DS Batteries

Yep, I have only ever had "Normal Batteries" in my setup and have found them excellent. I got 5 years out of my both batteries in my last vehicle.

An auto electrician gave me the advice years ago and basically said to match the batteries in the system as well. You are dead right about charging times.

The newer "Exide Extreme" and similar are probably better than standard batteries as they have some of the characteristics of the deep cycle as they don't mind being drained quite as much as the standard batteries.

Ahh,........ retirement home ? caravans that are probably hooked up to power ?? Do you need aux batts ?? If the batts are getting a small amount of use then being recharged then you don't need DCB's !!
But like a lot of us, if you want the batts to last days running fridges etc, then you need DCB's..... and AGM's are even better for their advantages ( too many to list )

Horses for courses !!!!!

Cranking batts do NOT like being discharged anywhere as deeply as DCB's, thats why there main use is starting, not deep cycling....

Gronk has a valid point. It depends on your "auxiliary power" use.

A Deep Cycle battery is what it says. It allows a significant drain on the battery between recharging. A deep cycle battery can be discharged down to 70%-80% time and again without damage to the battery.

A normal starting battery will not take this type of cycle. It will be buggered after somewhere between 30-150 deep cycles, depending on the battery. These batteries are designed more for continuous discharging of about 5% and not much more.

Oh, and a Deep Cycle battery can certainly be used for starting when necessary.
The only difference here is that Deep Cycle batteries generally have a lower CCA(Cold Cranking amps) rating and you need to be sure it has a sufficient rating for your vehicle.

So, it may be false value in choosing a starting battery, as apposed to a deep cycle battery, if you are regularly running a fridge, or other high drain devices.
An AGM battery is the best choice. Although more expensive to buy, it charges quicker and to a higher level from a vehicle alternator, than other types of battery.

I'm keeping it simple these days, which is one reason I only use cranking batteries.

For my use, where I don't deep discharge my batteries much, a pair of identical Exide Extremes does me well. I have gone back to the old marine switch, which is rarely required to isolate the batteries. So 99% of the time, they are left parallelled, so I get double the CCA, have double the winching power, better recharging and if I wanted to isolate them, just a switch under the bonnet. Most of my camping is overnight, or we have a bit of a drive during the day, so deep discharging from a 40litre engel is not an issue.

It is what suits my style of camping. I still have a Rotronics isolator sitting around, in case I ever want to put a 3rd battery somewhere.

Here is a quote from - www.uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq1.htm

1.5. For batteries not in weekly use, people kill more deep cycle and starting batteries with bad charging practices than batteries will die of old age. To prevent permanent sulfation and especially in hot weather, in a well ventilated area, keep the battery continuously connected to a "smart" or float charger matched to the battery type; recharge the battery whenever it drops below 80% State-of-Charge (SoC); or use AGM (Ca/Ca) or Gel Cell (Ca/Ca) VRLA battery. A cheap, unattended, unregulated "trickle" charger can destroy a battery by overcharging it. (Please see Section 9. for more information on charging and chargers.)

In addition Collyn rivers recommends that for people who do not maintain their batteries properly it is cheaper if they kill starting batteries than if they buy expensive batteries and kill them (paraphrase - not direct quote.)

The people who maltreat their batteries include:

Those who recharge their batteries infrequently
Those who use cheap and inappropriate battery chargers (the older Setecs included)
Those who use 13.8 V power supplies to charge their batteries
Those who rely upon their vehicle alternators alone for maintenance
Those who discharge their batteries too deeply
and those who use a charger that is far too large for the batteries capacity

For those whose vans are stored in village compounds and do not wish to keep removing the battery charging equipment when at home just purchase a 5 W solar panel. I successfully maintained a deep cycle battery on my previous van with one. I constructed a mounting stand out of scrap timber and just sat it on the top of the van when it was in the compound - when we were traveling the unit sat on the carport roof and maintained the spare vehicle battery. To connect the panel to the van I wired a plug on its cable and plugged it into the 12V outlet on the side of the van. Whilst traveling I used an extension lead with a couple of dog clips to reach the car battery - when we came home after 5 months the carburettor would be dry, after ½ an egg cup of petrol was dropped down the throat of the carby the motor would start first kick.

PeterD

Me I use a Life line battery and use Rotronics Duel battery system. The biggest issue I have seen in my travels is people trying to charge AGM's and DSB with a solinoid or similar system. The new batteries needs to be charged with the full power of an alternator and a float systen does not cut the mustard.
Any way you should look at your charging system as a priority more than what battery you use.
Hammering a cranking battery with a frigde is not my thing.

Cheers

Me

Hi Ray

Tend to agree with majority here that AGM in there various types are undoubtably
better and the way to go , but the people in the park have a point in that they may not be the most economic choice , particularly when not charged the best.

I'll just throw in one factor not considered in the above replies which supports AGM.

Note - using example figures only below.

When charging batteries correctly the standard lead acid requires some 150ah
to put 100ah into the battery.

The AGM's require only 120ah to put 100ah into the battery.

I.E. The AGM's have a higher charge efficentcy, and cost less to charge.

This is an uncounted cost of ownership of standard batteries that tends to go unnoticed .

Robin Miller