Time To Replace The Battery

My CI is five years old and the ba-tree is toast. I’m wondering what battery I should buy. I want to get the solar charger next time I’m at the mothership. I wonder if I should just have CI replace it then? I should at least inspect it.

552A6C65-350A-4C78-8D74-30E87226C2DD by Tour 931 posted Sep 27, 2022 at 10:27 AM

 

Lol...said like a true Wisconsin-ite....Bat-tree

 

You should hear me after I’ve dranken tree beers.

 

Which battery - sounds like a get the popcorn question

I'm going to replace mine when the time comes with another lead acid battery, probably from Walmart. They are made by highly reputable company (Johnson Controls now known as Clarios - I THINK!) and are of surprisingly good quality for the price. Around here, they are less than $90.

For me, boondocking happens periodically, but most of the time I have electricity. But, as long as my solar panel has my battery charged by evening time, I'm good for another day. Typically, I run a fantastic overnight, and the fridge 24 hours a day. Overnight, I use about 10% of my battery. The cost of a LIFEPO4 is just very hard to justify, especially considering how finicky and fragile they are.

 

It doesn't appear that the one you have in there now is a "sealed" battery, which is what I think Camp-Inn recommends due to the lack of ventilation of the battery compartment, and the possible build up of hydrogen during charging, which of course is explosive. So you may want to consider and AGM for your replacement. I recently replaced my 35 ah MightyMax after over discharging it to the point of damaging it, with a 100ah Victron AGM based on Seth's experience with that one. Camp-Inn also has a 70+ah AGM available if you decide to stop by the shop on your travels. I probably would have done that myself on the way to Oshkosh for AirVenture, but I wasn't able to make that trek this year, so decided on the Victron instead.

 

I got Cary's opinion on my #786 Ultra and he sent me these which are sealed.

If you do need to replace it here is the one we use now:
EnerSys DataSafe 12HX300-FR Battery 12v 284W

Another option is the battery we used to use (we lost our supplier) that also works really well:
UPS12-300MR C&D Dynasty

Cary

 

The 100ah Victron AGM will be my next battery.

 

Many thanks. At least now I know what kind of battery to look for. That first one looks like it would do the job.

 

I am certainly not the judge of what is appropriate and what isn't. If there is something that isn't acceptable, I would defer to the gang at Camp-Inn to chime in to make that determination. I just made an observation that the battery in the picture didn't appear to be a sealed battery, which is what I believe CI supplied with our trailer (we were the second owners however), and to my limited knowledge, that hadn't changed. I haven't bought one directly from the factory, so I am no expert on the matter, but the lack of ventilation , and of course the potential for an unsealed battery leaking acid into the electrical compartment, would be a couple of reasons for considering a sealed battery as a replacement if you don't currently have one.

 

It might not be OME but I like the idea of a sealed unit.

 

I thought the CI batt-trees were of the UPS variety. Something such as a Enersys 12HX300...could be wrong but what do I know??? Cary will be able to answer this question.

 

I was planning to replace our dead Trojan with a Victron 100ah battery this month, and actually ordered one, along with a charger, from Colorado Standby a week ago. I was told definitely that Victron would not drop ship, that the stuff had to first go to Colorado then be shipped to me. I'd get it in about two weeks which was ok with me.
I called them today to check the order status and was told that the charger was on the way to Colorado but they had no idea when they'd get the battery, and apparently neither did Victron. Pretty frustrating since I'm trying to head west later this month.
I guess I'll order one of the above batteries. I've done pretty well for the last almost-nine years with that size battery. So does anyone have an opinion to offer on these batteries, or even better, might you know where a Victron 100ah battery might actually reside?

thanks,

rd

 

My 550 is 6 years old and probably due soon for a new battery. One thing for sure, I will not order one and have it shipped to my home. I'll pick it up from the supplier even if I have to drive several hours. I had a big group 94 AGM shipped several years ago for the auxiliary battery in the back of the pickup. Arrived with a corner busted and seeping. All I had at that point was a very heavy hunk of toxic waste. I lucked out and was able to get a full refund w/o returning it. There was probably no way anyway to legally ship it back since it was leaking acid. I was able drop off the busted battery for free disposal at the distributer of the new replacement battery (different brand) about an hour away. Big heavy lead-acid batteries are fragile to ship unless they are packaged very carefully. If the internet outfit you order them from doesn't pack them properly, one good hit or drop and the plastic case is cracked and leaking.

 

I looked for a replacement for the Enersys Datasafe 12HX300 locally available to me (Pittsburgh). According to supplier data (EnerSys DataSafe HX 12HX300 - Sure Power, Inc), dimensions are 10.2 x 6.9 x 8.2 inches.

Batteries Plus Bulbs has a similar sized Duracell 82 AH AGM battery for $250 plus $13 refundable core charge and I can order online and pick up in the local store, which is about 15 minutes drive, and get a 10% discount. That way I can inspect it before paying and am sure of getting a good battery. Link is below.

Duracell Ultra 12V 82AH AGM High Rate SLA Battery with M6, C Terminals - DURHR12-325

May not be the newest development or most powerful battery for the 550 but probably close enough. If anyone sees a problem with this Duracell, please let me know.

 

Does anyone know the difference between high rate and deep cycle? Seems that an AGM battery is either one or the other. Which is best for a TD?

 

Here's the battery I put in the back of the pickup to run the DC fridge, which is behind the passenger seat in my F150.
DC115-12 | Fullriver Battery

 

I believe deep cycle is supposed to be the higher capacity SLA/AGM battery type for lead-acid trailer batteries.
High rate sacrifices some capacity so it can provide high cranking amps for a starter motor. Or something like that…

On the other hand, not everybody needs max capacity from an AGM, depending on what they are powering when camping. Eg., if your camping style has your camper on shore power overnight and alternator power on the road the battery needs are modest. If your fridge is in your pickup on a separate deep cycle batt, that also lowers the capacity needed in the trailer… by a lot!

 

I bought the Duracell for our 2010 550 serial 386 and had no issues with it for the 2 years before we sold the 550. I purchased it from Batteries Plus also. Not sure if it was the exact model you are looking at.

 

I replaced my failed OEM 2010 era 120vac onboard battery charger with a
Noco Genius5 charger, mounted on the battery compartment access cover for easier access for monitoring.

The Noco is also capable of charging AND maintaining flooded cell, AGM and Lithium batteries with automatic maintenance mode.

Its available at auto parts stores and Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GENIUS5...ix=noco5+genie+battery+charger,aps,279&sr=8-3

I replaced the old cooked 2.5 year old flooded cell marine deep cycle with a Diehard Platinum 70ah AGM dual/starter battery, off the shelf from Advance Auto.

I added marine terminal adapter connectors to the Diehard single auto terminals. This allows me the flexibility of extra connections with more choices in plain auto batteries available off the shelf,

and to easily remove the battery charger for use elsewhere, and to remove battery for maintenance out of the CampInn when in long term storage

Thanks to Mike of M&L for the Noco tip, and as always and once again kudos and thanks to Cary for step by step guidance on using the trouble-shooting guide in owners manual,

and to Craig for patiently coaching me on phone on "how to modify the wiring" to relocate the battery charger.