold fridge ) with a single 8D 12 volt AGM , for the last 4 years . Not a problem to be had . Goes around , comes around . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hemsteadc Posted March 19, 2016 Report Share Posted March 19, 2016 You could probably get by with just turning off the resi between cgs. it'll stay cold. Agms are very nice. No more water and corrosion. A little hard on the wallet, but that pain subsides quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted March 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2016 Yes working 7 days a week batteries get neglected. Agms will be much better for us. I will do solar in future but not until I semi retire. Will two 100ah do? 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted March 19, 2016 Report Share Posted March 19, 2016 Glenn, you run the fridge off an inverter right? You could go with 2 batteries and go AGM just for the ease of maintenance. When you wire the NEW truck, run a second or heavier charge line to the Teton. Let the truck keep the batteries up when traveling. Alie & Jim + 8 paws 2017 DRV Memphis BART- 1998 Volvo 610 Lil'ole 6cyl Cummins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted March 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2016 How large, #8? Been thinking that. Change in Teton too. Think #12 is in Teton 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted March 19, 2016 Report Share Posted March 19, 2016 That would be better than the #12 in most rv cables. I ran this https://www.waytekwire.com/item/WT702/RV-Trailer-Cable-7-Conductor/ because I could get it locally when I did my Jackalopee. Alie & Jim + 8 paws 2017 DRV Memphis BART- 1998 Volvo 610 Lil'ole 6cyl Cummins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis M Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 I like the AGMs. Very low internal discharge rate so you can just disconnect them and forget them. I had one in a vintage race car 10 or 12 years ago. It sat untouched for 2 plus years and started on the first turn of the switch. Have had a pair in the fiver for 5 or 6 years. We rarely boondocks, maybe twice a year while we are on the road. They hold uno fine for the occasional overnight (with the fridge on gas.) Dennis & NancyTucson, AZ in winter, on the road in summer.1999 Volvo 610 "Bud" 425 HP Volvo, Super 10 spd.2005 Mountain Aire 35 BLKS2013 smart fortwo CityFlame riding on Bud(Replaced '05 smart first loaded in '06 and '11 smart that gave it's life to save me!)Our Travel Blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al F Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 My Teton came with a residential fridge so it got 4 12v batteries. Mine are getting some age and swelling. It is damaging the sheetmetal compartment also. Would like a battery with no vents as agm. We are always unless traveling in a campground with hookups. Any recommendations? Do I really need 4? "Always in a CG w/ hookups". Buy a pair of 6V batteries from Costco or Sam's Club (or Walmart). For under $200 you will be back in business. The 200 amp hours will work very well for traveling or one overnight stop w/o hookups. When you decide to add solar and boondock a lot, then go with AGM. However when that time comes, give some serious thought to paying, the not hugely greater cost of Lithium, over 4 or 6 AGM's at that time. Al & Sharon 2006 Winnebago Journey 36G 2020 Chevy Colorado Toad San Antonio, TX http://downtheroadaroundthebend.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldjohnt Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 Iffffffffffff I were needing to upgrade anyway and ifffffffffffffffff I did a lot of dry camping, Id sure consider AGM to reduce electrolyte and gas worries as long as my Solar Charge Controller and Smart 3/4 Stage Charger are AGM compatible. Whether or not its cost effective (Life Cycles and Amp Hours versus cost and longevity etc) depends on several factors, I'm thinking more along the lines of convenience here. Study and make an informed choice that's best for YOUR needs. John T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Mayer Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 Here is my take, Glenn. Given your work schedule and the fact that you will be neglecting the batteries then I think popping for the AGM makes some sense. You can do two of them. When you do the solar you will want to increase the capacity of the bank, and likely will not be able to include these two batteries in that bank. They may be too old by then (the batteries, not YOU ). Just so you know. The upgrade of the truck charge line is a good thing, regardless. You are not going to get much charge from the truck. The physics of it are simply not in your favor. But for a daily travel between two hookup stops you will not have any trouble with the two batteries and upgraded charge line, ASSUMING you have an energy efficient refrigerator. You might want to put a Kill-o-watt on it and see what it uses. Some of the older refrigerators were pretty sorry in the energy dept. Jack & Danielle Mayer #60376 Lifetime Member Living on the road since 2000PLEASE no PM's. Email me. jackdanmayer AT gmail 2016 DRV Houston 44' 5er (we still have it) 2022 New Horizons 43' 5er 2016 Itasca 27N 28' motorhome 2019 Volvo 860, D13 455/1850, 236" wb, I-Shift, battery-based APU No truck at the moment - we use one of our demo units 2016 smart Passion, piggyback on the truck -------------------------------------------------------------------------See our website for info on New Horizons 5th wheels, HDTs as tow vehicles, communications on the road, and use of solar powerwww.jackdanmayer.com Principal in RVH Lifestyles. RVH-Lifestyles.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted March 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 Mine is the original 2003, likely 2002 model fridge. It likely not energy efficient. I have towed all day and my monitor just shows discharge, not percentage or voltage. It is in the "green" in short time once on hook ups. We just have 12v marine batteries, 27 group. 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Mayer Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Glenn, if you want to know exactly what is going on with your batteries then you might want to put in a Trimetric. That will tell you lots about your DC usage patterns and how low you are drawing the battery bank (eg. how much you are stressing it). It will also be a step towards your solar installation....you will want a good battery monitor at some point in time. About $200 in parts. Jack & Danielle Mayer #60376 Lifetime Member Living on the road since 2000PLEASE no PM's. Email me. jackdanmayer AT gmail 2016 DRV Houston 44' 5er (we still have it) 2022 New Horizons 43' 5er 2016 Itasca 27N 28' motorhome 2019 Volvo 860, D13 455/1850, 236" wb, I-Shift, battery-based APU No truck at the moment - we use one of our demo units 2016 smart Passion, piggyback on the truck -------------------------------------------------------------------------See our website for info on New Horizons 5th wheels, HDTs as tow vehicles, communications on the road, and use of solar powerwww.jackdanmayer.com Principal in RVH Lifestyles. RVH-Lifestyles.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdickinson Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 I'm no electrician but will toss in a couple of comments based on experience and recommendations by others. First, I bypassed the Magnum 2812 with the hot water heater and both ac / heatpumps. In my case not doing that originally blew out my AC board in the inverter X 2. Had to get a new inverter and install a subpanel so they only work on shore power or the truck mounted generator. I was told that an AGM had less capacity then an equivalent sized wet cell. Not had any issues with the batteries venting and causing corrosion inside the sheet metal generator compartment at the front of the trailer. Adequate venting may reduce that possibility. In my case, there will be a charging circuit, along with adequate wiring coming from the truck alternator to the house batteries so they will stay charged during the driving time. My fridge is a residential. That way the batteries will be charged when arriving at the destination. Some of this info is 3yrs+ old so things may have changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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