Using bus battery for power...

[Phatman]

I agree. I don’t believe there is any shortage of Characters on here !!

[Phychotron]

So I'm going over my plans for power and I'm thinking about how I'm going to be able to charge them without solar/electricity on the ready. I'm not sure I want to spend a lot of money on batteries if i can't properly maintain.


I have a group 24 battery box and was thinking that one deep cycle would be the best option to start out with.With just the one I can take it back to my apartment and charge it up between visits. And when I'm done with it I can put it in my camper that needs a replacement.

The local interstate battery store sells three different versions. New for $120 with a 5-6 yr warranty. "shop" battery for $60 that has a 1yr warranty, and a refurbished for 43 but only a 3 month warranty. They all have a $20 core charge.

not sure what 'shop' battery was, just that's what he refereed to it as. I didn't get a chance to go in before they clsoed but was wondering what route everyone would go for warranty reasons? Assuming all batteries are rated about the same. I've never seen a 5-6 yr warranty on a deep cycle, normally just 1 yr or so.

[rebapuck]

In the meantime, I take one of those power paks when I go camping. The kind that can jump start a car and also has plug receptacles. Can power a 100 bulb string of Christmas lights the whole weekend. Take it home and recharge it.

[Doktari]

This is a DIY portable power pack video. It’s a neat design. Only thing I’d do differently is use larger 10 gauge wire from the battery to the fuse block.

https://youtu.be/torSEtjPZ2I

[mountainfun2]

Try AGM from Cosco, 200$ each. 5 year warranty. You can put 1-4 batteries into a parallel connection. Get a battery isolator big enough for what your alternator puts out. Don’t drop the battery capacity by more than 50% when you can. AGMs don’t off gas hydrogen into atmosphere, so they are safer for “inside”. Still vent your battery bank

[BigPaul367]

Get a second battery of the RV, Deep Cycle, Type! Wire both your batteries to the isolator and stop worrying. But a Volt Gauge on the RV Battery with a momentary push button, when you wnat to know the remaining power, just push the button. If you REALLY want to protect the Bus Start Battery. When you are parked, use a 600 AMP shut-off or 'Kill' switch to completely separate the battery when not in use. 'No worries!' In case you don't know, wire the alternator output to the center isolator connection and the two batteries to one, each, of the other two connections.

[john61ct]

The Sam's and B+ Duracell GCs from Deka are actually much better.

Costco's are JCI made via Interstate, not as robust.