Need new RV batteries, need advise.

[shadow]

Which converter is your generator powering to charge the batteries?

huge gains can be had here if high amperage converter is seeking mid 14
huge losses here if converter is low amperage and incapable of seeking and holding higher pressure while generator runs.

do uou have 3 inches more height over the parLlelled group 24's?

if so then golf cart batteries will fit. Have more capacity and mo better for same or lower price

I upgraded to a new three stage converter/charger.
I can`t get anymore room in the battery box, group 24 is the biggest battery that will fit.

[shadow]

Which converter is your generator powering to charge the batteries?

huge gains can be had here if high amperage converter is seeking mid 14
huge losses here if converter is low amperage and incapable of seeking and holding higher pressure while generator runs.

do uou have 3 inches more height over the parLlelled group 24's?

if so then golf cart batteries will fit. Have more capacity and mo better for same or lower price.

I got home to the rv tonight and my generator wouldn`t start, had to start the rv to get the generator to start. these
batteries are fading fast with the cold weather we are getting here.

[rvpopeye]

Too bad ,,, the GCs have the same footprint as GRP 24s , just taller.

So , guess your size choice is easy .........next up battery type.

Lead acid
AGM
etc etc.

I did fit a big lead acid truck battery in place of 2 smaller ones in a rig once.
It performed ok but cost too much ! And lifting it , fagettaboutit...

[sternwake]

Which 3 stage converter did you get? What amperage? 

I exaggerated on the height needed for GC-2 batteries.

trojan says their benchmark t-105 6v GC-2 battery is 11.15 inches to the top of the threaded stud
GC-2 batteries have nearly the same exact same footprint as group 24.



The Group 24 is just over 9 inches tall.  Measure the height of your compartment and see if those 24's are raised on a block of wood or anything.

If it is possible to stuff gc-2s in there you will have @ 50 more amp hours capacity, and the GC-2s are rated for at least double the deep cycle life of a quality marine group 24, all factors being equal.

The GC-2s at sams club, costco  or Batteries plus likely cost about the same as marine group 24s.

AGM batteries are lead acid too, as are Gel.

Better term for regular batteries with removable caps is wet/flooded/ sloshy.

If you are only using the generator and converter to charge, well getting the batteries from 80% to 100% takes no less than 3.5 hours when the batteries are healthy, and the longer they cycled from 85% down to 50% and back up to 85% their available capacity walks down, and recharging takes longer and longer from 85% to 100% and might( when new) and Will (when older) require higher voltages for longer.

NObody tries to fully charge batteries running a generator, it is a waste of fuel, and a converter which drops out of absorption prematurely might then  take 3 days at 13.6v to fully charge the batteries.

So the converter/charger, plays a huge part, and some are better than others for generator charging, and some suck rancid donkey balls when generator charging is the only charging source.

[shadow]

The converter/charger I got is 45 amps, output voltage is 13.2 vdc float, 13.6 vdc normal, and 14.4 vdc boost.
I can`t remember the brand of the converter/charger at the moment.

[sternwake]

sounds like a pd9245.

Progressive dynamics.

I have used these in a few projects for others. They work well but the 45 amps seems to taper to just under 40 in the first few minutes despite the batteries not being the limiting factor.

Anyway, if you can fit GC-2s in there, do so, if you cannot then group 24's, I would choose those made by EastPenn Deka, and I believe most Napa Autoparts stores hcarry them. Least favorite would be by Exide or Johnson controls made marine 24's

TroJan makes a group 24 marine battery which is likely the best 24 offering, but likely not worth the extra price and hard to acquire factor.

If you were to go AGM, the PD9245 voltage setpoints are very close to Lifeline AGM recommendations, but I would not recommend AGMs unless you can get them to full via the long absorption stage either by Solar or plugging them into the grid. AGMS superior price does not make them immune to chronic undercharging, and it is liley they would perform worse in the same chronically undercharged duty.

Try and find fresh batteries, not ones that have been sitting on a shelf for 6 months. And sales/price reductions on batteries usually means they are old and presulfated with inherent capacity loss.

Kind of hard to beat the Wally world marine batteries in price and the first warranty return when they are sulfated, but Costco does not even bother to check them out, they just give new ones, if they carry marine 24's. Most WW marine batteries are Johnson controls, but in some areas of the country are EastPenn/deka, and will have an EP in the part number, as opposed to JC.

Best of luck with your new batteries

[shadow]

I know my batteries are bad for sure.
I was able to plug in for nine hours yesterday
to charge my batteries, I watched about three
Hours of TV last night with the generator running,
And when I got up this morning my generator
Wouldn't start.

[rvpopeye]

Yup yup.
It's time.

[Blacktank]

can you check the charging voltage at the battery?

[shadow]

can you check the charging voltage at the battery?

I have not checked the charging voltage at the battery, but
After running the generator several hours, the next morning the batteries are low and won't start the generator. I never had any problems before the cold weather got here.

The batteries are right years old, and I doubt they were properly taken care of before I got the rv.