Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 07-10-2011, 02:18 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
dhally's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: SE Washington
Posts: 1,023
Garage
Goup 49 AGM house battery?

I'm pretty determined to put the house batteries on the passenger side frame rail, to balance the weight side-to-side and also keep as much weight forward as possible. Also want to maintain the maximum amount of ground clearance. There was a factory Group 65 battery in this location and it didn't hang down too low.

I thought I had it figured out by using 2-Group 31 AGM's laying on their side. This wouldn't be any taller than the factory Group 65 installation. However it looks like this setup would interfer with the intallation of a hoop step.

Now I'm looking at 2-Group 49 batteries. The Group 49 is a long skinny battery used on import autos. Deka makes one in an AGM. The width and height are about the same as the factory Group 65, but it is 14" long. Is there any reason why an AGM battery designed for starting wouldn't work as a house battery? They are rated 95 Amp-hours, compared to 105 for a Group 31.


__________________
---------------------
2009 E250 RB 5.4L "SilVan"
dhally is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2011, 04:23 PM   #2
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Re: Goup 49 AGM house battery?

Quote:
Originally Posted by dhally
Is there any reason why an AGM battery designed for starting wouldn't work as a house battery?


It's how the plates are made. Most starting batteries have a larger number of thin plates to supply a short high amp burst as compared to a deep cycle that has thicker plates which allow a steady supply of lower amperage for longer times.
That said, I'd call Deka and ask.

I would think you could find an AGM deep cycle to fit.
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2011, 05:42 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
jage's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 7,643
Re: Goup 49 AGM house battery?

Can you go between the front and rear hoops then behind the rear hoop?
__________________
it was good to be back
jage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2011, 09:19 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
dhally's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: SE Washington
Posts: 1,023
Garage
Re: Goup 49 AGM house battery?

Quote:
Originally Posted by jage
Can you go between the front and rear hoops then behind the rear hoop?
That might be an option, but I think it puts the back battery into a structural member.
__________________
---------------------
2009 E250 RB 5.4L "SilVan"
dhally is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2011, 08:45 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Silver350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: BC Canada
Posts: 427
Re: Goup 49 AGM house battery?

It will work but everything I've read says it will not last like a deep cycle battery. You will not be able to discharge it as low and as often as say a couple of Golf Cart batteries.

What is the measurement from the bottom of the floor to the bottom of the rocker?
__________________
"there is neither science nor fact prevailing here" - vlamgat
Silver350 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2011, 12:37 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
dhally's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: SE Washington
Posts: 1,023
Garage
Re: Goup 49 AGM house battery?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Silver350
It will work but everything I've read says it will not last like a deep cycle battery. You will not be able to discharge it as low and as often as say a couple of Golf Cart batteries.

What is the measurement from the bottom of the floor to the bottom of the rocker?
There is plenty of room if I could go all the way up to the floor, like 12". However the step intrudes quite a bit. From the bottom of the step to the bottom of the factory battery box is about 7.5". I don't want the new batteries to be any lower than the factory one was.

I did talk to the local Deka representative today, and he confirmed that the Group 49 is NOT optimized for deep cycling. I need to stay with a deep cycle design, which puts me back to the Group 31 size. If laid on its side, it's actually shorter than the factory aux battery box by about 3/8".
__________________
---------------------
2009 E250 RB 5.4L "SilVan"
dhally is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-18-2011, 12:54 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Ultrasport12's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Bay Area ,CA
Posts: 761
Re: Goup 49 AGM house battery?

What about these http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/group-s ... ttery.html

Just remember if you are going to draw more that 25 amps (larger inverter, big stereo or what ever) o you DO NOT WANT a real deep cycle battery you want a combination starting /deep cycle units.

I am using two of these http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02850065000P which are supposed to be made by Odyssey and they are working well so far ( three months and four camping trips). I have a 3000 watt inverter (only used for a toaster and hair dryer) An ARB Fridge/Freezer, Two Amp Stereo with a 24 inch Monitor to watch movies in bed and some lights. So far we have never dipped below 12.1 volts after two days without starting the van.

One last thing to remember is warranty. All batteries are covered under some kind of warranty but what do you have to do to get a new one. If you have a battery fail on you, how long do you have to wait to replace it. Its the one reason I always go with the Die Hards, Sears stores are everywhere.
__________________
2008 Ford E-350 V-10 EB
Transformer Interior
U-Joint Off Road 4x4 kit in the garage
2004 F-350 Dana 60
Ultrasport12 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2011, 07:12 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
dhally's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: SE Washington
Posts: 1,023
Garage
Re: Goup 49 AGM house battery?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ultrasport12
Yes 2 - Group 65 batteries will fit very nicely, but that only gives me 150 AH and my estimate is we will need 200 AH to go four days during cold weather to run the propex heater or during hot weather to run the vent fan (we will have a propane frig and no microwave or inverter).

Odyssey literature seems to claim that all their batteries are suited for deep cycling, up to 80 percent of rated AH. However I did some rough calculations on AH per cubic inch and AH per pound and the Group 65 / Group 49 batteries are definitely lighter duty than the Group 27 / Group 31 ones (more rated AH per size of battery). That makes me tend to agree with Silver350's statement that there are differences in construction between the more automotive type and deep cycle type.

So we're still looking at 2 - group 31 batteries on their side to fit and have good ground clearance. The only issue is the batteries will interfer with a hoop step.
__________________
---------------------
2009 E250 RB 5.4L "SilVan"
dhally is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2011, 10:15 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
jage's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 7,643
Re: Goup 49 AGM house battery?

3 group 65s?

Are there non-Carr hoop step options?
__________________
it was good to be back
jage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2011, 07:53 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
dhally's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: SE Washington
Posts: 1,023
Garage
Re: Goup 49 AGM house battery?

Quote:
Originally Posted by jage
3 group 65s?

Are there non-Carr hoop step options?
Yes 3-Group 65's would be a simple and straight-forward, yet crude solution. I hate to spend big $$ and then have the batteries fail within a few years.

I've searched extensively for other step solutions, but the Carr's seem to be the only ones listed specifically for the Ford vans. Nerf bars don't look like such good steps. I've also thought of a custom hoop step that would attach to the bottom of the battery tray.

Hoop steps look like they would be big time targets for stumps or rocks or high-centering? Do people get them ripped off a lot?
__________________
---------------------
2009 E250 RB 5.4L "SilVan"
dhally is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:25 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.