Battery replacement

[donklaing]

My Interstate battery on my new 2015 Forest river finally died. Looking at replacing with the Deep Cycle battery.
Factory used the Duel purpose marine.
While shopping for the Deep cycle I've noticed that they refer to cranking amps and why?.
They sometime refer to these batteries as house battery.
I do have a Onan generator on board as well. Will the Deep cycle battery start the generator OK?
Do most of the trailers use Deep Cycle agm.

While talking on batteries. I had to modify the tongue and battery mounting area of my Shockwave so I could use two batteries. You would think the factory engineering dept. would have thought of this.

[TitanMike]

You might just consider replacing your battery with an Interstate SRM-29. Fits in a Group 27 battery box and has an amp hour rating of 120-130 (depending on who you talk to at Interstate).

If you don't wish to modify battery support for two batteries, and you got approximately 3 years out of the old battery, this battery should work perfect for you. 3 years when using a factory mounted converter/charger is about average.

[donklaing]

Thx, Mike for your reply. It's nice when I get a quick reply. I'm retired aerospace engineer and love having fast information. I have already modified the rack for two group 24 batteries. Not much wiggle room. Sorry the picture I tried to attach didn't post. Don't know why.
What do you know about the Deep cycle batteries and why do they list cranking amps. I can relate to the Marine and starter batteries but don't know what cranking amps would have to do with the deep cycle?

[donklaing]

I know all about the naps. LOL!

[Paulie1138]

Don, have you considered using 2 6volt batteries in series instead? Heavier duty construction, typically more amps, longer lasting due to the plate thickness.

[rsdata]

Deep cycle batteries do not provide high CCA for starting purposes, but listing that property does not mean anything other than what that battery is capable of doing, as compared with another dual purpose or starting battery of the same size.

It is easiest to post a picture if when using a computer you use the paper clip icon and upload a photo.

[donklaing]

I have considered the 6 volts and really grasp the advantages of them. Right now they are cost prohibited.
I'm receiving everyone replies via my cell phone. Don't know why the forest river site is not refreshing with new and older replies. I'm new at this and am probably missing something.
Thx for your reply.

[johnbryanpeters]

Originally Posted by donklaing

Thx, Mike for your reply. It's nice when I get a quick reply. I'm retired aerospace engineer and love having fast information. I have already modified the rack for two group 24 batteries. Not much wiggle room. Sorry the picture I tried to attach didn't post. Don't know why.
What do you know about the Deep cycle batteries and why do they list cranking amps. I can relate to the Marine and starter batteries but don't know what cranking amps would have to do with the deep cycle?

If CCA is specified, it's not a deep cycle battery, period.

[donklaing]

Funny after I replied to you and hit send, your reply showed up.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by donklaing

Thx, Mike for your reply. It's nice when I get a quick reply. I'm retired aerospace engineer and love having fast information. I have already modified the rack for two group 24 batteries. Not much wiggle room. Sorry the picture I tried to attach didn't post. Don't know why.
What do you know about the Deep cycle batteries and why do they list cranking amps. I can relate to the Marine and starter batteries but don't know what cranking amps would have to do with the deep cycle?

Most Deep Cycle batteries in the Group 24-31 BCI format are designed for marine use. They need to start the engines (Outboard or Inboard) so the Cranking amp rating is important. Since boaters also like to run lights at night along with water pumps, etc, they need to function as a Deep Cycle battery as well. As a result the battery industry had built a hybrid battery that does a fairly good job of both. As with any compromise, one side or the other loses. In the hybrid batteries they aren't great starting batteries and they don't last as long as batteries built for golf carts or electric fork lifts, etc.

If you don't have huge storage requirements like those who may boondock for weeks on end, and you have room for a pair of group 24 batteries just put a pair of the Interstate SRM 24's in. You will have an estimated 170 amp hours (66% of two SRM29's based on a comparison of reserve capacity numbers). Of course you should treat the two batteries as if you have a single 80 amp hour battery and recharge when at 50%. If you don't want to invest in a fairly expensive battery monitor, just get a Hydrometer with thermometer and temp compensation chart built in. They're $10 on amazon. Check the specific gravity in the cells in the morning and charge when the specific gravity reaches 1.190 when corrected to 80 degrees. (that's why the thermometer in the hydrometer is important).

From the sounds of your initial post you aren't putting all that much load on your battery as some do with huge inveters, etc, so a pair of 24's in parallel should serve you well and not hit the wallet like building a bigger golf cart battery based system could.

[donklaing]

The interstate engineer called me Thur and said they all have this rating. You response makes sense. It's just a capability factor. Thx

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by johnbryanpeters

If CCA is specified, it's not a deep cycle battery, period.

True but a "hybrid" marine battery will perform far better in deep cycle service than just a regular automotive starting battery.

[johnbryanpeters]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

True but a "hybrid" marine battery will perform far better in deep cycle service than just a regular automotive starting battery.

Yes, but at the expense of lifetime, which you have already mentioned. There's a significant difference in plate design.

[donklaing]

I do have a Onan generator to start a couple of time a day for Microwave and sometimes A/C if it's hot outside. Battery monitoring is something I'm learning about. As a kid I used the Hydrometer. I'm looking at the AGM batteries and do have some type of monitoring device on the wall. It seems to monitor the Solar activity. Could it be monitoring the battery as well?

[Paulie1138]

Don, costco has the 6v batteries for 94.00 each. They are Trojan clones with an interstate label. Hope that helps.