Ultimate Battery Thread

You are correct, both batteries are fla. And the Dual purpose is about 4yo.
Are you suggesting the inverter charges up to 13.7 and then floats?
However, the charger on the deep cycle after being on the charger for 12hrs was still charging@ 15.5 +/-
 
Two questions:

1) Are you using a smart charger on the batteries?\
2) Have you looked up the manufacturer specs on each of the batteries (you did not list model numbers and group numbers of the batteries).

All AGM batteries are going to have roughly the same charging parameters but there will undoubtedly be minor differences between manufacturers.

So different batteries can have slightly different float values (recommended bulk charge voltage and charge profiles can differ slightly too). Best to check the specs for the particular battery
 
Battery chargers with a float phase will commonly charge at 14+ volts until the charger logic decides it has reached full charge. At that point, the charger switches to float voltage and remains there until indefinitely.

The actual float voltage is set by the charger mfg.
Paul
 
Thank you both, I will do some research on both batteries and Sears charger.
I have owners manual for inverter, it should answer my questions.
 
I just took some batteries down for recycling. I mentioned to the guy I use deep cycle batteries in the camper and he showed me some 150ah used batteries from commercial UPS systems. $150. I assume these are replaced on a cycle and not due to showing any sign of trouble. Hard to say just how much life is left in these but for someone on a budget it might be something to consider. They looked a bit larger than a typical automotive battery though.
 
Operating room lights backup power uses 150 aH batteries. Years ago. I had a friend working in facilities at the local hospital. He saved me seven 150 aH batteries that measured the highest resting voltager when they replaced all of the batteries at once. Only problem was moving 7 batteries weighing 80 lbs each. I got years out of them as the power supply for ham radio. Kinda wish he hadn't retired. ;)

Paul
 
My Dad got large batteries for his boat (diesel engine) from a local Fire Department that has a regular replacement cycle for their batteries. Too big for a camper but the UPS batteries might be OK if one can move an 80 pound battery into the camper.

I put two 6V deep cycle 220 Ah batteries in our camper and they weigh 66 lbs each. I would not want to lift anything heavier into the camper. These used UPS batteries might be better purposed for a battery bank in a cabin or something where you can use a hand truck. ;-)

Interesting source though.
 
My current batteries are over 80lbs and yes, it was a bit of a struggle to get them in. The cummins doesn't care what I throw in there. The ones I saw would fit where my current batteries are. Taller but not too much so.

Great idea for a cabin. If only I had one :)
 
I am just bouncing around the edges of understanding at the depth of most electro-phils but after replacing my 2, 6 year old AGM batteries with a LiFePo4 battery I decided to reuse them and install them in my cabin with the old 90 watt portable panel and controller The two batteries weigh in at 55 pounds a piece and I am glad to have them out of the camper. With a box and a few USB plugs it is a good reuse for the batteries dwindling years of production. I hope one day they will still take them to recycle.

PS just remembered why I wanted to post ... this is an amazing compilation of links...if it is ckent323 who is
is keeping up with this ...THANKS!
 
buckland said:
PS just remembered why I wanted to post ... this is an amazing compilation of links...if it is ckent323 who is
is keeping up with this ...THANKS!
Click to expand...
Ditto. Very amazing resource!
 
Good point, Fuel Cell technology was missing too.

So here it is:

https://www.fuelcellenergy.com/benefits/how-a-fuel-cell-works/

Other than burning coal and oil this thread now covers most portable electrical energy sources. ;-)

FLA, AGM and LiFePO4 Battery (plus other battery chemistries) as well as fuel cells and portable nuclear batteries.

Hopefully this does not encourage the thread going long off topic as some people seem to find it a useful reference. Would be a shame to spoil that.

Now back to your regular programming.

See page 1, post #2


Regards,

Craig
 
So thanks Craig... this has been an incredibly valuable resource not only for its content but also that it is all in one place and a great time saver when searching an idea or explanation.

I sit now in my camper though it is not on the truck yet and marvel at my new battery set up. It could never have happened without this valuable website and those kind enough to share knowledge. Can’t wait for our next trip in a couple weeks to see how it all performs.
 
Very interesting article. I'm still ruminating on the idea that I don't use enough of my batteries capacity. This is true, most of the time I'm using 10-15% a day but, I like having that extra capacity sitting there in case I do have a couple cloudy/stormy days. It'll be interesting to see if anything changes in the five years I expect to get out of my current batteries.
 
That was a great video. I like that guy, enthusiastic and...he knows his stuff and is able to explain it (even better). I have watched a number of his tutorials on the components of setting up the LiFePo4 batteries. Fortune would have it my AGM batteries were 8 years old and so that pushed me to just do the Rando battery build. I am so happy with the result and the benefits described in the video are reason enough. Weight ! So if anyone out there is on the fence and near battery replacement.... do it with the LiFePo4. It all fits in the battery box. Twice the juice.
 
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