Best battery type for travel trailer.

[Ovi]

Have been researching to blue in the face and am.more confused then ever. What is the best battery type (standard, arm or gel) for deep cycling and long term power storage? I use a solar charger and do a lot of boondocking and therefore recharging. I fill up the water levels and two weeks later I need to do it again. Looking for maintenance free and long lasting

[ppine]

The answer is lithium, but they cost a lot. Second best are AGM, sealed gel mat batteries. They can take being drawn down much better than wet cell batteries.

[bikendan]

How much money do you want to spend? That will narrow the field.
Most bang for the buck, are two 6v golf cart batteries, in series.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by ppine

The answer is lithium, but they cost a lot. Second best are AGM, sealed gel mat batteries. They can take being drawn down much better than wet cell batteries.

True but there's a really good chance that they will be the last batteries you need to buy.

The question was "what is the best battery type". When it comes to power per pound and space, second place is far, far, behind. Also faster charging and can be mounted inside like in the bottom of a closet, under a bed, or in a hard to reach corner of a storage compartment.

Buy "Lithium" once and then enjoy for 3,000 to 5,000 cycles. Just how often will one "cycle" their batteries during a year. Every day will deliver a minimum of 8 years. (3,000/365). Go camping three months out of the year and that number now increases by a factor of 4. 8 years just jumped to 32 years.

FWIW, you only need one Lithium 100 amp hour battery to yield almost the same power yield as two 6V in series or two 12V in Parallel.

The real question is how often do you want to purchase replacement batteries? Every 3-4-5 years? Or maybe never. Trade the Trailer? Take batteries with you along with the converter if you upgraded to lithium. Just buy a cheap walmart group 24 and put the old converter back in it's place.

[Villagerjjm]

My 6 volt golf cart batteries lasted for 8 1/2 years and they cost $85.00 each

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by Villagerjjm

My 6 volt golf cart batteries lasted for 8 1/2 years and they cost $85.00 each

All well and good BUT:

Can you mount them inside living quarters without ventilation if you want to move them into a more temperature controlled environment?

Can you fully discharge them and recharge without loosing capacity?

Can you ignore them for years, not having to check electrolyte, etc?

Can you recharge them from fully discharged in a mater of a few hours or does it take all day? (maybe longer for a FULL charge)

(this is just the Short List)

[Villagerjjm]

I think you would almost HAVE to keep them inside... From what you are saying it sounds like they are worth double their weight in gold!!!

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by Villagerjjm

I think you would almost HAVE to keep them inside... From what you are saying it sounds like they are worth double their weight in gold!!!

One could probably secure them outside but having them inside makes it possible to avoid the extremes in heat (hot and cold) that NO battery likes. Also frees up the usual storage space (tongue on my TT) for storage of items I use when setting up (chocks, WDH bars, Pads for under stabilizer jacks, etc.)

As for cost? I paid about the same as a case and a half of beer per week (about what my son drinks), for one year. Considering I don't drink beer I just put the money in my batteries and years from now I'll still have the batteries. The beer? Literally becomes "water under the bridge".




Just for grins, two BB batteries weigh ~66 lbs (about the weight of one 6 V Golf Cart battery). Gold is approximately $19,000 per pound. If I had 66 lbs of gold ($1.25 Million) I'd probably have a dozen BB's and still have $1.238 million left Wouldn't be worrying about running my microwave or toaster as I'd pay someone to do it for me

[BandJCarm]

Why would I ignore my batteries for years. That's like "King, I've discovered a preservative!!". LOL


I have four six-volt batteries. I am not moving them anywhere. I have two separate single-point watering systems. My unit is either plugged into my house, my truck in transit, or a FHU site, 100 % of the time. I'd LOVE to have solar and LiPo batteries, but I somehow keep buying food and fuel instead.


Now, I admit, I'm richer than many/most Americans. But not that much (yet). I'm looking for a previously-unknown inheritance any day now. I can't bank on the lottery, as I don't usually play.

[NMWildcat]

I know you are looking for maintenance free batteries, due to having to fill yours all the time, but you should ask why you are having to fill them more than usual.
Could be you are over charging them, but most likely you are putting too much water in them. Fill the battery just to the bottom of the fill tube and no more, and I bet you will have better results.
As far as what battery is the best, it just depends on what is best for you. You can spend as much as you like, and put in as many as you want, but you have to be able to recharge them in a reasonable amount of time.
What works for me is 2 series 27 Interstate Marine batteries. Cheap. Provides ample storage for me and they don't take that long to recharge. I know, they aren't 'real' deep cell, but I don't care, they work fine!
We boondock 80% of the time, for weeks at a time, recharge with generator via converter, no solar.
My cheap batteries last about 4.5 years on average and I abuse them horribly according to forum members. I add water maybe two or three times a year.
Do what makes you happy, but don't over think it so much. Makes you old quicker