AGM Battery Recommendation

[Ronin]

Paul I don't know what the real difference is between the two but the MR series seems to be a good one for RVs solar.
The price has gone up about $25 since I bought mine last June.
Still a good buy.
Frank

Frank,

Just got my MR127 yesterday and dropped it in today. Had trouble finding a battery box to fit the tight space in my configuration, but found one at West Marine that was perfect once I hack sawed the end handles off. I called VMAX again before ordering and the rep said the MR series has a bit more cold cranking amps than than the SLR. Don't know why one would need more CCA but hey, they make it and it could be a factor for some application. Thanks for the recommendation!

Paul

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Frank,

Just got my MR127 yesterday and dropped it in today. Had trouble finding a battery box to fit the tight space in my configuration, but found one at West Marine that was perfect once I hack sawed the end handles off. I called VMAX again before ordering and the rep said the MR series has a bit more cold cranking amps than than the SLR. Don't know why one would need more CCA but hey, they make it and it could be a factor for some application. Thanks for the recommendation!

Paul

Paul let us know how the new battery works out for you.
Not sure about the amount of space your battery area has,but I used a new box for the size 27 and did like you cut the handles off.
My battery box area is under the front seat/storage area.I have a side dinette so my seat is about 18" square on the footprint.
Frank

 

[Ronin]

Paul let us know how the new battery works out for you.
Not sure about the amount of space your battery area has,but I used a new box for the size 27 and did like you cut the handles off.
My battery box area is under the front seat/storage area.I have a side dinette so my seat is about 18" square on the footprint.
Frank

Just back from Saline Valley. Ran my new TF51 fridge for the 1st time for 3 days straight in 85-90 daytime temps. One interior LED light for 2 hrs/night and fantastic fan only while cooking breakfast and dinner. Voltage was at 11.89 (40%) just before I hit the road for drive home. So happy I won't need to supplement with a portable solar set up. It is extremely rare for me to stay in one place for more than 2 nights, so this 3 day test was perfect. Hopefully, as the battery ages it will continue to perform close to this first result. Cheers!!

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Some of my observations on the VMAX 100a battery.
Last year I installed this battery in my Bobcat. Replacing the original 75a.All seems well,but the first day out on our Alaskan trip we made a stop at a rest place by Mt Shasta.
I noticed the battery isolator was clicking on/off. I had been running the 3way on 12v from home.The solar was cranking almost to max but the system wasn't charging.
I shut off the 12v and switched to propane mode. All is well isolator staying on and battery charging great.

So for the next 5+ weeks I didn't use the 3way on 12v mode everything seemed OK.
That was almost a year ago.
Today I was checking things out and ran the 3way on 12v with the engine running,full sun on the panels and after a short time the isolator started it's same issue as last year.

After several different things I decided to switch out the battery for the original and everything seems to be great.
At a 2000 RPM which is the normal for about 65 MPH. The isolator worked great.

Saying all this the question is does the battery have a week cell? Or what could cause the problem?

Has anyone else with one of these batteries had this problem.
Frank

 

[Vic Harder]

Frank,

I am guessing here.... however, it is possible that the 100A battery can draw a bit more current from the alternator when charging than your old 75AH battery. This extra draw will drop the voltage across the small gauge stock wiring from truck to camper. Sensing this drop the isolator will try and protect your systems and disconnect.

I discussed this in the "More Power Scotty" thread, and the fix I used is bigger cables and a better isolator (Blue Sea ML-ACR).

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Thanks Vic. That could be the problem. I'll have to look into that.
For now I will use the smaller 75a battery,which has worked great since 2010 when we started to use the camper.
Where can I find that thread? Haven't had luck tracking it down.

Thanks again.
Frank

 

[Vic Harder]

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/13230-i-need-more-power-scotty/

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/13230-i-need-more-power-scotty/

Thanks Vic. That's a lot of info.
Frank

 

[RC Pilot Jim]

Bought a 79 amp hour - HD Deep Cycle AGM from East Penn Manufacturing. Group 24M Model 8A24M."Intimidator" Click on the link to see the specs.

Original equipment in our 2012 Eagle. Replaced in September 2015. - warranty 36 months. Died at 40 months

 

[Yubaman]

I am looking to add 150ah of 12v AGM batteries. It seems simpler and cheaper to buy one battery such as the vmaxtanks 155ah 12v battery rather than two 75ah batteries. With first time buyer discount its $350 delivered.

Any thoughts?

 

[DavidGraves]

Howdy

I am sure you addressed this but do you need that much power....in any critical sense ? CPAP machine for example ?

I have only one battery....and it is VERY heavy to haul around...cannot imagine two unless I used a lot of power on a regular basis or spent a lot of time static in one location.

Just my thoughts....will probably hear from others.

David Graves

 

[PaulT]

I am looking to add 150ah of 12v AGM batteries. It seems simpler and cheaper to buy one battery such as the vmaxtanks 155ah 12v battery rather than two 75ah batteries. With first time buyer discount its $350 delivered.

Any thoughts?

That much battery must weigh near 80 or 90 lbs.
Will it physically fit in your battery compartment & can you physically move it in & out of position without mangling your back?

Paul

 

[craig333]

Not like you'll have to manhandle it very often. More power. The more amp hours available lessens the likelihood you'll wind up drawing them below 50%. I was a little leery of the Vmax batteries, chinese batteries and not a lot documentation but so far everyone that runs them seems pretty happy with them.

 

[Yubaman]

Howdy

I am sure you addressed this but do you need that much power....in any critical sense ? CPAP machine for example ?

I have only one battery....and it is VERY heavy to haul around...cannot imagine two unless I used a lot of power on a regular basis or spent a lot of time static in one location.

Just my thoughts....will probably hear from others.

David Graves

No CPAP. Just want to have a bunch of capacity.

 

[Yubaman]

Not like you'll have to manhandle it very often. More power. The more amp hours available lessens the likelihood you'll wind up drawing them below 50%. I was a little leery of the Vmax batteries, chinese batteries and not a lot documentation but so far everyone that runs them seems pretty happy with them.

The question in my mind is one big one or two smaller ones? What makes the most sense assuming I can lift 90lbs and it fits...

 

[Yubaman]

That much battery must weigh near 80 or 90 lbs.
Will it physically fit in your battery compartment & can you physically move it in & out of position without mangling your back?

Paul

Assuming it fits and I can lift it, one big one or two smaller ones, that is the question.

 

[craig333]

I went with two but I have plenty of space and the cummins doesn't care how much weight I have in the camper.

Two 125 ah batteries. Rain and cloudy all week. Finally this morning at 75% S.O.C I plugged the camper in.

 

[LosAngeles]

I have the USA made (pre-Johnson ownership and move to Mexico) Optimas in my boat.

Mexico made Optimas in the camper. No issues going on 20 months. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Agreed...no compelling reason to choose glass mat over flooded.

My experience was pretty dramatic when I upgraded from a flooded to an AGM

The AGM would take a charge from solar much much faster and would just generally behave much better.

Exact same wires, controller, etc.

Did a bunch of research and I ended up buying a LifeLine AGM. It was fantastic.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

East Penn Intimidator AGM batteries have a good reputation in the marine world. ATC put one in my Bobcat.