Battery replacement

[wussowaj]

Replacing batteries on a 2019 2104s. Converter is a WFCO 8955PEC. Suggestions would be appreciated.

[RobbieH]

Surprised your batteries are out already. Mine's a year older, and mine's still strong. Did you check the water in them?

[wussowaj]

Yes water is good. Twin Interstate deep cycle srm24 550cca 690mca 140 rc.

[Aussieguy]

go Lithium ... 2x 100ah batteries will be under $400 get blue tooth enabled

if you got any solar change the controller to lithium mode

your existing converter will charge them up as well...... but slowly

2 x 100ah should give you about 4 days off grid

Then if you want to spend more
do so on the solar

OR on a small stand alone lithium charger

---------------------------------------------------
Lifepo4 are SAFE... unlike the car / scooter and other lithium ION batteries that burn up

[NMWildcat]

The SRM deep cell Interstates are good batteries and you can find them everywhere. I have used them for years. Mine usually last about 5 years as I abuse them fairly often. We primarily boondock for weeks at a time.
Interstate does have a new EFB deep cell that is supposed to have more cycles for about $50 more per battery, but I haven't tried them yet.

If you have room, get the 27s.

[RobbieH]

Aussieguy, are you saying for people like me with older trailers that don't have a way to change the controller to lithium mode can install lithium batteries, just they will charge more slowly? Did I read that right? I haven't gone digging in to see yet what controller I have onboard, but given it did not come with solar (it's solar ready with that Zamp connector) I don't believe mine is switchable. I'm going camping this weekend, right now it looks like we may be rained out but if I can get some time where it's not raining, I'll see if I can locate my controller.

[Bob K4TAX]

Use and abuse greatly determine battery life. Discharging below about 50% is a true battery killer.

Bob

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by Bob K4TAX

Use and abuse greatly determine battery life. Discharging below about 50% is a true battery killer.

Bob

Once again, I disagree with you Bob. Imagine that.

The manufacturer's stats show that discharging flooded batteries below 50% does affect longevity, but not enough to be significant, especially for RV usage.

At 5 years, I notice enough capacity drop off, that I usually replace them. Otherwise I could probably nurse them along for another year or two. Not bad for flooded.....

[SailorSam20500]

Originally Posted by wussowaj

Replacing batteries on a 2019 2104s. Converter is a WFCO 8955PEC. Suggestions would be appreciated.

Are you a regular boon-docker or spend most of you trips hooked up to shore power?
On shore power, any decent marine battery will be more than adequate.

[Bob K4TAX]

As for wet cell lead acid batteries:
At 12.6 volts or above the battery is fully charged at 100% and no action is required.
At 12.5 volts the battery is 90% and at a healthy state of charge.
At 12.1 - 12.4 volts the battery is 50% to 75% and is partially discharged and should be charged as soon as possible.
At 12.0 volts or below the battery is considered at 50% or less and as fully discharged. It should be recharged as soon as possible. The lifespan of the battery will be severely affected if it remains in this voltage range.

As for sealed lead acid batteries, the voltage numbers are slightly different with voltages being slightly higher.

Now I'm not smart nor well-educated, but I can read what battery manufacturers recommend. I'll choose to stick with their advice.

Bob

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by wussowaj

Replacing batteries on a 2019 2104s. Converter is a WFCO 8955PEC. Suggestions would be appreciated.

Moved thread from the Appliances and Electronics sub-forum to the Electrical and Charging Systems sub-forum since the OP's questions are specific to that sub-forum.

[Aussieguy]

Originally Posted by RobbieH

Aussieguy, are you saying for people like me with older trailers that don't have a way to change the controller to lithium mode can install lithium batteries, just they will charge more slowly? Did I read that right?

YUP you read it correctly, it will take about 5 or six hours for your Converter to charge the Lifepo4

I haven't gone digging in to see yet what controller I have onboard, but given it did not come with solar (it's solar ready with that Zamp connector)
Solar ready... no controller is probably installed ...

I don't believe mine is switchable. I'm going camping this weekend, right now it looks like we may be rained out but if I can get some time where it's not raining, I'll see if I can locate my controller.

If you want to get a small 10-20amp battery charger that is lithium capable
a) charge the battery with the converter to as full as you can
b) attach the small battery charger every 2 weeks or so, to balance charge the lifepo4 cells

My batteries are set to balance anytime charge/discharge whenever the individual cells reach 3.4v (13.6v) I never see any balance issue
Any charger that can reach 13.6 will eventually 100% charge lithium

Lithiums do not require 100% charging every day.

That's why get batteries with BLUETOOTH

[tomkatb]

Today you will get quicker charging, more service life, and more available power for not a lot more dollars with lithium.

Your converter will completely charge the lithium battery. Actually not charging it quickly to the max is the right move.

We have a non lithium converter. Anytime we are in a powered site the batteries are fully charged. I have a 15 amp lithium fancy Victron charger. Seldom used to top up the batteries.

