Dual battery in-cabin and Solar setup

[rayra]

Looking at the safety hub again, I think that's way overkill, and a simpler 6 circuit fuse block would be just fine don't you?

Amazon.com : Blue Sea Systems 5025 ST Blade Fuse Block - 6 Circuits with Negative Bus and Cover : Auxiliary Fuse Block : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Blue Sea Systems 5025 ST Blade Fuse Block - 6 Circuits with Negative Bus and Cover : Auxiliary Fuse Block : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

eh that's basically the product line I have in my rear cargo power box. But that's mostly out of concern for exposed terminals and possible water sloshing around back there.
I'm not really a Blue Sea promoter, although I do use a couple of their products.

I've got about 9 things going on in that back box, and maybe more to come. Might be stuffing (4) 10Ah wheelchair batts in there, wired so they get charged by vehicle and solar, but diode-isolated and wired such that they only feed the various power ports in the box. If I push forward with my camper-trailer plans late this summer / early Fall, I'll forego those and put the time and money into a ~200W standalone solar setup in the trailer, which can still be coupled to the vehicle.

 

[john61ct]

So if the batteries I listed, if you were to choose one, which would it be and why? I don't plan or want to use lead-acid, so AGM or the Renogy gel which I know is fully sealed.

I would not use any I think.

Deka makes fantastic FLA but their AGM are meh, same as Trojan maybe even Rolls.

Not Renogy afaic, they manufacture nothing afaik like Interstate

unless you learn their GEL is made by Deka, those are good, but GEL is very fussy, only lasts (very) long if precisely coddled.

I won't reco X2 beyond as I said talk to Northstar tech support, all three makers I reco'd have great support, easily available.

 

[67cj5]

I would not use any I think.

Deka makes fantastic FLA but their AGM are meh, same as Trojan maybe even Rolls.

Not Renogy afaic, they manufacture nothing afaik like Interstate

unless you learn their GEL is made by Deka, those are good, but GEL is very fussy, only lasts (very) long if precisely coddled.

I won't reco X2 beyond as I said talk to Northstar tech support, all three makers I reco'd have great support, easily available.

If a person uses Sealed FLA's then I can't see any problems coming up, Batteries with screw top caps might be a problem for interior use when Charged at a high rate, But I would be going with FLA's.

 

[john61ct]

Sealed FLA is an oxymoron, for me it means you have access to the electrolyte, use a hydrometer etc.

In deep cycling, there are only AGM or GEL if you (really) need sealed.

FLA gassing is really no problem, if the smell bothers you vent to outside.

 

[67cj5]

Sealed FLA is an oxymoron, for me it means you have access to the electrolyte, use a hydrometer etc.

In deep cycling, there are only AGM or GEL if you (really) need sealed.

FLA gassing is really no problem, if the smell bothers you vent to outside.

Why is it an Oxymoron, Most Deep cycle batteries are made that way,

My Deep Cycle Batteries are Lead Acid Batteries and are Sealed and have a small vent valve on the end, and the can be discharged right down to 30% SoC @ 600 times and have a 5 year Guarantee,

Mine are the 115Ah version of these.

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[john61ct]

All lead batteries are lead acid batteries.

The three categories of deep cycling units are either

flooded (caps, not sealed)

or sealed.

AGM and GEL are the two sealed chemistries.

Any battery **can** be discharged below 50%.

None of them **should** be. Firefly Oasis uniquely withstand such abuse if it truly is unavoidable, like maybe living off grid on a sailboat.

Mfg lab tests do not reflect real world usage.

Forget guarantees, not a useful indicator.

 

[john61ct]

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I doubt a proper battery for true deep cycling usage.

But your choices are greatly limited outside north america, the reco's made above are often unaffordable there.

 

[67cj5]

I can buy all the top of the line batteries like Rolls etc but the cost kills ya,

Over here for the cost of a 100Ah Lithium battery I can buy 11 of those batteries in that link I posted,

I just bought a new 35/400 Ah linier Lead Acid Charger, because my other one is too big to drag around and my Smart Chargers are too slow at charging lead acid batteries,

 

[john61ct]

Yes since excellent Deka FLA are only $1 per Ah @12V here

as cheap as consumer / automotive crap Starter motors

and can easily last 8+ years before hitting say 70% SoH as EoL

you need to really have strong motivations to spend more than that.

But I've seen many Rolls banks go for over 15 years, and many owners have the money so why not?

 

[67cj5]

Yes since excellent Deka FLA are only $1 per Ah @12V here

as cheap as consumer / automotive crap Starter motors

and can easily last 8+ years before hitting say 70% SoH as EoL

you need to really have strong motivations to spend more than that.

But I've seen many Rolls banks go for over 15 years, and many owners have the money so why not?

I did think of going and getting some of these kits, they make em up to 14.88Kw but my last ordinary deep cycle batteries lasted over 9/10 years so I don't see the point in buying these monsters,

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[moose545]

I ended up going with a Duracell AGM, for the price I couldn't resist. Just had to redo the box I made as the first one was too big for the space, so I'll be drilling and mounting things this weekend and then getting it all hooked up finally. I thought about holding off and checking with a local RV shop I had things sound, and what/where I insert an isolator to switch to one battery or the other like the Blue Sea switch, but I'm just so damn eager to get it rolling now. Just want to make sure it's electrically correct

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