2019 Isata 5 Battery Capacity

Tom in Ohio · 08-06-2018, 04:21 PM

Can anyone tell me the capacity of the 12 volt group 27 batteries delivered in the 2019 Isata 5? What is the brand of battery or does it vary?

Thinking about adding 2 more batteries when mine arrives so doing some advance planning.

Thanks, Tom

BLT4SPD · 08-06-2018, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom in Ohio

Can anyone tell me the capacity of the 12 volt group 27 batteries delivered in the 2019 Isata 5? What is the brand of battery or does it vary?

Thinking about adding 2 more batteries when mine arrives so doing some advance planning.

Thanks, Tom

Funny, I am working on this in our 2019 right now!

Ours came delivered with 2 "Intimidator" AGMs. They are 92/ah each and are part number 8A27M. The are made by East Penn/Deka Manufacturing.

Here's the "fun" part: I needed......okay, WANTED a tad more battery capacity. I did a TON of research even calculated everything out to what my batteries of interest cost per AH. In the end, I just said, "the cheapest way to go right now is to buy 1 or 2 more batteries exactly like what I have in the coach now and call it good. Using the dealer locator on East Penn's website, I called my local dealer and they want $239/each for the batteries that are in our Isata 5. That's right in line with what I found on the internet. I asked about the Group 31 version because I'm curious and they tell me $279.00/each.

THEN, we were at Sam's Club this weekend and I pulled my usual "lost puppy" maneuver and ended up the auto section and was looking at batteries. Low and behold, they have one AGM option in the Group 27 and 31 sizes. They are both labeled at "Duracell", BUT the say "East Penn MFG" right on them. They are on the shelf for $180/ea _AND_ they are having a special $20/off/ea battery for Marine and Gold Cart batteries.

So, $160/ea for Group 31, 105AH, East Penn, Made in the USA, AGM batteries. That's $1.52 per amp hour _AND_ $120 cheaper than the ones branded "Intimidator" _AND_ the 18 month full replacement warranty will be honored at any Sam's Club from sea to shining sea! Ummmmm.....yeah, several of those followed me home!

BLT4SPD · 08-06-2018, 05:55 PM

For reference, here is what is in our 2019 as delivered......

Tom in Ohio · 08-06-2018, 07:22 PM

Thanks for the very detailed answer! I have a Sams Club membership so I'll see if my local Sams in Canton, Oh. is ready for another "Dealio."

caseymyers · 08-06-2018, 10:25 PM

Regretfully I bought a set of Sam's Club batteries for my golf cart a couple of years back. Never again. They were junk and only lasted me about a year. So I went back to Trojans and as usual they are great batteries for that application. I also use two Trojan 6volts in my slide in truck camper and they've been in there since 2010 and they are going strong.

I did some research and decided that East Penn is pretty good for the price, and I also wanted all the batteries to be the same, so I went with two additional East Penn's just like the ones my unit shipped with. I think it was about $700 installed with the big wire and such.

BLT4SPD · 08-06-2018, 10:44 PM

Sorry, I should have been more clear; I also wanted all my batteries to be the same and that is why I was chasing the additional "Intimidator" battery to add to my existing. After finding these Group 31 East Penn/Duracell units, I am going to remove the "Intimidator" units and put in 3x of these Duracells.

I HATED The idea of pulling 2 (essentially) brand new AGM and having them sit in the garage, but it looks like I have a Craigslist buyer for the pair at $150. That means, in the end, I'll be into the 3x Group 31s for $330. Since I was ready and willing to spend ~$250 on a single Group 27 to add to my existing, I'm only going over and above by $80. An extra $80 to go from a 276AH bank to a 315AH bank? Sure, why not?

Would I have preferred something like the Lifeline AGMs?! You betcha! ....but a good deal on those is about $2.70-$2.80 per AH.

caseymyers · 08-07-2018, 06:32 AM

Why 3? Why not a total of 4?

BLT4SPD · 08-07-2018, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caseymyers

Why 3? Why not a total of 4?

I think that I can manage with the 315AH of battery capacity that 3x 105AH batteries provide. Plus, trying to manage the cargo capacity thing. If I put another 68# of battery on-board, that's 68# of something else that CAN'T come along for the ride.

Tom in Ohio · 08-07-2018, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLT4SPD

I think that I can manage with the 315AH of battery capacity that 3x 105AH batteries provide. Plus, trying to manage the cargo capacity thing. If I put another 68# of battery on-board, that's 68# of something else that CAN'T come along for the ride.

