8D Deep Cycle AGM questions

[Iceni John]

if you have just one battery bank for both starting and house loads, how do you know how many amp/hours of deep-cycle battery equates to how many CCA of start battery?   Is there a formula to convert between the two?   A Group 31 and a golfcart battery each weigh about the same and are about the same size, so would they have equivalent energy storage capacities (bearing in mind the GC is only 6V)?   How big does the house bank need to be to provide 2000 CCA and a decent Reserve Capacity?

John

[windtrader]

.....seems silly to and I quote "have a $400 set of batteries that only get used a few seconds every couple of months when it could all be part of a house bank"

I'm laughing since this thread came along just recently. I never knew about the single battery bank approach so I just looked at what works today for starts. Put in the two Group 31 and it starts fine. Especially now that I just replaced the house bank and with them connected to the new house bank, it a hybrid in that the house bank backs up the start bank but both still server their primary purposes.

I did swap two Group 31s for the two 8D, and swapped in 6V GC2 deep cycle in for the four 4D house bank. My banker (wife) thanks me, hoping the new configuration will work out. The house battery metal box has plenty of space if I need to double up.

[TomC]

I have two 31's for starting (like Clifford from Bulbs and Batteries) and 2-8D AGM Lifelines. I also have a 300amp solenoid that connects the two sets together for both charging and for emergency starting off the deep cycle. Good Luck, TomC

[sledhead]

all in one battery bank ?

I have 4 x g31 's to start the coach and 4 gulf cart 225 batteries for the house and a 400 amp contactor to add house batteries  for starting the coach if there is a problem on starting

I do have more space on the slide out dwr that holds the house batteries ( 2 more could be added ) but it would be easy to replace the 4 start batteries with 6 v gulf cart batteries and tie them together . that would give me 8 x 6 volt ,s at 225 amp = 1800 - 50 % ( 12 volt system ) = 900 amps at 12 volt

would that be lots to start the cat ?   

thanks   dave

[bigred]

He needs to look past a deep cycle battery for starting no matter what brand he chooses,I pay $89.99 for group 31's at my local Batteries and Bulbs and I paid $40.00 for a friggn lawn mower battery at Napa 

I paid the same for one at O'Riley's ,And 20 dollars for a single can of R-134 .Didn't want to drive across town to a Walmart where they had it for 4.58 a can lol

[PP]

Even though I've had no problems starting my 892 with just 2 grp 31's, after reading this thread, I'm wondering if I should set up a connection to the house bank also just for starting assistance before I damage my starter. It starts so quick it doesn't seem like it would be a problem, but....
And then again, if it ain't broken, why fix it? 

[Dave5Cs]

If you want to see Sean Welch s Battery Banks.  ourodessey.com
he has diagrams on his site even though they are writing about their boat now the bus stuff is still there.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

[luvrbus]

I never read Sean's blog but if remember he had the batteries inside the coach something the battery manufactures say not to do now,LifeLine completely changed their installation process now after a couple of law suits

[Lee Bradley]

I don't think Sean had batteries inside the coach but the Neoplan he had/has had lots of little storage areas and he had batteries in lots of them. 

[luvrbus]

I don't think Sean had batteries inside the coach but the Neoplan he had/has had lots of little storage areas and he had batteries in lots of them.  

I'll call Sean and ask him but I thought he had a couple inside under the bed at one time when Bob Lewis was doing the conversion for him 

[boxcarOkie]

Nuts, I have to vent.

This thing has grown a life of its own ....  "I don't know a thing about batteries ..... but"  That should be a good clue right there about what is coming next.  Personally I believe the green M&M's are much better than the brown ones, so all of you are missing the boat by eating the wrong colors!  So here is my somewhat valid concern .... I am wondering if we will EVER find out why this mystery bus did not start, some four or five pages ago. 

Hey Clifford?  I was thinking about Sonny today, how he used to laugh about how all these bus guys over-analyze everything out the wahzoo.  He used to go down to the truck wrecking yard, buy batteries out of wrecked trucks, and run them five or six years.

For a measly $45.00 each.

My 892T takes a lot of juice, I run FOUR of 'em to start it (that should give you something to think about).  All built in the USA by Interstate, it starts just fine most of the time, if it don't I will make a video and post it, that way, someone can tell me how to fix it, and I won't have to do it myself and share it with the rest of you.

Good gawd, if it is done right, you don't need house batteries to start it, or a wrecker to jump it.  What you need is basic mechanical skills, a little common sense and a little luck now and then.  House batteries --- AGM --- Drip Dry left-handed threads --- 14 million CCA's --- my _____ .

THIS AINT ROCKET SCIENCE FOR CRYIN OUT LOUD.

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[Lee Bradley]

http://www.ourodyssey.us/bus-e-house.html

[belfert]

My bus came with four group 31 starting batteries from the factory and I have kept it that way.  To date, I have not had a starting problem on the road due to batteries.  I have killed several sets of starting batteries at home due to my own negligence.  For my use I could probably get by with two group 31 batteries, but it hasn't been worth rewiring things.

[TomC]

Sean is truly a talented electrical engineer. His electrical system on his motorhome was easy to operate, but incredibly complicated wiring wise. Also having 8-8D batteries (should read his adventure of replacing those beasts), is 1250lbs. Course, most buses are not near the weight limits.
Choose your electrical system. I believe in simplicity with manual switching for everything-but then you need to know what you're doing and teach others what to do. Sean's systems were aimed at anyone capable of turning a switch. Good Luck, TomC

[luvrbus]

Sean is truly a talented electrical engineer. His electrical system on his motorhome was easy to operate, but incredibly complicated wiring wise. Also having 8-8D batteries (should read his adventure of replacing those beasts), is 1250lbs. Course, most buses are not near the weight limits.
Choose your electrical system. I believe in simplicity with manual switching for everything-but then you need to know what you're doing and teach others what to do. Sean's systems were aimed at anyone capable of turning a switch. Good Luck, TomC

He had a lot of bucks in that bus that he didn't even come close on getting back when he sold it and it cost him a bundle to keep it going over the years