Just finished two Renogy 100w panels on the roof of my Casita 17’ Independence. Added two Lion lithium batts under bed on drivers side along with MPPT controller. Now using batt compartment for tool storage. I built aluminum frames for the panels and stuck them on with 3M VHB tape. I then covered that with eternabond tape. Others are having great success with this mounting method but only time will tell. Thanks to Rusty I became a Casita owner and love it.
@rusty78609
4 жыл бұрын
great...good luck!
@tommymorgan7411
Жыл бұрын
Rusty...good video. Have a question though. Will the Casita inverter charge this battery adequately?
@Will-wz5wq
5 жыл бұрын
Hi Rusty, please show us how you programmed the converter to charge an AGM battery VS. a lead Acid wet cell battery.
@larrysingletary5516
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for your help. In a Casita forum it seems the converter may overcharge the AGM battery. It is discussed about changing out the type of converter to one that is more compatible with the AGM. What are your thoughts on that?
@joycebarnett5813
5 жыл бұрын
Another diamond polished. I am excited to see where you are going to take us on the upcoming trip. Have a wonderful afternoon.
@johnilko2964
5 жыл бұрын
That's great that they left enough wire to pull the battery out to work on. Both our first travel trailer and motor home had short wires. so you had to all the maintenance in the small opening.
@chevycheeseburger3273
5 жыл бұрын
Hey Rusty I hope the two nuts that held the bracket in is a flat-headed nut and the new battery is just not setting on top of those that might potentially rub hole in the bottom of your battery as you travel and could possibly leak acid out into your Casita camper just something to think about have a great day.
@super-sim1665
5 жыл бұрын
May need to change the charge regulator to 13.8 volts or to gel/agm setting.
@larrysingletary5516
Жыл бұрын
Rusty...does your upgrade to AGM battery use the same inverter that came with the Casita? and if solar is not used to keep battery charged during "off season" for camping, can a normal trickle charger be used on the AGM? I have a 2009 Casita Freedom Deluxe. Thank you for your response.
@rusty78609
Жыл бұрын
yes to both
@patriciaredick1877
5 жыл бұрын
Good job Rusty...now relax and have a "cold one "!
@mandosandradios
5 жыл бұрын
@@rusty78609 What "Time Zone" is beer 30 in?
@perrydavis101
5 жыл бұрын
I have a agm battery from my camper and I keep reviving it . The camper is a 1996 and the people that owned the camper before me both passed away. The solar panels installed in 1997 still work.
@moneymattersproductreviews583
5 жыл бұрын
Good to know, because I would not have known how important this is and would have never thought of the AGM as a better idea. Great!
@doreendaykin6693
5 жыл бұрын
GREAT POST!!! Much gratitude!
@risingsunadventuretravels9908
5 жыл бұрын
Rusty, since the Group # 27 battery can't be used with your AGM and it's almost new you should be able to sell it for 100-150 dollars. I have 2 - 100AH- AGM batteries in my Casita Spirit Deluxe. One in the battery compartment and one under the seat compartment next to the wall and bed. That gives me 200 amp hours. So by using just 50 per cent of the 2 in parrell hookup I always have 100 amps to work with.
@BGreat2
4 жыл бұрын
Did you need to change your on board charger?
@scottythompson940
5 жыл бұрын
cool 2019 castia talk rusty
@chrislonsberry4571
5 жыл бұрын
I recently did the same change out in my Casita. I got a Group 31 125AH AGM. It’s a really tight fit and wrestling 70 lbs through that little opening is a job. Great job Rusty!
@tracyphillips3325
5 жыл бұрын
Good job buddy.
@Nottazippo
5 жыл бұрын
Just got my new Venture Sonic Lite VRK15 and switched out the Wet battery also! After several years with my AGM battery's on my Little Guy Teardrop it was a must do! It was pricey but in my humble opinion the way to go for this unit and as Rusty says ' For ME" ..By the way I sold my Teardrop in One day! It was a 2011.