We have 412 ah of battery. The DW discovered Harvest Hosts. We now sleep out without power more and more. She loves that free camp ground. Often when we stop at a brewery or winery it is not so free. At the horse farm we bought fresh eggs. At the museum we contributed to their kitty.

We camp during colder months so use of the furnace is common. The furnace is a big user. Never stress about running out of batteries.

I like the SOK batteries. Not the cheepies. First class.

[RobbieH]

Originally Posted by Aussieguy

If you want to get a small 10-20amp battery charger that is lithium capable
a) charge the battery with the converter to as full as you can
b) attach the small battery charger every 2 weeks or so, to balance charge the lifepo4 cells

My batteries are set to balance anytime charge/discharge whenever the individual cells reach 3.4v (13.6v) I never see any balance issue
Any charger that can reach 13.6 will eventually 100% charge lithium

Lithiums do not require 100% charging every day.

That's why get batteries with BLUETOOTH

Thank you!

Looking for BT batteries is something I didn't think about.

We have an LFP Tesla Model 3, had it a little more than 1.5 years, 30,000 miles, so we are used to charging LFPs. In the Tesla world, they use "lithium ion" for the normal batteries, and LFP (lithium iron phosphate) for the lifepo4 batteries. If you just say "lithium" to a Tesla driver, he'll get confused.

I just happen to have a Renogy solar setup that can be set to lifepo4 so I can use that to top off.

This makes it way more simple than I expected.

[Jersey Jim]

Originally Posted by Aussieguy

go Lithium ... 2x 100ah batteries will be under $400 get blue tooth enabled

if you got any solar change the controller to lithium mode

your existing converter will charge them up as well...... but slowly

2 x 100ah should give you about 4 days off grid

Then if you want to spend more
do so on the solar

OR on a small stand alone lithium charger

---------------------------------------------------
Lifepo4 are SAFE... unlike the car / scooter and other lithium ION batteries that burn up

Looking to replace our Group 27 AGM batteries with Lithium. Pricing seems to be all over the place. What are some good Lithium batters in the sub $400 price point (if that is possible). Thanks.

[Aussieguy]

I got Elfhub from Amazon in April
have cycled them to at least 80% SOC each day
BUT am only using 12v stuff NO INVERTER
Shook them half to death upto Ohio and down to the everglades
They are still kicking...

If you want inverter ... look at something like chins , Litime , Power queen or Weize
people have reported good performance with Inverters

If you want around 400 ah ... suggest you get 2 x 200ah
joining 4 x 100ah becomes more of a problem and the wiring more expensive

Whatever brand you get make sure the BMS can handle your expected LOAD
paralleling 2 x batteries together will double the amps battery bank can discharge.

eg: 4 x 100ah (100amp discharge BMS) batteries can discharge 400amps
2 x 200ah (200amp discharge BMS) batteries can discharge 400amps

[Aussieguy]

PS ...........study litime web site they often have scratch and dent batteries
bottom of this page has LIKE NEW...
https://www.litime.com/pages/autumn-sale

[DepGrumpy]

I recently switched over to lithium, LimeUSB 100ah(?). Amazon had a good sale price. My Grey Wolf is already set up with solar and it is keeping up just fine.
My converter is lithium ready also. I let the battery run down a bit and the converter did its job and switched to a lithium charging profile.
Unfortunately life happens and I haven't done a good test of the system. We primarily boondock and lead acids were not doing what we needed.
I agree with going with a Bluetooth model. It will save you from having to install a charge monitor.

[tomkatb]

We went from 4 GC 2 batteries to two SOK 206 ah batteries. $1200

More than double the storage. Faster charging. No new converter. We carry a fancy lithium charger just in case. It can wake a sleeping battery if necessary. $150. It is wonderful on the lawn mower battery. Has the restore function. victron?

However, they are #1 class. Premium everything. Good to below zero for three season campers. Built in battery monitor. A third of the weight. #90 vs #300.

Higher quality costs more. Down side is 150 ah bms. 300 for two. We do not use inverters. Don’t care.

[GolfingDave]

Originally Posted by Bob K4TAX

Use and abuse greatly determine battery life. Discharging below about 50% is a true battery killer.

Bob

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

The manufacturer's stats show that discharging flooded batteries below 50% does affect longevity, but not enough to be significant, especially for RV usage.

At 5 years, I notice enough capacity drop off, that I usually replace them. Otherwise I could probably nurse them along for another year or two. Not bad for flooded.....

I worked in a business that rented equipment and people would leave switches on and run the batteries down overnight quite regularly. Completely dead.

Standard lead acid batteries. Did we notice any significant drop in batteries being "killed" prematurely? No.

Is AH capacity going to drop? Yes but not significantly. So I only get five years instead of six or seven out of a battery for camper use. Or three instead of four.

Batteries used for emergency backup or have requirements for certain AH capacity for proper requirements will probably not pass the AH test after numerous severe drainage.

No idea what numerous is but for camper use, when my tongue jack gets slow or my heater does not make it through the night it is time to replace it.

Left my lights on numerous times in my life in my vehicles. Battery come back to life fine? Yes.