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04-01-2022, 01:32 PM
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#1
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Site Sponsor
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 412
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What bateries would you buy?
I'm looking to replace the two 6V Costco batteries I bought for my TM . They were ½ the price of Trojan at the time so I took a chance. I got 8 years of use out of them. After 2 years of being home bound I'm ready to hit the road again (I hope). New batteries and tires are on the list.
I can get Interstate batteries from Costco for about $100 (not what I had before). I'm on DC 99% of the time but they seldom drop below 50% (go solar). Most here seem to be sold on the Trojans. I'm thinking of being thrifty again unless someone here can tell me why I shouldn't.
__________________
Roger and Patty
TM:2006 2720SL
TV: 2010 Tundra w/ tow pac.
Dealer Options:swing tongue, sink cabinet, awning, air conditioning, tile
Modification: 15“ tires & monitor system, WDH, Prodigy B.C., 2-6 V. batteries & clipper monitor, LED's. Additional modifications can be seen in albums.
Pictures of campsites and places we visited can be seen at https://www.flickr.com/photos/101899116@N06/sets/.
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04-01-2022, 01:43 PM
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#2
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 2,856
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lesherp
I'm looking to replace the two 6V Costco batteries I bought for my TM . They were ½ the price of Trojan at the time so I took a chance. I got 8 years of use out of them. After 2 years of being home bound I'm ready to hit the road again (I hope). New batteries and tires are on the list.
I can get Interstate batteries from Costco for about $100 (not what I had before). I'm on DC 99% of the time but they seldom drop below 50% (go solar). Most here seem to be sold on the Trojans. I'm thinking of being thrifty again unless someone here can tell me why I shouldn't.
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That's really good life out of those Costco Interstates. They have a reputation of getting weak prematurely.
I say, "Costco Interstates" because Costco has Interstate build them to fit into a price range.
The basic rule of thumb is that you want to compare lead/acid batteries (which is what we are talking about here) by weight. You will find that the higher quality batteries that have a longer life contain more lead (thus comparing by weight).
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TrailManor Elkmont
640W solar- 230AH LiFeP04 Battery
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04-01-2022, 02:38 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The mountains of Scottsdale, AZ, and the beaches of Maine
Posts: 10,121
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Quote:
The basic rule of thumb is that you want to compare lead/acid batteries (which is what we are talking about here) by weight.
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Do you have any feeling for the proportionality factor? In other words, if one battery weighs 20% more than another, will it have 20% more life?
Bill
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04-01-2022, 03:19 PM
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#4
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 2,856
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill
Do you have any feeling for the proportionality factor? In other words, if one battery weighs 20% more than another, will it have 20% more life?
Bill
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I think that the market place demands that you pretty much get what you pay for. This may be a good time to get some of those Costco batteries. It seems that their prices have not kept up with the price of lead YET. Probably due to current inventory being built at the older lead prices.
My favorite are the Trojan batteries but their supply hasn't kept up with demand and the lead prices are reflected in the available inventory.
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TrailManor Elkmont
640W solar- 230AH LiFeP04 Battery
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04-04-2022, 12:04 PM
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#5
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Utah
Posts: 316
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wavery
I think that the market place demands that you pretty much get what you pay for. This may be a good time to get some of those Costco batteries. It seems that their prices have not kept up with the price of lead YET. Probably due to current inventory being built at the older lead prices.
My favorite are the Trojan batteries but their supply hasn't kept up with demand and the lead prices are reflected in the available inventory.
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Silly Q of the day:
I baught a Trojan 105 to replace a bad (craced case) Trojan. Here they are about $175.00 each. So now I have one new and one semi old battery and I need to get a new 6v battery to make sure I have two new.
Should I make them a "matched pair" by buying another 105, or go the Costco route and have one new Trojan 105 and one Costco...
...But I think i already know the answer.
__________________
Moved to the "Dark Side" (Pop up's for 15 years)
Bought what DW calls "The Golden Unicorn"
TM 2006 2720sl
DH/DW 2018 Ford F-150
North Utah
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04-04-2022, 02:18 PM
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#6
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 2,856
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kmikesell
Silly Q of the day:
I baught a Trojan 105 to replace a bad (craced case) Trojan. Here they are about $175.00 each. So now I have one new and one semi old battery and I need to get a new 6v battery to make sure I have two new.
Should I make them a "matched pair" by buying another 105, or go the Costco route and have one new Trojan 105 and one Costco...
...But I think i already know the answer.
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A matched set (Brand/model/date code) is best. Any variation from that shortens the life expectation.
What happens is, if you buy a 6V Costco (~4-5 year life expectancy) and a 6V Trojan 6-7 year life expectancy, you end up with lower real life for both batteries. A matched pair will equalize one another more easily and give you the longest life (everything else being equal). There is little too no struggle between the 2 batteries.
When 1 battery is stronger than the other, the stronger battery is constantly trying to charge the other battery to an equal state. As time goes on, the weaker battery will finally degrade the stronger battery and that is how they will equalize.
__________________
TrailManor Elkmont
640W solar- 230AH LiFeP04 Battery
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04-04-2022, 02:36 PM
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#7
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Utah
Posts: 316
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wavery
A matched set (Brand/model/date code) is best. Any variation from that shortens the life expectation.
What happens is, if you buy a 6V Costco (~4-5 year life expectancy) and a 6V Trojan 6-7 year life expectancy, you end up with lower real life for both batteries. A matched pair will equalize one another more easily and give you the longest life (everything else being equal). There is little too no struggle between the 2 batteries.
When 1 battery is stronger than the other, the stronger battery is constantly trying to charge the other battery to an equal state. As time goes on, the weaker battery will finally degrade the stronger battery and that is how they will equalize.
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That's what I thought.... That's why I said it was a silly Q of the day!
Kory
__________________
Moved to the "Dark Side" (Pop up's for 15 years)
Bought what DW calls "The Golden Unicorn"
TM 2006 2720sl
DH/DW 2018 Ford F-150
North Utah
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04-04-2022, 02:43 PM
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#8
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 2,856
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kmikesell
That's what I thought.... That's why I said it was a silly Q of the day!
Kory
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No such thing a a "Silly question". If you were thinking it, 20 others were too but were afraid to ask.
__________________
TrailManor Elkmont
640W solar- 230AH LiFeP04 Battery
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04-04-2022, 02:46 PM
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#9
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Utah
Posts: 316
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As a former professional educator, I used to say the only stupid question is one that is asked three times...
... I have two to go!
Kory
__________________
Moved to the "Dark Side" (Pop up's for 15 years)
Bought what DW calls "The Golden Unicorn"
TM 2006 2720sl
DH/DW 2018 Ford F-150
North Utah
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