@robinengland5799
5 жыл бұрын
I ordered mine from the factory, they left the tray in so I guess they modified it! I boondock I all summer so I have another AGM I set outside and connect with Anderson clips so I can change quickly from one to another! We sometimes have several days without sun, so once in awhile the Zamp won’t keep it charged! You will enjoy the AGM!
@captainmartin1702
4 жыл бұрын
U
@freisiandraugr2427
5 жыл бұрын
If I leave the Casita plugged in to a power outlet will it over charge the agm battery?
@PHDRPH
5 жыл бұрын
Rusty can you get a new tray for your new battery?
@perrydavis101
5 жыл бұрын
I also got three of the four battery’s that I froze the first year I lived in the desert to come back to life.
@senseofstile
5 жыл бұрын
I am a big fan of AGM. I did the same thing with my motorhome when the lead acid battery had come to the end of it's useful life. I replace the "under the hood" battery" with AGM also. I realize some people shy away from AGM because of the cost. In my opinion the AGM is well worth the cost and the biggest plus, as Rusty mentioned, is you don't need to monitor fluid. That is just one less thing to mess with. Also they last so long.
@senseofstile
5 жыл бұрын
kzitem.info/news/bejne/ko6nyYidaYCFoH4
@senseofstile
5 жыл бұрын
You're welcome
@senseofstile
5 жыл бұрын
That hasn't been my experience. I had a Toyota Chinook prior to the Toyota Sunrader I currently own. The previous Chinook owner had two 12 volt AGM batteries connected parallel to run a fridge and whatever else in the coach. They were charged up by the alternator when the engine was running. I ran those AGM batteries completely dead many times. After driving to the next destination they charged up fine with plenty of life.
@senseofstile
5 жыл бұрын
Maybe people that own AGM batteries can post their experience.
@drivin69
5 жыл бұрын
the glass pack batteries are the right ones... just don't use more than 50% or it losses power..
@cinnamon--girl
5 жыл бұрын
Good to know.I am currently researching solar panels and batteries for my van build. Have you ever considered a Yeti system before your Casita/Coachmen RVs? I read different opinions regarding lithium vs AGMs.
@avlisk
5 жыл бұрын
There's a competing system that you may run across in your research. It's the Lycan by Renogy. I bought it because I knew nothing about solar at the time and it seemed like a great idea. Don't buy the Renogy Lycan. I've had 2 of them, and both will fault and turn off intermittently, so, anything you have it powering, ( like your fridge), will turn off. I've had it back to Renogy for testing, and they say it's up to specs, so, their specs are not acceptable. I tell you this so you'll avoid making the same mistake that I did. (Note for your reference: When the Lycan ran, it was able to power my Dometic CFX-35, my Fantastic Fan, and charge my tablet and phone with a 100w solar panel and its 100amp/hour battery. . .when it ran!)
@avlisk
5 жыл бұрын
The only good thing I can say about the Renogy Lycan is the LiFePo4 Lithium battery is a winner. You can drain it to zero charge without damaging it. 2,000 cycles. With other types of batteries, you only get half the rated charge because draining it past 50% charge will damage it. Not so for the LiFePo4. The only downside is the $900 up front cost. (It's also weighs less!)
@mandosandradios
5 жыл бұрын
@@rusty78609 oh, was it used on your coachman?
@BGreat2
4 жыл бұрын
How is this working for you after a year?
@rusty78609
4 жыл бұрын
great...so far
@rickhearn7631
5 жыл бұрын
Can you use both? Just wondering..
@bettystudzinski7200
5 жыл бұрын
Is there room to put two AGM batteries in the compartment?
@DavidMedina4All
3 жыл бұрын
No. 🙂
@stuartstuart866
5 жыл бұрын
Rusty, did you need to adjust your on board charge controller and solar controller for the AGM battery swap? Also I mentioned it before, but you installed a Zamp charge plug on your trailer. Apparently Zamp doesn’t use the same polarity as some other manufacturers so just something to check out before hooking up your solar panels.
