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Adding a 2nd battery

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gpokluda View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote gpokluda Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Adding a 2nd battery
    Posted: 06 Apr 2026 at 7:16am
If I were spending money on batteries, I would look at every possible option to go with LiFePO4. As Rpod-Couple says, FLA and lithium batteries are so close in price now it doesn't make sense to put up with the limitations and weight of a lead acid battery. The easiest solution is to pop a LiFePO4 battery in the battery box and get a nice, portable solar panel with a built in controller and alligator clip it to the battery when camping. These batteries do get a bit finicky in the cold, but some come with internal heaters to keep the battery warm and they are so light, they are easy to remove during storage.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Rpod-Couple Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Apr 2026 at 8:20pm
The 100 amp-hour lithium (LiFePO4) fit in the same space as a 100 amp-hour 12V AGM lead-acid battery and are now about equal in cost. The lithium batteries are about 1/2 the weight and have a greater number of discharge cycles. Down sides are: (1) The 100 amp-hour nominal 12V lithium batteries fit but you have to pay attention to temperature - particularly use/charging at 0F and below. (2) You may need to upgrade your converter to get them charged above 80% or use a cheap 12V Lithium charger to get them top charged.

 If you are primarily Boon-docking, plan to use solar panels, and not cold weather camping, lithium are the way to go. You can mount lithium inside the camper to keep them warm, but this will be more work.

Quite a few articles out there on switching to Lithium batteries.

Steve & Elaine
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Post Options Post Options   Quote poohbill Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Apr 2026 at 2:52pm
We like our old three-way fridge for the ability to cool with fire. Propane is available everywhere in our area and more reliable than sun back in the woods. Regardless, it is time to swap out our two 12v flooded. The last time, when I replaced the once Camping World installed at the sale, the salesman tried to upgrade us to 6v, only to find the their additional height was too much for where the tray was mounted back under the front curve and would leave them tipped. We still have the space constraint and none of the AIs will answer my question “Will it fit?”

Thoughts?
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Post Options Post Options   Quote gpokluda Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Apr 2026 at 7:02am
Originally posted by MnMRhoades

I believe the newer 12V only are compressor tpye of refridgerators.

True. Absorption fridges are getting harder and harder to find. I have mixed emotions about it. I like the idea of having a propane fridge for boondocking, however if you have a decent battery bank and good solar capture, the new compressor fridges are pretty good too.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote MnMRhoades Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Apr 2026 at 11:30pm
I  believe the newer 12v only fridges use a compressor since it does not use gas.

Mike


Edited by MnMRhoades - 12 Apr 2026 at 9:38pm
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Post Options Post Options   Quote MnMRhoades Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Apr 2026 at 11:29pm
I believe the newer 12V only are compressor type of refridgerators.

Edited by MnMRhoades - 12 Apr 2026 at 9:39pm
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Post Options Post Options   Quote poston Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Apr 2026 at 3:15pm
I just bought a 153 at Xtreme RV in Twin Falls.  I asked how much they'd charge to put on (2) LFP batteries.  I just wanted to get a price, I figured I would buy & install them later.  They quoted $600 for Renogy's, installed, for the pair.  I was surprised.  I didn't think they had dropped that much. 

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Post Options Post Options   Quote gpokluda Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Apr 2026 at 7:12am
Originally posted by GlueGuy

These days LFP batteries are amp-hour to amp-hour price competitive with SLA batteries, and have roughly twice the watt-hour capacity. So swapping a 100AH LFP battery for a 100AH SLA battery pretty much doubles your watt-hour capacity. Also, a LFP battery should last many times longer than a SLA battery.

Food for thought.

Couldn't agree more. Even in just the last 3 years, LiFePO4 batteries have become more affordable and have the ability to almost quadruple the amp hours in the same footprint of AGM or Flooded Lead Acid. 
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Post Options Post Options   Quote jato Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2026 at 6:12pm


That battery should be ready for its own drivers license and high school graduation.
[/QUOTE]

It has been a 'model student' over the years!  Wish I kept track of how many times it has been charged.  Maintenance is key to everything.  I wonder how much longer the batteries in both my 2017 vehicles will last, they are both original, but by comparison are young compared to the Interstate.

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Post Options Post Options   Quote GlueGuy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Mar 2026 at 11:43am
These days LFP batteries are amp-hour to amp-hour price competitive with SLA batteries, and have roughly twice the watt-hour capacity. So swapping a 100AH LFP battery for a 100AH SLA battery pretty much doubles your watt-hour capacity. Also, a LFP battery should last many times longer than a SLA battery.

Food for thought.
bp
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