Battery

[MrBreeze]

Ok, the camper's battery has joined the great powercell in the sky. What's the recommendation out there? Is a deep cycle the way to go or is it not worth the expense?

[Glenn]

Bill or Mike are the best to answer.

[ObnoxiousBlue]

I'm not sure what your bus is running. I have two batteries, with an isolator relay. Both batteries charge when the engine is running, but only the one underneath the bed discharges when the ignition is off.
I needed new batteries about two years ago, and between Bill, and my readings of thesamba there were a few routes to go.

• 1- Standard Starting Battery & Standard Coach Battery
  The issue here is that starting batteries aren't meant to discharge more than a small percentage of their total capacity. While these batteries maintain 12V like the others, they die quickly when repeatedly drained and recharged.
• 2- Standard Starting Battery & Deep Cycle Coach Battery
  This seems like the most logical route to go. Except that the relay, voltage regulator and alternator get's "stressed" (for lack of a better word) If you will, think as if you were the alternator. You look out and see one battery with "capacity X" and another with "capacity X+Y." When a car has one battery the voltage regulator knows when to stop sending more power to the battery to prevent over charging, but here with two different capacity batteries invariably one will charge quicker than the other. The voltage regulator and relay still see that one battery is not fully charged and keeps the charging circuit open. It doesn't see an equal load and could potentially overcharge or damage the lesser battery.
• 3 - Deep Cycle Starting Battery & Deep Cycle Coach Battery
  Obviously, the first drawback here is price. Two deep cycles are big coin. But the benefit is also obvious - the alternator, voltage regulator, and charge relay all see one uniform load, you get an immense amount of power in the coach battery that to date I have never drained down and of course the added bonus of not having to worry about a dead starter battery.

There are quite a few different types of deep cycle batteries, not being well versed there I deferred to Bill. Most batteries now, regardless of brand are built by Johnson Controls. Optimas, are no different. They offere three types of deep cycle battery that each serve a different purpose. Red, Yellow and Blue tops differentiate them. I chose yellow, which works both as a starting battery for low discharge and as a deep cycle for the coach battery. I bought two and have been happy.
There are also different group sizes, which I learned was really only a measurement of the battery's physical size. So, as others have said, get the biggest battery possible that physically fits in the tray.

My battery post - after the jump:
http://dasvolks.com/viewtopic.php?p=68795#p68795

[Markus]

In a stock set up I'm pretty sure the alternator does not charge the aux battery. It gets charged by shore power only.

So the stress you mentioned in setup#2 should not be an issue for most?

But anyway for the starter I went to Pep boys and they asked what car i had, i told them and they gave me a Bosch with the posts on the correct sides, it was pretty cheap and I have been happy with it. Starts in 20 F temps and has survived a failed alternator.

[BusBq Bill]

What mike said Is good advice. Buy what brand makes you feel good. Many of the the deep cycle batteries now are rated as starting and deep cycle and starting. I would recomend one of those. Agm batteries are better. Absorbed glass Mat which are what optima batteries are except the are spiral wound. If you want to spend the money Yes They Are The Cadillac Of Batteries. I personally use 2 Deep cycle standard 6 cell plate batteries. I change them every 2 years. I used the relay setup for years and worked fine however it does shorten the life of the batteries. A marine type isolator is ideal for fully automatic operation. However recently I went with a 4 position switch. Off both one or two. Which is the simple way to go. Ask Glenn for my phone number and if you need a hand in the warmer whether I would be happy to help wire how you like.

[MrBreeze]

Went with option B. Got a good starting battery and ordered a deep cycle for the second one. My bus still has the original wiring for the second battery, but I've never actually tried it. We'll see if it works when it's warmer and there aren't huge puddles every where I'm trying to work. Was nice to take the bus out for a little ride, the lifters weren't pleased with me though. Took quite a bit to get them to stop clacking.

[ObnoxiousBlue]

Oh, your bus is running?

Explains why mine isn't... Do me a favor, and stop fixing shit. You're breaking my bus!