Replacement House batteries

[ghhmtnboy]

2018 Forest River Forester

The coach came with group 27 conventional lead acid batteries.
Plan to replace them with AGM batteries.

It looks like there is adequate space in the battery compartment to accommodate group 31 batteries.
Would anyone know if using them rather than group 27 would be a better choice?

Thankyou

[A32Deuce]

I switched out 27s in mine to AGM 31s. As long as there is room and you can secure them tight.

[ghhmtnboy]

Thank you

[ghhmtnboy]

I installed 2 group 31 AGM batteries in place of the stock group 27 lead acid.
In a 2018 Forester 2801QS

Is there something that should be checked or changed in the converter or charger?

Thank you.

[ghhmtnboy]

I installed 2 group 31 AGM batteries in place of the stock group 27 lead acid.
In a 2018 Forester 2801QS

Bought the batteries at Sam's Club
$179 each
Duracell Platinum AGM MRV and Marine battery
31DTMAGM
18 month guarantee

The battery compartment was nasty, rust and dirt.
Surprised, one year old coach, very limited use.

Cause-- two inch hole low in the back panel of box-probably for ventilation
and a 1 inch hole in the left panel --jagged like might have been the result of welding near it
corners on the bottom of the panel not tight, daylight apparent

I sealed everything, sanded and painted the box
AGM batteries do not emit vapors when charging, don't need vent holes
Is there something that should be checked or changed in the converter or charger?

Thank you.
George
NW NJ

[ghhmtnboy]

As previously mentioned
I installed two new Group 31 AGM batteries in our 2018 Forest River 2801QS Forester class C.

Batteries were at 12.4 volts when I bought them.
Kept the coach plugged in for a few days.
Moved the unit to parking spot on property a week ago, not plugged in, batteries were at 12.3 volts.
Battery disconnect off, no known drain on battery.

Been cold here, checked batteries, at 11.9 volts.
Is that type of voltage drop normal with AGM batteries??
Thank you
George

[A32Deuce]

Not everything is off when the battery disconnect is off. Charge them up and then pull a cable from the bat. post then check in a couple weeks.

[ghhmtnboy]

Suspect everything is ok
Going to Florida in 3 weeks, will certainly charge the batteries

Thanks
George

[AbdRahim]

Originally Posted by ghhmtnboy

Suspect everything is ok

Going to Florida in 3 weeks, will certainly charge the batteries



Thanks

George

What is the resting voltage when fully charged - cables removed for one hour?

[ghhmtnboy]

Guess I have another question

Moved coach close to house to protect from possible falling trees, storm last night and today

Plugged in to 15 amp service

Should there be an increase in the panel voltage once plugged in?
Should using a multimeter on the batteries show an increase after plugging or or is the charge slow like a trickle and will not immediately register?

[kenandterry]

You say you’re plugged into 15amp service.
Have you measured voltage at the outlet?
A lot of exterior plugs are on a GFCI and an RV can trip the outlet, and therefore you’re not charging your batteries.

Is the plug still alive?

[Jay2504]

When you plug the coach in the panel voltage should go higher if the batteries are charging. Make sure the battery disconnect switch is on and the circuit ever for the built in converter is turned on. Jay

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by kenandterry

You say you’re plugged into 15amp service.
Have you measured voltage at the outlet?
A lot of exterior plugs are on a GFCI and an RV can trip the outlet, and therefore you’re not charging your batteries.

Is the plug still alive?

A little trick I learned over the years. If you can run a HD extension cord through a bathroom or kitchen window (which are both often left slightly open for ventilation and blocked with a stick to prevent someone from opening all the way), you can plug into an outlet "fused" for 20 amp rather than the standard 15 amp. Code requires 20 amp outlets in bathroom and kitchen.

Both are still on GFCI.