You disagree that FLA's have off-gassing, maintenance and smells?
It your batteries are gassing excesively would tell you the voltage is set too high
You can't argue that discharging past 50% will shorten the life of a FLA.
I never said anything otherwise now did I? What I said is both have the same usable capacity at 80% DOD. At 80% DOD, which would be a very rare event unless the owner is DIY and clueless, Trojan Industrial line still has twice the cycle and calendar life than Chi-Com LiFeP04.
I have designed around 50 RV systems for Tree Huggers that want to use solar, and some who listen and use other means of recharging. You size the battery for 3-day run time which is easy.This gives you 2-day Run Time with no sun or driving to recharge. Only a fool would size their battery for 1-day Run time. FWIW a fixed off-grid system uses 5 day reserve capacity to get that 20% DOD for maximum cycle life. Yes I get questioned about only using a 3-day reserve on RV's, but here is the deal, it is no big deal. A home system is used every stinking day, but not an RV which is part time use, and the batteries will last longer than stationary systems.
As for charging, well that is easy. Yep some people think solar will work, wrong. How many people are stupid enough to park their RV where in full sun with no shade issues from sun rise to sunset? Seen lots of folks spend a few thousand dollars on solar to charge their batteries with solar only to find out they still need a generator or shore power. Smart money is use a small wattage solar system as supplement, but rely on a $75 Electronic Battery Isolator and use the engine alternator to do the heavy lifting and charging. If they are parked more then two days will use a generator and charger.
I just saw the Rolls have a 7 year warranty, that is very impressive. I haven't heard of them till now. I have experience in traditional Trojan 12v FLA and they only provide ~3 years service in golf carts.
Rolls is to Rail Road and Marine as Trojan is to Golf Cart and Floor Sweeper machines. They have been around a long long time. The 5000 series carries 10 year warranty. Both Trojan and Rolls are 100% made in the USA.
You are right golf cart batteries last about 3 years as designed. Golf courses do not own golf carts, they lease them with 3 year contracts. But you are talking Trojan entry level Signature Series, not the Premium or Industrial lines.
While FLA are proven technology, I'd much rather prefer a sealed battery in my camper. I see Trojan has high capacity 250Ah 12v AGM's but they only have a 1 year warranty. Any thoughts on a quality AGM with at least 250Ah size and a great warranty? I could parallel two for a 500Ah pack in the future.
AGM has its place, a niche application place you really need to justify for the added expense. AGM cost twice as much and only last half as long as FLA. So in the end you are talking 400% higher cost. You would be better off using a decent LFP battery. AGM is great for locations:
1. Unusual installation orientation like on their side.
2. Where very high charge and discharge rates will be encountered.
3. Spills cannot be tolerate like aircraft for which AGM was invented for.
4. Extreme cold of -40 and lower.
Sounds like you might be stuck inside a 12 volt toy box. Last thing in the world you want to do is install Pb batteries in parallel. Guaranteed to cut cycle life in half. That is why battery manufactures suggest parallel installations. Smart money is if you need 500 AH, then buy 500 AH batteries. They will not be 12 volts, they will be 6 or 4 volt batteries wired in series. Say a pair of
Rolls S-550 or Trojan
SIND-06-610. Both Trojan and Rolls have had their batteries tested by 3rd party testing agency and put through IEC 61427 an real world cycle life test very few manufactures would ever make available to the public because it would make them look very bad. IEC61427 on Trojan Industrial Line-Up is 17 year cycle life and Rolls 5000 series to be at 15 years.
