Battery Bank Size

bobofthenorth · February 11, 2016, 03:50:51 AM

Without doing a full electrical usage budget we're all just throwing darts blindfolded. But based on our experience with a gas range in the coach and an all electric galley on the boat I will say with absolute certainty that you can't carry enough batteries to go two days without starting the generator. And forget about solar making any significant difference.

People who live off grid either dramatically alter their electrical consumption or run their generator. I'm betting on the generator in your case.

akroyaleagle · February 11, 2016, 03:58:58 AM

Clifford,

Start here for comparison.

Mine have been in there over 12 years now. They are warranted for 8 years in RVs. The initial investment is a bit but
the return seems good to me.

These are in Las Vegas, so no freight for you!

Joe

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rolls-Surrette-S-550-6V-428Ah-Deep-Cycle-Flooded-Lead-Acid-Battery-FAST-USA-SHIP-/271855690530?hash=item3f4bdca322:g:UV0AAOSwpDdVQmCF

luvrbus · February 11, 2016, 05:16:49 AM

This is what Chris is telling me to do

Use 4-4D 212ah batteries wired in series and parallel for 24v in 1 string that will give me 424 AH and if I use 2 -12v strings I should use something like a Magnum ME-SBC combiner.

i asked about using the L-16 TomC and he recommend the 4-Ds says the L-16 are good batteries but the 4-D's are less costly and have more plates than is why the 4-D's weigh 20lbs more.

Solardude he agrees with you on the heat I need to add a vent and fan to my battery compartment living in a area where temps can get to 120 degrees and about 4 years is what I can expect for the life of a battery.

Then I should not try and charge the batteries in those type temperatures just disconnect the batteries they don't lose many volts over a long period of time. He makes a good point the more AH in a battery bank the longer the generator time to bring the batteries up to a 100% float charge

He is telling me a AGM battery should be recharged to 100 % after use and if not they should be equalized every so often.Now he is wanting to send me the Concorde Sun X extender batteries he says they are the same battery with 1 year free replacement same as the LifeLine

Only difference is the pro rated warranty on the LifeLine that you pay for.Their warranty no longer covers the bulging cases because he says that is caused by heat and charging even with the 5 year pro rated warranty they no longer warranty a battery damaged by heat.

So the question is this correct or is he pulling my leg.

TomC I do have automatic generator start now

Jack it has a manual switch over but I plan on changing to the automatic through the inverter

Joe I wanted to go with your set up with Rolls but I don't have the clearance

thanks for the input guys is this going to work for me or not ? I need to get this behind me and go to bigger and better things

Lee Bradley · February 11, 2016, 05:30:28 AM

Just an aside, I went with the L-16 batteries because they have a smaller foot print than the 4-d. Not sure why the 4-d batteries cost less as most batteries are costed on the pounds of lead in them; less the warranty cost.

Boomer · February 11, 2016, 05:37:42 AM

Cliff I highly recommend a load sharing inverter when you change. I have a 24V house and run a Xantrex 4,000W inverter, (

AGM 8D's. The new Magnum 4024 is a good one as Xantrex is gone now. We run one roof air going down the road as we have a separate house bank alternator to charge the bats off the engine (200A). We dry camp a lot when traveling and do a one hour gen run in the morning and again at night when sitting for days. I have never let my bat bank get below 50%, usually 60%. You might be able to sit for 2 days off your inverter with an equivalant bank if you are careful and all your stuff is LED as long as no a/c and little micro or cooktop use. The fridge is the big power hog. Right now I have 10 years on my batteries and still going strong.

luvrbus · February 11, 2016, 06:43:50 AM

He sent me the info, funny a 212 amp hr 4-D vs a 8-D with 255 amp hr cost 200 bucks more for the 40 extra amp hrs

Dave5Cs · February 11, 2016, 07:30:14 AM

Clifford you also you have to figure in how many batteries it will take to run all of Sonja's sewing machines too? 50 8D's

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Dave5Cs · February 11, 2016, 07:32:47 AM

We got a portable induction cook top and like it because you can just put it in a closet or drawer when done and take it outside too. We still have the gas stove inside when needed.
Dave

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luvrbus · February 11, 2016, 08:30:58 AM

Quote from: Dave5Cs on February 11, 2016, 07:30:14 AM
Clifford you also you have to figure in how many batteries it will take to run all of Sonja's sewing machines too? 50 8D's

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Now thanks to you I have another one to deal with

bevans6 · February 11, 2016, 08:32:17 AM

His recommendation is probably fine, he probably knows more about batteries than most. 400 AH at 24 volts is about half what I came up with, so you will be able to do about half (either in time, or mostly in using 100% of your cooktop). Should be fine, just keep in mind the total watts from running both burners and the microwave all at the same time exceeds the capacity of one inverter.

Brian

digesterman · February 11, 2016, 08:58:08 AM

Take a look at the IBE batteries, made in LA for the forklift industry, they are one tough battery, rugged and able to abuse. Thinking of using these when I need to replace my L16's at a off grid place we have down on the coast. Spendy but supposedly worth it. You order/buy by the 2 volt cell.

Iceni John · February 11, 2016, 09:09:01 AM

Quote from: luvrbus on February 11, 2016, 05:16:49 AM
This is what Chris is telling me to do

He is telling me a AGM battery should be recharged to 100 % after use and if not they should be equalized every so often.

How do you equalize those AGMs? Just wondering. Some folk on the NAWS forum (who know way more about such things than I ever will!) seem to think it's not a good idea: http://forum.solar-electric.com/discussion/23055/need-help-with-equalizing-agm

John

Dave5Cs · February 11, 2016, 09:19:22 AM

Clifford that was the wife not me lol. But I did think it was funny.
Dave

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luvrbus · February 11, 2016, 10:01:25 AM

Quote from: Dave5Cs on February 11, 2016, 09:19:22 AM
Clifford that was the wife not me lol. But I did think it was funny.
Dave

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I know you did but I'll get even

eagle19952 · February 11, 2016, 10:29:01 AM

Quote from: Iceni John on February 11, 2016, 09:09:01 AM
How do you equalize those AGMs? Just wondering. Some folk on the NAWS forum (who know way more about such things than I ever will!) seem to think it's not a good idea: http://forum.solar-electric.com/discussion/23055/need-help-with-equalizing-agm

John

He is telling me a AGM battery should be recharged to 100 % after use and if not they should be equalized every so often.Now he is wanting to send me the Concorde Sun X extender batteries he says they are the same battery with 1 year free replacement same as the LifeLine

DEKA East Penn and Xantrex both told me to never Equalize the AGM. and 14v max bulk, and 13.2 float....