Simple & Brief Battery Option(s) Explanation?

Gliddenwoods
Gliddenwoods Member Posts: 43
in Battery/Electrical & Solar
Can someone please provide a simple straight forward & brief explanation of the battery(ies) options for a TAB 400? Options with pros & cons of each?
Thanks.


2019 TAB 400 Boondock
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Comments

  • pthomas745
    pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,530
    edited February 2020
    Are you buying a 400 and need to know the options?
    Do you have a 400 and want to change what you have?  If so, what do you have now?
    There is nothing "simple and straightforward and brief" about batteries!
    This battery FAQ got me up to speed on how to talk "battery talk" and gives me place to go when I get confused.
    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
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  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,061
    edited February 2020
    @Gliddenwoods, the 2018 400s came with a single, large capacity, 12v AGM battery.  Since then, NuCamp changed to installing two 6V AGMs with around 230 amp capacity.  Those are the only 2 battery installations available from the factory.  There may be a 400 owner who has installed a lithium battery, but that would be done post production and I am not sure if nuCamp provides that installation.  Because the 400 battery is installed inside under the bed, it needs to be a battery that does not demand venting, although some do vent these batteries.  AGM is valued for it’s low maintenance, different position tolerance, faster charging ability, and very slow discharge rate.  
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • Gliddenwoods
    Gliddenwoods Member Posts: 43
    I believe I have the single large capacity battery. What is the advantage of the switch to the two AGMs?
    Thank-you.
    2019 TAB 400 Boondock
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  • pthomas745
    pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,530
    Say you have one battery of 100 amp hours.  To maximize the life of the battery, you should try to avoid using more than 50 percent of the battery's capacity.  In effect, the one battery has 50 usable amp hours.
    When you connect two 100 amp hour 12v AGM batteries in parallel:  the 12V remains the same, but the amp hour rating adds together:  you now have a 200 amp hour battery.  Using the 50 percent amp hour usage to maximize battery life, you now have 100 usable amp hours.

    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
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  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,061
    @Gliddenwoods, I meant two 6 volt AGMs.  The large 12 volt was extremely heavy, I believe there were some premature failures, if it discharged too low it would trip a breaker trying to recharge (there is a replacement breaker that is available from nuCamp).  So, the two 6 volts give the same capacity, but may be easier for them to handle, etc.  Or, maybe they looked at quality control and decided to go with the 6 volts.  Not sure how the decision was made.
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • Deb55
    Deb55 Member Posts: 293
    I have the large 12 volt AGM battery in my 2018 T@B 400. Would there be any advantage to adding a second 12 volt AGM battery? Can this be done? 
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  • Denny16
    Denny16 Member Posts: 5,431
    Yes, but it would increase your weight in the trailer, and reduce your cargo capacity by that weight increase.  Also, depending on the size, where you put it could be challenging.  Too much weight behind the axle, reduces the tongue weight too much, and increases the chance of inducing sway motion.  Also, how much weight loading can the floor and frame handle in the area you want to use.  If you need more than 200 amps of battery to get 100 amps of available power, a lithium setup might be a better option.
    cheers
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
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