FYI Sams 8D Batteries

[chessie4905]

  Tom, you're right that they are the best for a constant coach user, but most likely most of us don't use a coach enough(yet) to invest in such great batteries.Once I, We experience what a nuisance wet cells can be, we'll probably consider them.
  BTW, what about large or huge Li-Ion down the road or Ni-Mh when they might be affordable, if ever?

[qayqayt]

I've learned that not all battery suppliers are equal.  Some stores have a consistent supplier, some suppliers even manufacture their own batteries.  Some buy them from China and get the cheapest they can find, then put their own stickers on them.  We bought 3 Group 31's for a trolley coach in our museum fleet.  After shopping around for the best price, we bought from a local supplier.  The 3 batteries looked identical, but one was noticeably lighter in weight.  Too early to tell if that one was inferior, but I have my suspicions.

Bryan

[Lin]

Chessie-- While it is true that we don't really need a 50DN alternator, it is good to have something.  Our coach does not have the 50DN, but has a small 24v, 45 amp, one wire alternator run off the pulleys behind the engine.  It is not particularly expensive and any good auto electric shop can make one up or repair it.

[wg4t50]

Our business moves. Over 300 batteries a year,  the single large issue, that is the date info,

A battery over 60 days old should be avoided.
Dave M

[chessie4905]

  I'm not planning to use the coach without an alternator, unfortunately the previous owner was talked into leaving it off, probably from wrong camshaft and engine repair facility didn't want to eat the labor to correct it on a reman engine. (speculation now till I actually check it in a couple of weeks.) If it needs different cam, I'll spend the money to correct as it was a dumb decision.

[TomC]

By the way-the AGM battery is exactly what a sometime user should use. AGM batteries have a very low discharge rate and can be charged very fast as long as you don't over volt them. Good Luck, TomC

[belfert]

By the way-the AGM battery is exactly what a sometime user should use. AGM batteries have a very low discharge rate and can be charged very fast as long as you don't over volt them. Good Luck, TomC

I don't use my bus all that often and I finally put in group 31 AGM starting batteries in 2010 after losing two sets of starting batteries over three or four years.  I still have to keep a Battery Tender on them or they will go dead due to parasitic draws from the DDEC and other things.  They do seem to stay up longer when I am not on battery charger.

If I was doing it over again I would probably just have one bank of batteries for starting and house batteries.  I considered moving my house batteries down where the start batteries are last year, but the compartment was an inch or two too small for my house batteries.

[rip]

I have 4 8d NAPA batteries that I use for starting and house that have lasted for six years.They are getting weak and finally need replacing.I checked with NAPA and their batteries are $200 each.
   Don