10 inch vs 12 Inch 12 volt Led acid Battery, What's the Difference?

[Midnight Rider]

"A Team,"

When I bought my RV in July 2024 I was provided two 10 inch 12v batteries by the dealer. Now it's 2026 and getting close to replacement time.
The Battery box in my Paradigm will hold two 12v 12 inch batteries. Will I see a noticeable difference in run time on a 12 inch Battery vs a 10 inch battery?
There is a price difference between the two so I want to weigh that vs the battery run time.
I have seen a 12 inch is 100AH and a 10 inch is like 68 AH's per the internet?
Been noticing the two 10 Inch batteries struggle to put out levels , all three slides and keeping the 12v fridge from giving me an E and low volt message when docking after a days drive? That said 99% of the time I hook up shore power before performing all those steps to save the battery. That said in a pinch I want the batteries to perform as intended without going low on me if I can help it.

What says the Forum?

Thanks

MR

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Size has no impact....only amp hours. I would STRONGLY recommend you ditch AGM and move to lithium. Lithium will be at least half the weigth and you can use all of the stated amp hours vs only 50% with AGM.

 

[2 Allies]

I second Jim's thoughts. We got rid of the LA battery and replaced with a 300ah Lithium and never looked back.

 

[Midnight Rider]

S

Size has no impact....only amp hours. I would STRONGLY recommend you ditch AGM and move to lithium. Lithium will be at least half the weigth and you can use all of the stated amp hours vs only 50% with AG

I second Jim's thoughts. We got rid of the LA battery and replaced with a 300ah Lithium and never looked back.

Is the conversion process hard? I’m not super electrical inclined, I lack confidence in this area?
thanks

 

[2 Allies]

Rider,

I simply unhooked the lead acid battery and hooked up the Lithium. I put the lithium in the same box. I switched the converter to LI on the electric panel and changed the settings in the solar controller. So glad we did as we do not worry about the fridge and slides or jacks when setting up.

You can search the site for the converter and solar controller set ups, very simple even for me.

There are many lithium batteries out there and others have had good luck with a lot of them. We went with Epoch, but there will be some that are less expensive like LiTime that others really like.

I am sure that you will get feedback from others on the site about batteries.

Good luck,

 

[2 Allies]

Rider,

We went with a 300 ah battery.

 

[Midnight Rider]

Rider,

We went with a 300 ah battery.

I think I will make the switch to Lithium.

I have two 12v led acid batteries now. What configuration should I go with in Lithium? should I put two 200 AH batteries in it so I have 400 AH's?

I also have a Generator on board 5500 Onan Propane. Do I need to make changes to that or will it just charge as is?

Thanks for your help

 

[BryanValRox]

I think I will make the switch to Lithium.

I have two 12v led acid batteries now. What configuration should I go with in Lithium? should I put two 200 AH batteries in it so I have 400 AH's?

I also have a Generator on board 5500 Onan Propane. Do I need to make changes to that or will it just charge as is?

Thanks for your help

Rider, it would be my opinion that the configuration that you choose would be a personal choice based on your camping style. If you don’t have an inverter, personally I think 400 AH would be over kill(others may think differently). Why would you need all that AH capacity if your equipped with solar and a genset? Just wondering, as I am not familiar with your camping style or electrical demands.

Regarding your genset, nothing to address there, as it would out put 120v ac to your panel and converter, which in turn would charge your battery/batteries.

The items you would need to change settings on would be:
Your Converter
Your Solar Controller
Your DC/DC charger if you have one on your rig.

Other than that, it is a direct drop in replacement.

In your words, Roll On my friend!

 

[Midnight Rider]

Rider, it would be my opinion that the configuration that you choose would be a personal choice based on your camping style. If you don’t have an inverter, personally I think 400 AH would be over kill(others may think differently). Why would you need all that AH capacity if your equipped with solar and a genset? Just wondering, as I am not familiar with your camping style or electrical demands.

Regarding your genset, nothing to address there, as it would out put 120v ac to your panel and converter, which in turn would charge your battery/batteries.

The items you would need to change settings on would be:
Your Converter
Your Solar Controller
Your DC/DC charger if you have one on your rig.

Other than that, it is a direct drop in replacement.

In your words, Roll On my friend!

Bryan,
Thanks I agree with over Kill. I just put that out there to get some chatter 😂😂😂
I was thinking of two 100AH Batteries? Do you recommend a brand? I don’t have a DC/DC Charger. Is a DC/DC Charger hard to put in? I have just relied on my solar to keep me charged?
Thanks Brother!

 

[Midnight Rider]

Rider,

We went with a 300 ah battery.

Do you just have one battery or did you do two 150AH Batts?

 

[Oregon_Camper]

I was thinking of two 100AH Batteries? Do you recommend a brand? I don’t have a DC/DC Charger. Is a DC/DC Charger hard to put in? I have just relied on my solar to keep me charged?

What are your current battery stated capacity? Whatever you have now...did that work? If you replace with same amp hours, but with Lithium, you will have 2x your old setup.

Installing DC-to-DC isn't hard...just time consuming. PLUS a lot of work under your truck and running cable from kingpin to inside battery compartment.

When I did my DC-to-DC, I used 4AWG cable for the 50 amp Victron Orion XS.

