6D vs 8D and also how many of either.

[Joe Cannarozzi]

I would like to spur some conversation on hands on experience and performance and preference.

It should all be a matter of necessity based on components but some campers out there are incorrectly outfitted.

So what have you got?

8D and how many or 4D and how many and how many a/c if any are running off of them. Have you been able to compare the set-up with previous buses or performance of others buses?

[dale farley]

We have six 8D's and a place for 2 more if I needed them. Don't run any AC's off the batteries.

[Joe Cannarozzi]

O/K Dale great we know yours are recent. How long can you go till they get half discharged?

[dreamchasers]

I would like to spur some conversation on hands on experience and performance and preference.

It should all be a matter of necessity based on components but some campers out there are incorrectly outfitted.

So what have you got?

8D and how many or 4D and how many and how many a/c if any are running off of them. Have you been able to compare the set-up with previous buses or performance of others buses?

Joe,

I can only comment on what type and how many I have. I have 8 8D batteries and the batteries are wet cell, VLRA type (not AGM or gel, wet cells with recumbent valve tops). My batteries are not in good condition and do need replacement.

I am holding out to do the change out this winter.

With my old batteries my coach will stay above 12 volts for 12 - 14 hours.

I do not have the capability of running ACs from batteries.

An interesting post.

Hector

[Joe Cannarozzi]

Hector that is very good performance from an aging set of batteries.

The compromise is weight and space and replacement costs.

Hector how much space does 8 8-Ds take up a whole bay?

No matter, I am coming to the conclusion overkill in this department is desirable.

Jack mentioned that he knew of a comparison between 8 4d-s and 6-8d,s I think.

he needs to reiterate. The man has successfully altered his Liberty watchdog system to auto start correctly. Great work Jack.

Those buyers concerned with "orphan coaches" As long as there is POG and the camper is on a prevost chassis there are no orphans, I digress.

[jelmore]

We have 3 8D AGM batteries, two years old. When dry camping, we let Liberty's Watchdog start up the generator. I think that set point is 11.2 volts, seems I read that here someplace. Haven't checked that to confirm.

From what I presume is a full charge (no significant charger activity), we get 8 to 12 hours depending on what we're doing. The low end is with the big refrigerator on all the time, computers, hard drives, case fans all on, satellite dish on, basement refrigerator on, make coffee, watch some tv. It's the microwave at the end of the cycle that will usually cause the generator to start. The high end is easily achieved by turning off all the small things and turning off the refrigerator for 3 or 4 hours, a couple of hours at a time.

Liberty doesn't run any air conditioners from the batteries and I don't think there's room for any more.

[Pete]

Joe, I have eight 8D's and two 3,600 watt Vanner inverters. I can run two A/Cs (front and rear) from inverters. The entire coach will run on inverters..microwave ,fridge, 2 tv's and all lighting from inverters (of course can't run the range). I have used inverters to overnight many times, but if I need A/C I use the generator. I honestly cannot tell you how much drain there is on the batteries, but the generator has never started on auto start.
I agree that it is over kill, and frankly, don't think, other than the fridge, tv's and limited lighting are all you need on inverter. RUN THE GENERATOR!
My previous bus, a 1985 American, had a 1500 watt invertor, and four 8D's (lead acid) handled the tv's and some lighting worked just fine. The fridge though was a 12v/110v unit which worked great except for the small size.
I will seriously consider reducing the number of batteries the next time I have to replace them, and use the generator more. The batteries and the inverters take the entire third bay on the curb side.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

I have 4 8D's. I am a generator user. Even if I pull into a rest area for a sandwich I run the generator to be able to run the AC units. Ditto if we overnight in a rest area. The generator goes on immediately. I do shut it off when we go to bed unless we need to run the AC's. When we get up in the AM the voltage is usually around 24.5 to 25.0. But the only loads are usually the refrigerator and the TV plus the usual key off house loads such as alarms, tank level sensors, dash radio memory, clocks, etc.

As soon as we get up the generator goes back on unless I intend to drive immediately.

I have no idea how my autostart works since the first time I saw my voltage on the house batteries sink below 23.8 volts and the generator had not yet started I decided from that point on to always manual start my generator.

[JIM CHALOUPKA]

Jim, how are you able to only have three batteries?
Do you not have 24v?

JIM