Upload a picture of the installation when completed. The series connection and total space taken up would be very informative.

BLT4SPD · 08-07-2018, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom in Ohio

Upload a picture of the installation when completed. The series connection and total space taken up would be very informative.

Will do.

I ordered a pair of these in 9" to make the connection to the 3rd battery:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F44YH0A..._BcDABb327FC54

I have a hydraulic crimper in my tool "arsenal", but it's not big enough to do 4/0 wire. Never thought I would have the need to do 4/0 when I bought the tool.

caseymyers · 08-07-2018, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLT4SPD

I think that I can manage with the 315AH of battery capacity that 3x 105AH batteries provide. Plus, trying to manage the cargo capacity thing. If I put another 68# of battery on-board, that's 68# of something else that CAN'T come along for the ride.

Smart to remember the CCC issue.

JimMorrell · 08-08-2018, 12:44 PM

To the person complaining of wait times for service at CW, the Forum seems to be blocking my answer to you. Sorry.

RKBob · 08-08-2018, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caseymyers

Smart to remember the CCC issue.

I opted to go ahead an ordered two Lifeline GPL-4DL’s... in my experience they can’t be beat for both service and longevity in the face of almost certain abuse in most inverter applications. They’re in my truck waiting fo my dealer to eventually (hint, hint Brian) call for my PDI. With only the two pair of bolt lugs the hookup is like for like. Over twice the capacity and slightly less than twice the weight.😎

**bclemens** · 08-08-2018, 03:00 PM

signature should say (in "August-ish?!)

RKBob · 08-08-2018, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclemens

signature should say (in "August-ish?!)

Ah, your killing me with kindness, but as usual “it my own damn fault”. But please hurry up before I melt down here!😎

BLT4SPD · 08-09-2018, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RKBob

I opted to go ahead an ordered two Lifeline GPL-4DL’s... in my experience they can’t be beat for both service and longevity in the face of almost certain abuse in most inverter applications.

Yeah, Lifeline makes some fantastic batteries!

.....but I _may_ have to burst your bubble a little bit. Lifeline's specs show the GPL-4DL as being 20.76" long. That means that a pair of them, end-to-end, would be 41.52" long. My tape measure says that the battery tray in our Isata 5 35DB is 36" long. Now, I don't have an I5 30FW handy to measure, but I find it hard to believe that Dynamax would have put a larger battery tray in the 30FW.

Width wise, lifeline says that battery is 8.7" wide so a pair would be 17.4" wide. Our battery tray measures 14" wide.

BLT4SPD · 08-09-2018, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLT4SPD

Yeah, Lifeline makes some fantastic batteries!

.....but I _may_ have to burst your bubble a little bit. Lifeline's specs show the GPL-4DL as being 20.76" long. That means that a pair of them, end-to-end, would be 41.52" long. My tape measure says that the battery tray in our Isata 5 35DB is 36" long. Now, I don't have an I5 30FW handy to measure, but I find it hard to believe that Dynamax would have put a larger battery tray in the 30FW.

Width wise, lifeline says that battery is 8.7" wide so a pair would be 17.4" wide. Our battery tray measures 14" wide.

Even if you look at the length of the battery at the base (not the total length), that's still 19.05" and x2 that's 38.10".

RKBob · 08-09-2018, 02:11 PM

Surgery...

BLT4SPD · 08-09-2018, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RKBob

Surgery...

Anything will fit with a bigger hammer!

mookieblaylock · 08-11-2018, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLT4SPD

I think that I can manage with the 315AH of battery capacity that 3x 105AH batteries provide. Plus, trying to manage the cargo capacity thing. If I put another 68# of battery on-board, that's 68# of something else that CAN'T come along for the ride.

We’re new to all of this and have only camped at full hook up sites so far. I’m assuming this added capacity is intended for boondocking. After reading this, for the past few days I’ve tried to understand how one would come up with the ideal battery bank capacity. I understand how I could calculate how many amps, say the coffee maker, requires, and I can estimate how long each day it will run. But then I started reading about how you shouldn’t drain your batteries below a certain percentage, and that as they did drain the internal resistance rose and that had an impact on their ability to deliver current, etc, etc.

I guess what I’m struggling with is the overall system objective. Would you mind explaining what the design goal was when you came up with the 315AH figure?

Thanks!

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