Looking for a sealed 12v alternative to a pair of gc2?

[airbats801]

I'm looking foir the rough equivilent to a pair of gc2, but sealed. They are going inside a montero, and I did pick up a pair of deak gc3, but I started thinking, I dont really wanna deal with off gassing. as I may end up sleeping in it at some point.

Right now im thinking of either a sealed or set of agm batteries. I was eyeballing some group 45 which I think have around 100ah I think.

Anyhow, any suggestions are appreciated. I'm trying to get a battery this week, and im not going to lie, those cheap 200ah life04 on amazon are tempting.

For charging, im running a redarc bcdc1250d with roughly 200w of solar as well. This will mostly just be running 2 fridges, maybe some cooking lights.

 

[john61ct]

No such thing.

Off gassing is only an issue if there's no ventilation, some can detect the smell so (only) then vent to outside.

AGM much more expensive per Ah, don't last as long so cost more per year too. In NA only good ones for deep cycling are Lifeline, Northstar and Odyssey.

LFP lots more up front per usable Ah, but can be cheaper per year if you don't murder them, can last for decades.

 

[67cj5]

I'm looking foir the rough equivilent to a pair of gc2, but sealed. They are going inside a montero, and I did pick up a pair of deak gc3, but I started thinking, I dont really wanna deal with off gassing. as I may end up sleeping in it at some point.

Right now im thinking of either a sealed or set of agm batteries. I was eyeballing some group 45 which I think have around 100ah I think.

Anyhow, any suggestions are appreciated. I'm trying to get a battery this week, and im not going to lie, those cheap 200ah life04 on amazon are tempting.

For charging, im running a redarc bcdc1250d with roughly 200w of solar as well. This will mostly just be running 2 fridges, maybe some cooking lights.

I have 2 portable Lithium packs, I only use one of them most of the time to run my fridge but the 2 of them will run both of my fridges, If you are on the move a fair bit they can be charged from the Cigar socket within a couple of hours, Because of the speed they charge at 1 X 40Ah Lithium pack will replace a 115Ah Deep cycle battery, If you only want to run a fridge and a couple of gadgets then a 500Wh - 1000Wh Portable Lithium pack with do the job without the need of any fancy Instalations, the 1000Wh would be better if you are running 2 fridges.

Hope that helps.

 

[john61ct]

Standard ciggie sockets are IMO a dangerous abortion, avoid like the plague for anything important, or that you use regularly. Never more than 5-6A and only for short periods, as in a few minutes. Even then they are risky, an inherently poor design!

Blue Sea has a nice socket design that twist-locks with the matching plug, but will also accept standard ciggie plugs for smaller (
Also the BMW/ Hella/ Merit/ Powerlet "Euro-style DIN" (ISO 4165) style is very robust.

Anderson plugs for high amps **like charging LI packs**, for me my standard for almost all power connections.

If you standardize on one of the last two types, there are adapters for guests, temporary use of devices with standard ciggie plugs.

 

[67cj5]

Most 12v cigar sockets are rated from 10 to 20Ah, If the cable from the socket to the appliance is kept short then they can supply a steady rate of power, A fridge runs for around 10 to 20 minutes and the rest of the time they switch off, Seeing as the fridge is running from a lithium pack most lithium packs only draw 4 to 8Ah MAX with the average being around 5.7Ah So the Socket never really gets any heavy currant drawn from it because the Lithium pack is limited to what is can except,

I could fit the big 50Ah Anderson plugs but there is just no need for it and the Lithium pack regulates the currant/Supply.

 

[john61ct]

That rating is not dependable for standard ciggie connections.

I have seen sparking from intermittent connections, melted plastic even at very low current loads, under 5A.

The issue is an inherently poor design, easily works loose on its own, much more so from getting jostled.

I meant the small PowerPole, not the huge SB style.

The BSS twistlock are great, their current ratings can be trusted, and Hella style if not cheap Chinese.

Seriously, using stock ciggie ports for anything used regularly, high amps like a fridge

or Dog forbid LFP charging, is really stupid.

Do it yourself if you want of course, but do not recommend publicly.

 

[airbats801]

not sure where the cigarette lighter stuff came from, but lol I agree. Ended up with a 200ah lifepo4, much happier

 

[67cj5]

not sure where the cigarette lighter stuff came from, but lol I agree. Ended up with a 200ah lifepo4, much happier

Well it's quite simple, Because you can power 2 fridges using Lithium portable power packs Charging them from the Cigar Socket without all the excess costs of wiring and charge controllers,

200Ah of Lithium is a bit excessive for running 2 fridges when 1X 40Ah will give you the same amout of power as a 120Ah AGM or Deep Cycle Battery because of the speed they charge at,

Lithium batteries do away with the need of massive battery banks or duel battery systems if all a person wants to do is run fridges or charge phones etc, You could of easily achieved what you wanted to do with a Yeti 1000 or a Bluetti 1000/1200, Or even just a plain 100Ah Lithium battery because even it is equal to a 200Ah AGM or Bigger just comparing the Ah available, In reality your 200Ah Lithium battery is about equal to around 5/600Ah in an AGM battery because of the speed your Lithium battery will charge at So it is grossly over sized for it's intended purpose of powering 2 fridges, Not to mention the extra cost, size and weight involved.

I do the same as you using 1 or 2x 40Ah lithium packs and Only once have I had to use both of them at the same time and that was because I had a power outage at home. I powered one fridge for 4 days and the whole time it was running I never used anymore than 13% of it's power and add to that the 3 or 4 charging options I have, So it sort of kicks larger "fixed" batteries in the butt. Then there is the portability of being able to take power where ever it is needed,

I don't think many folks or retailers fully understand what can be achieved when it come to using lithium batteries.

 

[john61ct]

not sure where the cigarette lighter stuff came from

Post #3

> Ended up with a 200ah lifepo4, much happier

Wow, take good care of it can last for decades.