Mary,
Scott replied:
>About the battery, most people seem to use deep cycle batteries, but I don't
>believe that there is a consensus about which brand is best.>
Scott has that right and those of us who have bought many batteries might say the same
thing.
I've even used "Trolling" batteries preferred by fishermen when those were the only
deep cycle
batteries available in the town where I "had to buy" batteries. They worked fine and
lasted about as
long as average (usually 7 years in RVs with solar panels - provided they're
maintained well).
If I was starting out from scratch like you,
1 - I'd check all the prices in all the stores within my area (by phone),
2 - I'd become very precise in my understanding of the warranty or guarantee (even
putting details
on graph paper so I could compare and contrast features between stores),
3 - I'd determine if the seller would install the battery (not everyone can carry a
new battery very
far or return a dead one for the $5 credit),
4 - I'd ask if the battery was fully charged when purchased or if it needed to be
charged overnight
(especially if I didn't have a charger or didn't know if my converter worked
correctly),
5 - I'd want to be absolutely certain the connecting posts on the new battery were
compatible with
the connecting adapters on my Airstream (and how do you tell which is ground and which
is positive
without the old battery offering a clue), and
6 - after the installation is complete, I'd make sure the connectors were still
connected
(especially if I had to "wrestle" the battery into a tight compartment).
Sometimes when I do this kind of simple, methodical homework, there are dramatic
differences. For
example, not all warranties have the same exclusions. As a first timer, that little
detail might
save you the price of another new battery, should the unexpected occur. And, save your
receipt where
you can find it next month, if by chance your new battery is as dead as a doorknob.
Are you still having fun? The secret of life is not to do what you like, but to like
what you do.
That's why Airstreamers have so much fun.
Terry
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