@Nottazippo
5 жыл бұрын
Zamp is not the only one. I just got my new trailer with the Furion plug for a solar panel and it was wired backwards also! Thank god for multi meters!
@markh6997
5 жыл бұрын
👍
@SailorDon01
5 жыл бұрын
It would seem that most of your battery replacement project was to swap a Group 27 battery size for a Group 31. Switching the controller from lead acid to AGM was not an issue. I am curious as to why switch to Group 31? I think you made a reply indicating you already had a new Group 31 AGM battery. I would have loaned you my motorcycle jack to lift and slide that Group 31 AGM right in there. :-)
@johnvititoe6051
5 жыл бұрын
Did you seal the two holes where those two bolts holding the tray went through the fiberglass bottom?
@pamelachandler1813
5 жыл бұрын
Profanity? Never.🤣 Great job, Rusty!
@highdesertbarb8927
5 жыл бұрын
👍👍
@charlieporch3181
5 жыл бұрын
You have a three way frig. That is not going to power your frig. For long. If you had a compressor it would still need two batteries.
@mandosandradios
5 жыл бұрын
while boondocking wouldn't be best to set frig to propane?
@mikeb6386
5 жыл бұрын
Casita I think let's u upgrade to an agm battery if u order it.
@bbolin711
5 жыл бұрын
@@rusty78609 could you have ordered without any battery anticipating the use of your existing agm?
@charlesh8523
5 жыл бұрын
THAT INTERSTATE BATTERY IS A GOOD BATTERY YOU MIGHT WANT TO PUT IT IN YOUR TRUCK
@cjt962
5 жыл бұрын
@Audio Yeah that's right, it's those 'little things' that gets customers all riled up. Now from my stand point, I would think twice before I buy from a 'penny pinching' Cassita company.
@pteehee5864
5 жыл бұрын
You got lots of muscle. That's a heavy battery. I'd never be able to handle that. Good job.
@pteehee5864
5 жыл бұрын
HA you are so funny.
@davidbrickey5925
5 жыл бұрын
Rusty there’s a truck camper cold northern light and it’s made just like that camper in you Got it’s a two piece fiberglass. That’s impressive no seams in the bottom of the top
@jhky9611
5 жыл бұрын
Does your casita have a built in charge controller ? You showed a place where you plug in solar panels.
@doctoordan
5 жыл бұрын
Looks good Rusty. With a little sun occasionally you should be able to run that fridge for about a month on propane and solar. We both know you’ll be headed to town before you run out of propane.
@joelbrown5369
5 жыл бұрын
Is the only difference between the two is that one is maintenance free? Plus I guess power difference too.
@DJinNJ08830
5 жыл бұрын
👍good job
@davidbrickey5925
5 жыл бұрын
You may know this rusty but you can’t leave a battery sitting on concrete it will run it
@onrycodger
5 жыл бұрын
It certainly will. Also, if Captain Rusty keeps that Interstate battery, it should be periodically trickle charged to prevent it from completely discharging.
@senseofstile
5 жыл бұрын
I think some people say it doesn't discharge the battery when it sits on concrete. However I am old skool and always set my batteries on a a piece of 2 x 6 wood.
@hottlimited
5 жыл бұрын
I believe this is an old wives tale, you can leave battery on the concrete all day, won’t hurt it .
@campusa8742
5 жыл бұрын
Hahaha... yes, I have also heard that it is just an old wives tale, yet I still put my batteries on wood - just in case there really is still some truth to that old wives tale! How funny that is to me. SMH
@johncook1885
5 жыл бұрын
Maintenance free battery means you won't be able to add more water to it,when the let acid evaporates which they all do. That's how maintenance-free batteries go bad they run low on water and you can't add more water to it and it won't take a charge until you add more water. You take it back before the warranty is up and they take the old battery and fill it full of battery acid and resell it or use it for an exchange for the next sucker that comes in.
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