Lead acid for house AGM for start

[Jetx]

Another vote for connecting all charge sources to the house bank (only), and using an Echo Charge (from house to start) to keep the start battery topped up.

Cheap, install and forget.

[bauer965]

@puffcard,
My start is a Optima AGM also about 10 years old and going strong, so no worries.
Like you and others have mentioned, same charge profile as FLAs.

[Scout 30]

I've also had the same set up for more than 10 years. 4 Trojan 1-105s & an Optima blue top. The Optima outlasts the Trojans 2-1. We just bought a travel trailer & I'm planning on putting an Optima in that too. Does anyone have a good source?

[NYSail]

Set you balmar for flooded and you will be fine. As Stu pointed out the charging profiles are very similar.

Greg

[scotty c-m]

I did what you propose a couple of years ago. Wet cell lead batteries for the boat systems (two deep cell 600 AMP batteries), AGM for the starter, ACR combiner. I run it all the time and so far, no problems. As Stu said, the specs look really similar for charging rates.

[john61ct]

Yes Echo Charger limits 14.4V, great if you can't find a voltage point that is within range on both banks specs.

If you can then any combiner / VSR / ACR will do

[Scout 30]

It seems that everyone has enjoyed the same long life with the Optimas that I have. Would using Optimas instead of golf cart 6 volts would make sense? I realize that they cost twice as much.

[john61ct]

They were OK for deep cycling back when Enersys developed them.

Since sold off to JCI just another "dual use", not true deep cycling at all.

Basically glorified Starter batts, excellent for that.

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by john61ct

They were OK for deep cycling back when Enersys developed them.

Since sold off to JCI just another "dual use", not true deep cycling at all.

Basically glorified Starter batts, excellent for that.

Good to know. Makes sense that they are lasting so long because they're not getting deep cycle use.

[CascadeThumper]

Good morning [emoji4]
Twin Cummins 5.9s in 34' Tollycraft conv. My project is 5 yo and works great for the PNW. Balmars, not the biggest but almost, 2 Optimas for start. Magnum 2.5 inverter/charger, 8 Dyno D-145 golf cart batteries, all in Dyno batt boxes to be tidy. 980 amp/hr. The additional plus is that the beefy Dynos can be drawn down to 30% capacity w/o degrading lifespan. 3 days in a quiet cove - no problem. http://www.dynobattery.com