 

[BryanValRox]

Bryan,
Thanks I agree with over Kill. I just put that out there to get some chatter 😂😂😂
I was thinking of two 100AH Batteries? Do you recommend a brand? I don’t have a DC/DC Charger. Is a DC/DC Charger hard to put in? I have just relied on my solar to keep me charged?
Thanks Brother!

Rider, I am kind of in the same boat as you are at this point. I am still using my original LA Battery, I still has life left in it, so like you I am in the research stage and have no direct experience with any brand. I have been polling folks for their recommendation as well. I will make the move when the time is right, mainly to shed a few pounds, as our camping style really isn’t impacted by having LA vs Lithium. I did some research yesterday and my current LA is listed at 51 lbs. A similar rated Lithium is listed at @ 30 lbs. I will take the 21 lbs. reduction as a win! Now, if I could address my waist line that would really be a win.🤣

 

[2 Allies]

Do you just have one battery or did you do two 150AH Batts?

Rider,
Just one 300 ah has been plenty. If we were to add an inverter and/or more solar for boondocking, we would add another 1 or 2 as necessary.

 

[Midnight Rider]

What are your current battery stated capacity? Whatever you have now...did that work? If you replace with same amp hours, but with Lithium, you will have 2x your old setup.

Installing DC-to-DC isn't hard...just time consuming. PLUS a lot of work under your truck and running cable from kingpin to inside battery compartment.

When I did my DC-to-DC, I used 4AWG cable for the 50 amp Victron Orion XS.

Thanks
Curently I only have two 10 inch Acid led for a total of 120AH’s 63 ah per battery. That’s not cutting it.
If I put in two 100AH Lithiums in it I will think I have all power in world? I think I’ll skip the DC/DC charger for now unless the need arises.

Some new lithiums have blue tooth so you can use your phone to monitor battery? That’s cool.

i know you are a battle born guy… They are just two expensive For my needs. Do you know of Any other good recommended brands People have had luck with?

thanks again.

Rider, I am kind of in the same boat as you are at this point. I am still using my original LA Battery, I still has life left in it, so like you I am in the research stage and have no direct experience with any brand. I have been polling folks for their recommendation as well. I will make the move when the time is right, mainly to shed a few pounds, as our camping style really isn’t impacted by having LA vs Lithium. I did some research yesterday and my current LA is listed at 51 lbs. A similar rated Lithium is listed at @ 30 lbs. I will take the 21 lbs. reduction as a win! Now, if I could address my waist line that would really be a win.🤣

Bryan,
I am making the leap this spring when I put batteries back in the rig. My current set up with two 10 inch LA batteries only gives me 63 available amp hours. No wonder I have issues when I show up to a park and can't do everything on battery power? After running fridge all day going down the road I am lucky I have any juice left at all?
I am thinking of putting in two 150AH batteries? That gives me 300AH and that should be plenty for what ever comes our way? That or two 100's? Not sure.
I am leaning toward the LiTime because they have Blue tooth Batteries and you can use your phone to check them and don't have to put in a new gauge on the control panel. You can check them going down the road. I like that feature! Price seems realistic as well. Some of the Lithium 12volts are CRAZY EXPENSIVE. Let me know what turns out to be your choice
Thanks
MR

 

[2 Allies]

Rider,

Our Epoch was a little more expensive and it is self heating (so it will charge in cold weather)
and has blue tooth. The blue tooth works great for SOC, etc. Now that Litime has blue tooth it is a more affordable option. You can actually pick up a 230AH for the price of (2)100 AHs and pick up an extra 30 AHs.

Regards,

 

[Midnight Rider]

Rider,

Our Epoch was a little more expensive and it is self heating (so it will charge in cold weather)
and has blue tooth. The blue tooth works great for SOC, etc. Now that Litime has blue tooth it is a more affordable option. You can actually pick up a 230AH for the price of (2)100 AHs and pick up an extra 30 AHs.

Regards,

I don't know how to wire it? I have two batteries now and all the wires, I have pictures of and know how to put them all back.
Not sure how to pare it all down?
Is there an easy way to remove excess battery cables? Ill try it?

Thanks

 

[Midnight Rider]

This is my current configuration. What do I remove? maybe show me what yours looks like hooked up on one battery and I will copy it?

It would be great just having one big battery!

 

[2 Allies]

Rider,

If you go with a single battery, You will take the positive wire that is attached to the buss bar and attach to the positive terminal on the new battery and take the negative cable that attaches to the negative buss bar and attach to the negative terminal on the new battery. The (2) pieces of wire (the negative to negative jumper and the positive to positive jumper) can be removed along with the old batteries.

Hope this helps,

 

[2 Allies]

Rider,

It does appear from the pictures that there are (2) positive and (2) negatives that you will attach to the new battery that are feeding the rig. When you disconnect the batteries and pull them out along with the (2) jumpers on top of the batteries, there looks like there will be (2) negative cables and (2) positive cables left in the rig. When placing the new battery in you will combine the (2) positives onto the positive terminal and the (2) negatives onto the negative terminal of the new battery and you will be in business.

Regards,

 

[Oregon_Camper]

This is my current configuration. What do I remove? maybe show me what yours looks like hooked up on one battery and I will copy it?

It would be great just having one big battery!

Tell ya what....

We get home from our 4.5 month trip in the middle of May. I'd be happy to come over and help you with this wiring project.