Rolls AGM Batteries

[travelite]

Folks, I contacted: DC Battery Specialists, DC Marine Systems Inc., 7415 NE 1st Place Miami, FL 33138, and received the following prices:

"Rolls S12-290AGM - $676.16 ea. - lead time around 4 weeks
Rolls S12-230AGM - $530.32 ea. - lead time around 4 weeks

We have a pallet rate to anywhere in NC for $165.00 for the entire order".

If you factor in 25% more cycles with the Rolls AGM's over the Lifelines, I think these prices are very competitive with Lifelines. Again the S12-290AGM is equivalent to the GPL-8D and the S12-230AGM is equivalent to the GPL-4D.

[dale farley]

Good information David. Thanks for the research.

[jack14r]

I paid $2976 for my last set of 6 - 8D Lifelines including freight to North Carolina.

[Donnie Myers]

I paid $2976 for my last set of 6 - 8D Lifelines including freight to North Carolina.


That's a great deal!

[Donnie Myers]

Folks, I contacted: DC Battery Specialists, DC Marine Systems Inc., 7415 NE 1st Place Miami, FL 33138, and received the following prices:

"Rolls S12-290AGM - $676.16 ea. - lead time around 4 weeks
Rolls S12-230AGM - $530.32 ea. - lead time around 4 weeks

We have a pallet rate to anywhere in NC for $165.00 for the entire order".

If you factor in 25% more cycles with the Rolls AGM's over the Lifelines, I think these prices are very competitive with Lifelines. Again the S12-290AGM is equivalent to the GPL-8D and the S12-230AGM is equivalent to the GPL-4D.
David, do you currently have these batteries? I would love to see how these batteries hold up to the charge and discharge rates of your coach and see how well the gen starts after the first year. I'm all for using the absolute best of everything, but so far, I have not found a battery that will outlast a Lifeline in a Vantare. Deka's barely make it past a year and then struggle to start the generator while you are dry camping but Dekas seem to work well on a 12 volt coach or a coach that uses a separate battery for gen starting. The whole separate battery for the generator is a whole different discussion! I have been at this game for a while and have tried everything and I would love a little competition in the battery market! The absolute very best test for battery life in your coach is to turn off all the big loads such as a/c's, forward and aft indirect lights (as they draw 12 a/c amps per side!) and absolutely the 110v electric water heater (which is a waste on an Aqua Hot any way). Let the coach draw down as slow as possible. If the batteries are weak or not as "advertised" you will see real quick that the generator will struggle to start. Let this test run without touching or changing anything through at least 4 cycles while making sure you have plenty of fuel in your tank!


Now, if I'm reading the specs chart correctly on the Rolls site for the 4D battery, it says "maximum charge current 46amps" and this off the Lifeline site... "The GPL-4DL is designed for charging amperages up to 525 amps or 250% of the rated Amp Hour Capacity due to low battery internal resistance". So I would be real curious to see how the Rolls battery will perform while dry-camping for a week or more and having the gen auto start and running for the 8 hours "max run time" that we set it for. Does what I'm saying make sense or am I missing something?

As I said, I'm open for anything that comes along that's better than what we have now, but some proof is needed. Every conversion uses batteries differently.

Excitedly waiting for some results...Donnie Myers

[travelite]

Donnie,

I sent you a PM.

[Donnie Myers]

PM replied to!

[Donnie Myers]

I welcome anyone to bring us their best battery and show me its capabilities!

[Gil_J]

Donnie,

Although the current demands aren't up there with a coach that is running air conditioners from their batteries, the boating forums tend to give the Rolls AGM high marks.

As for maximum charge current, a slower charge tends to extend the life of a battery. The typical 8 battery battery bank and dual Trace 4024s can supply much more than the Rolls limits anyway. So, there should be little difference in charge times between Lifelines and Rolls.