Batteries

Converting Cargo Trailers into TTTs

Re: Batteries

Postby McDave » Tue Mar 28, 2017 1:14 am

The battery in my '57 Chevy Nomad was installed in 1993. I only put a few hundred miles a year on the car, and I'll admit to letting it get discharged during the winter several times. But it still takes a charge and holds at 12.8v. My van eats a battery every 2-3 yrs. The problem is that most "walmart" type batteries are built with recycled lead that is not as pure as the stuff the older batteries were built with. IMHO.

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Re: Batteries

Postby John61CT » Tue Mar 28, 2017 6:49 am

Starter batteries' design and function have nothing in common with House bank deep cycling.

Discussing them together just confuses things further.
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Re: Batteries

Postby MtnDon » Tue Mar 28, 2017 9:24 am

McDave wrote:The battery in my '57 Chevy Nomad was installed in 1993. I only put a few hundred miles a year on the car, and I'll admit to letting it get discharged during the winter several times. But it still takes a charge and holds at 12.8v. My van eats a battery every 2-3 yrs. The problem is that most "walmart" type batteries are built with recycled lead that is not as pure as the stuff the older batteries were built with. IMHO.

McDave


Lead purity does affect the life of some batteries, but not all. Purity does affect AGM / VRLA batteries, apparently. However, it does not affect FLA batteries, apparently. In an auto, underhood heat is the big killer of batteries and engines run hotter today than they did a few decades ago.
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Re: Batteries

Postby McDave » Tue Mar 28, 2017 12:03 pm

John61CT wrote:Starter batteries' design and function have nothing in common with House bank deep cycling.

Discussing them together just confuses things further.



Well, except for the fact that both types use the Exact Same Chemistry, .... Ya, nothing in common...
My previous post was just a anecdotal comment as to the quality of the batteries and other products produced today, as is reflected in the warranty period. Gone are the days of prorating. Coincidence? Perhaps. Or not. Nowhere in that post was deep cycle mentioned or inferred. I was not confused in the least.
"Nothing in common" may be overstating it just a bit.

@ MtnDon,
You always provide really great technical info. I am aware of your Jemez ties, so I'm just curious if you are associated with LANL? Anyways, thanks for the link. Also, the van mentioned is a 1993 vintage, 78,000 miles. Probably not to be included in todays hotter running engines as cause for premature battery failure.

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Re: Batteries

Postby John61CT » Tue Mar 28, 2017 1:08 pm

If you read the OP the thread is about nothing but batteries suitable for a deep cycle use case.
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Re: Batteries

Postby MtnDon » Tue Mar 28, 2017 1:46 pm

McDave wrote:
@ MtnDon,
You always provide really great technical info. I am aware of your Jemez ties, so I'm just curious if you are associated with LANL? Anyways, thanks for the link. Also, the van mentioned is a 1993 vintage, 78,000 miles. Probably not to be included in todays hotter running engines as cause for premature battery failure.

McDave


I'm retired; our son still works there though.

I believe it was around 1995 that OEM thermostats went to 195 F and normal operating temperatures elevated to about 210.
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Re: Batteries

Postby Newt182 » Fri Mar 31, 2017 3:20 pm

I don't want to hijack the OPs thread, but this seems to be relevant to the conversation.

I went to a local Battery shop today and told the guy what i was doing, and recommended using a couple of of US Battery US 2200 XC2 6 Volt Batteries. (http://usbattery.com/products/6-volt-ba ... 00-xc2-lf/) and he quoted me $115 each for them. Any pros or cons with this particular battery? My plan is some LED lights, ability to charge cell phones, maybe a mini fridge.
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Re: Batteries

Postby MtnDon » Fri Mar 31, 2017 5:26 pm

The guy is suggesting the same thing "my" local battery guy suggested to me 50 years ago. That is, buy a pair of golf cart batteries because they are designed to handle deeper discharges than regular auto or even RV/Marine batteries. That pair will give you approx. 100 amp-hours @ 12 volts (1200 watt-hours) of usable energy, using 50% of capacity as a maximum discharge. With care they can last many years. We have a set of 8 in use at our off grid cabin. They went into service July 2009 and look like they can make it to ten years. They are not discharged every day, much like the batteries in most RV's. The electrolyte level is kept up and they are fully recharged every day or two; once in a while three cloudy days may pass before they get back to 100%.

Those 2 batteries will probably more energy storage than you need when powering LED lights and charging a phone a few times. The mention of the mini-fridge raises a flag though. Some of those are energy hogs; others not so much. Have you estimated the energy use of all those items you would like to run? IMO, that is mandatory; one runs the risk of having insufficient storage when refrigerators enter the picture. As I stated, some are big energy users as they were designed with cheap AC house power in mind and many are designed to be sold for a low price. OTOH, there are others that were designed with energy conservation in mind.
Our 6x12 deep vee nose cargo trailer camper conversion... viewtopic.php?f=42&t=58336

We have a small off grid cabin we built ourselves in the NM mountains; small PV solar system; 624 watts PV, Outback CC & inverter/charger ... http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=2335.0
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Re: Batteries

Postby John61CT » Fri Mar 31, 2017 6:28 pm

Great mfg, you'd pay more for better, like Trojans, Superior, Surrette.

The Duracell / East Penn can be cheaper per AH, but likely not better.
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Re: Batteries

Postby defjr333 » Sat Apr 01, 2017 8:51 pm

Would love to find a comparison for those US batteries vs the duracell gc2 def more ah per $for duracell but wonder the lifespan/ quality.
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Re: Batteries

Postby John61CT » Sat Apr 01, 2017 9:33 pm

I'd bet real money the USB will be measurably better on longevity, but Duracell has a brand to protect and as mfg East Penn/Deka aren't at all shabby, those really are great value.

If the former were under 25% per AH more, I'd pay the extra.

Gotta factor in core charge, distance to pick up etc, different calc for each of us.

Also warranty policy, mfg date, how long sat on the shelf.
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Re: Batteries

Postby defjr333 » Fri Apr 07, 2017 5:45 pm

Went with 8 Duracell GC2s in series/ parallel config. The Inverter is LOVING LIFE. After 2 days of charging with no loads, we had a bad storm last night and lost power. I ran extension cords from inverter which is on a test bench in garage to get through the blackout. It ran my 1100w full size home microwave plus a few lights and tv!!! Granted i will not want to use batteries when off grid for microwave, its a power hog, but it can do it if needed :shock:
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Re: Batteries

Postby John61CT » Fri Apr 07, 2017 5:57 pm

Lots of people do, key is small number of minutes per day.
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Re: Batteries

Postby tanukihimself » Sat May 06, 2017 9:44 pm

Im looking at 2 of the sams gc2 batteries vs 1 vmax tank agm 155ah battery. The space and weight is a concern, but not a huge issue. Im more worried about having to vent the battery box out the bottom of the trailer for the gc2 batteries. I have a 2000w pure sine inverter and a mppt charge controller (I don't even know what that means ha). I won't use too much power each day but also don't know how often ill be able to charge to absolute 100% ad I don't know where the gypsy road leads next.

How important is the venting of the gc2 batteries?
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