AGM or Wet Cell Batteries

[Berniewolff]

I currently have a 95 Roadtrek which has a 12 volt (wet cell) house battery located under the drivers side rear
dinette seat. This battery is inside the coach but in a wooden box with a wooden top. There is
no much of a airtight seal to this box at all.
This box is vented to the outside.

I would like to replace the existing 12 volt wet battery with 2 6-volt batteries which
would work in the next compartment to the rear of the existing battery box in the coach. If I add a larger wooden
box with vents like the original battery box would it be wise to use wet cells instead of AGM batteries.


Thanks for your help.

Bernie

[Mike]

Here's some links to other "battery" discussions on here..... some might help you make your decision.
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1290&p=5000&hilit=agm#p5000
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1209&p=4520&hilit=agm#p4520
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1061&p=3743&hilit=agm#p3743

Hope this helps.

[markopolo]

AGM's just cost so much more I'd love to have them but I'm too chea..... frugal

Maybe you can expand your current box and keep the existing venting.

If they're in the budget I'd go with AGM's. Then you don't have to worry about if the venting is adequate etc.

[Ron J. Moore]

I replaced the original batteries in my '05 RT190P with two 105AH AGM's, after the first year, and they are living up to their billing of worry free. I know they cost, but I got them on line and info I researched said to make sure they are fairly recent and not some old stock...mine were two months old. The cost was like $140.(then) and no sales and shipping was free - I jumped on them. I am real familiar with the Marine style wet cell, and used them for years in my boat - not anymore. Even the good brand (InterState) was a pain. I agree on cost, but to eliminate another headache....priceless.

[Mike]

I've been looking into the AGMs and have been quoted prices at a battery specialty shop
of between $202 and $282 and the ah ratings vary from around 90 to 100 on the 3 models
they say will fit the space and fall into the Group 27 category. There is also one at CTC for $299
which looks interesting as well, but it appears overpriced to me. It's also touted as part of
a Xantrex renewable energy package, but it sells separately.
Do these prices seem in line with what I'd expect to pay? The latter 2 higher priced batteries
suggest the plates are pure virgin lead, no alloy. They're made by MK ($202) and Odyssey
($264/$282) for the pure lead plates.

[Mike]

I picked up and installed an AGM GRP27 deep cycle battery today. I originally
thought I had a generator problem, but after pulling out the rear aux battery
in the RT, I realized it was time to replace it. The + eyelet connectors had
basically corroded and fallen off the post on the old wet cell. When I tried to
replace and reconnect them I realized the + post on it was now loose, and was
most likely the reason for it giving me some of my previous problems and allowing
the cells to rapidly lose water/electrolyte. So, I called and googled a few local
places, and picked up the new one for C$239 all in.
It is probably close to 65 lbs, so it's heavy, and I hope the OEM battery tray behind
the rear wheel doesn't decide to fall through to the roadway sometime, but other than
the weight it''s a solid replacement. I'll take the van out tomorrow to give it an alternator
charge. Supposed to have 175 minutes of reserve capacity, so that's better than the
wet cell it replaced.
This also means my auxilliary batteries are a hybrid system. with the fore being a
wet cell (in almost perfect physical shape) and the aft battery being the new AGM.
I don't think it matters.
Does it?