AGM batteries

[Bill and Earline]

I noticed on the newest 21's the propane detector, which has given false alarms when near the outgassing batteries, is now located "across the hall" from the batteries.

Continuing problem solving by our friends at the factory.

[parfsten]

What manufacturer are your batteries Jim?

[CoolCampingKid]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

As Steve mentioned, no. There's a positive and a negative terminal as with all batteries. But, if you have a solar system, you may need to change the profile of the charger to match the AGMs. Not a wiring change, but a setting change.

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You defiantly need to reconfigure the solar charger by changing the DIP switches. Mine (Samlex) has the switches and the key to which should be on and off, on the back of the unit. Bill

[Steve Clark]

Originally Posted by Doug2000

Can someone post a pic of your battery box that's under your bench seat or bed, I haven't seen this done before. I'd like to remove the AGM from my bumper.

Doug, The dual sixes in our 21 are under the rear bench seat of our U-Shaped dinette; on the passenger half:

The only issue with servicing them, is removing the cushions and lifting the hinged bench seat.

[War Eagle]

Originally Posted by Doug2000

Can someone post a pic of your battery box that's under your bench seat or bed, I haven't seen this done before. I'd like to remove the AGM from my bumper.

Doug, Here's the standard configuration for the 2017 21' under the passenger-side rear bench seat. The second photo shows the sealing material in the box lid and the putty-like material that seals where the wires pass through the box near the lid. The outside photo shows the location of the battery box vent to the outside (if you look closely, you can see a bit of the inside of the vent in the second photo).

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Doug2000

The hydrogen off gas is not odorless, when I take our electric fork truck off the charger at work and drive it, the off gassing makes me sick.

As Robert explained, hydrogen gas is odourless... but the gas you are smelling from the fork truck battery contains something more than hydrogen, presumably sulphur compounds because the electrolyte in the battery is a sulphuric acid solution. The linked article said hydrogen sulfide, which seems reasonable; the scariest thing about hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is that high enough concentrations, one can't smell it anymore... but fortunately that concentration is not going to happen in a trailer because of a battery.

[Doug2000]

Originally Posted by War Eagle

Doug, Here's the standard configuration for the 2017 21' under the passenger-side rear bench seat. The second photo shows the sealing material in the box lid and the putty-like material that seals where the wires pass through the box near the lid. The outside photo shows the location of the battery box vent to the outside (if you look closely, you can see a bit of the inside of the vent in the second photo).

Thanks for the pictures War Eagle!

[Fox hunt]

What's is a WFCO converter is it part of the build sheet?

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Fox hunt

What's is a WFCO converter is it part of the build sheet?

All trailers with an electrical system have a converter. It converts AC shore power to 12 volt DC power to be used by the trailer. It usually also includes a charger function to charge the trailer battery when connected to shore power.

WFCO is the company that makes the converter/charger used in Escapes - World Friendship Corporation out of China.

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[Fox hunt]

OK so i don't need to worry about over charging AGM batteries?

[Doug2000]

Originally Posted by Fox hunt

OK so i don't need to worry about over charging AGM batteries?

Figure out which converter you have, the converter in my 2007 17b has a converter known for boiling batteries. If I'm plugged into shore power, I unhook my battery. I only charge it with solar, my good battery charger, or my tow vehicle while towing.

[gocamp]

Jhardie sure has a nice lithium setup in his 5.0, your Washington neighbor in case you found the info interesting for a future upgrade.
http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f1...tml#post198088

[Fox hunt]

I'm looking at VMAXTANKS 225ah AGM batteries on Amazon - are these good?

[skyfree]

When we had our large truck camper, I used 2 of these in parallel:

UB121000 100 AH Deep Cycle

They were on a solar charger 100% of the time for 2 years until I sold the TC and worked great. I chose them after doing a lot of research on the forum I was using for truck campers.

I bought them locally from a commercial battery supply place. Keep in mind that these things are HEAVY so shipping cost can be considerable.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Fox hunt

I'm looking at VMAXTANKS 225ah AGM batteries on Amazon - are these good?

Who's to say? They have relatively good reviews and claim to last 8 to 10 years but reviews are sometimes suspect. Seem decent enough.

Noticed they use bolt terminals instead of the standard post terminals, so be aware that you'd probably have to use different battery cables or crimp on new ends.

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[Fox hunt]

i would like it to be standard so ETI could install i look around some more

[Fox hunt]

Jim what brand did you buy?

[Losangeles]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

Who's to say? They have relatively good reviews and claim to last 8 to 10 years but reviews are sometimes suspect. Seem decent enough.

Noticed they use bolt terminals instead of the standard post terminals, so be aware that you'd probably have to use different battery cables or crimp on new ends.

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When I was researching an AGM to put in our Casita, all roads kept leading to Lifeline. I believe they do a lot for the military (where the battery HAS to work!)

http://lifelinebatteries.com/

We got this for the Casita, and it was AWESOME. but just over $300.

Lifeline GPL 27T deep cycle sealed AGM battery

I have no idea how good that would be for an Escape.... or if it is suitable.

We got it locally.... it was very very heavy.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Fox hunt

Jim what brand did you buy?

Just to confuse matters further, many brands of battery are made by few manufacturers. Only label is different.
It's like designer eye glasses. Almost all made by one company.

[Losangeles]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Just to confuse matters further, many brands of battery are made by few manufacturers. Only label is different.
It's like designer eye glasses. Almost all made by one company.

If I recall correctly.... Lifeline is made by Lifeline, in the USA.

Premium quality.

John