Battery options

[Rgpracer]

Evening Gentlemen, I have a Duracell Marine & RV Deep Cycle 500 CCA & 615 MCA.
I forgot to take it out of the camper for super cold temps and it was NOT plugged in to trickle.....it is on life support machine right now trying to resuscitate it.
I am in the process now to install an OEM box and a second battery to mirror the original battery.

All that said, my question is, IF I have to buy another battery (or two), first all, I know that both batteries need to have the same specs, all that said again, do I need/want deep cycle batts and are my specs listed good numbers?

Thanks
Ray

[traveldawg]

Well, Ray, you opened the flood gates of the great battery debate......

First, to answer your questions - both your batteries should be identical no matter the CCC or size. Either 2 6 volt batteries in series or 2 12 volt batteries in series.

Now - on to the battery debates..... 2 6 volt batteries should provide more amp hours than 2 12 volt batteries. And AGMs are better than wet cells and lithium is better than AGM. I think maybe one lithium could be as good as 2 6 or 12 volt batteries - but you'll pay dearly for them and then go down the rabbit hole of which charger, etc.

This is a good article to acquaint you with batteries.

[Rgpracer]

Well, Ray, you opened the flood gates of the great battery debate......

First, to answer your questions - both your batteries should be identical no matter the CCC or size. Either 2 6 volt batteries in series or 2 12 volt batteries in series.

Now - on to the battery debates..... 2 6 volt batteries should provide more amp hours than 2 12 volt batteries. And AGMs are better than wet cells and lithium is better than AGM. I think maybe one lithium could be as good as 2 6 or 12 volt batteries - but you'll pay dearly for them and then go down the rabbit hole of which charger, etc.

This is a good article to acquaint you with batteries.

Lol......thanks Larry.......I think.

Ray

[Rgpracer]

Well, Ray, you opened the flood gates of the great battery debate......

First, to answer your questions - both your batteries should be identical no matter the CCC or size. Either 2 6 volt batteries in series or 2 12 volt batteries in series.

Now - on to the battery debates..... 2 6 volt batteries should provide more amp hours than 2 12 volt batteries. And AGMs are better than wet cells and lithium is better than AGM. I think maybe one lithium could be as good as 2 6 or 12 volt batteries - but you'll pay dearly for them and then go down the rabbit hole of which charger, etc.

This is a good article to acquaint you with batteries.

So Larry, you forgot one question I ask.....what about the numbers on my current battery......good or other numbers better or???

[traveldawg]

I think you'll find 500 CCC to be OK. Obviously, the more the better. It probably comes down to how much you want to spend on batteries.

I use 4 of these.... but I have a residential frig and want the extra capacity.

Here is another article for reference.

Hope this helps.....

[sande005]

Unless you left your battery connected and running something (even just turning the "disconnect" switch off can still leave things on that draw power)....it will be just fine!
There is no need to have a lead acid battery on trickle charge or to fear the cold. They LOVE to sleep in the cold! The colder the better. For one that started out fully charged, it has to get to -74 F before they freeze. (Fully discharged, that is a different matter...)
Yes, they do slowly self discharge just sitting. But in cool/cold temps it can take a very long time. Attached is one typical chart from a battery manufacturer.

A year and a half to get to 75% of charge at freezing!




In my boat and RV, they typically go into outside storage in late Oct, and come out in mid April. Never have I had a battery test less than 85% fully charged. Yes, it gets cold here in Minn., which helps a lot. One I left for an entire year, including a very hot summer, and when I remembered it, it still tested at 70% full.

Per the chart - in Texas in the summer, I would periodically top them off. In most areas of the country - disconnect and forget about them.

All bets are off, of course, if you ran them flat during the storage period...

[dryfly]

Well, Ray, you opened the flood gates of the great battery debate......

First, to answer your questions - both your batteries should be identical no matter the CCC or size. Either 2 6 volt batteries in series or 2 12 volt batteries in series.



This is a good article to acquaint you with batteries.

Larry,

Don't you mean 2 X 12 volt batteries in "parallel" for 12 volt systems?

[BobinICT]

I didn't want to go the lithium direction just yet, 1) initial cost of batteries, 2) having to change out chargers in the rig and possibly the TV. So I went with these for now. My thinking is lithium will be getting cheaper by the time I run through these. But, what do I know. They have added about 100 pounds to the tongue so I hope I made a decent decision. The dealer provided Interstate had to go.

https://www.vmaxtanks.com/XTR6-235-6...ry-_p_152.html

[traveldawg]

Larry,

Don't you mean 2 X 12 volt batteries in "parallel" for 12 volt systems?

oh drat! yes --> 12v parallel. Thanks for finding the error.