Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ Battery concern

[hooter56]

Here's the deal, I feel like an idiot because I had NO idea even where the batteries were. I searched the webs, the Lance info...NOTHING! Found two 6 volt wet batteries wired in series in the step up to the cab over. Kind of pissed me off, to be honest with you.
I'd like to convert to two 12 volt deep cycle batteries in parallel.
Is this a potential issue?

[RV_Tech]

Here's the deal, I feel like an idiot because I had NO idea even where the batteries were. I searched the webs, the Lance info...NOTHING! Found two 6 volt wet batteries wired in series in the step up to the cab over. Kind of pissed me off, to be honest with you.
I'd like to convert to two 12 volt deep cycle batteries in parallel.
Is this a potential issue?

No problem, but why do you want to do that? Seems to me like you would be downgrading your system.

Steve

[SidecarFlip]

2 6 volt batteries (like Trojan's) in series will deliver more amp hours than 2 deep cycle 12 volt batteries. I'd stay with the sixers myself.

Whern my twin 12's get tired, I'm changing over to twin 6 volt Trojans.

Most batteries are located under the bunk step today, Pretty much SOP.

[RV_Tech]

2 6 volt batteries (like Trojan's) in series will deliver more amp hours than 2 deep cycle 12 volt batteries.  I'd stay with the sixers myself.

Whern my twin 12's get tired, I'm changing over to twin 6 volt Trojans.

Most batteries are located under the bunk step today,  Pretty much SOP.

X2

Steve

[hooter56]

Thanks everyone. I had no idea. Every day is a learning experience.

[SidecarFlip]

Thanks everyone. I had no idea. Every day is a learning experience.

Mid Michigan? So am I, sort of. I'm just south of Cabelas off 23.

[skyhammer]

"Most batteries are located under the bunk step today, Pretty much SOP."
That should read, most small camper have batteries under the bunk step.
Most larger campers have a dedicated door on the outside for the batteries.
6 volt golf cart batteries are designed to be drawn down further without damage than 12 volt batteries.
6 Volts also can be charged more times before being toast.
The down side is that if you lose one battery and don't have a generator, you are toast.

[hooter56]

Mid Michigan?  So am I, sort of.  I'm just south of Cabelas off 23.

Yeah, if you picked a spot in the middle of nowhere between Charlotte, Hastings and Ionia, you'd find me. LOL

[SidecarFlip]

Yeah, if you picked a spot in the middle of nowhere between Charlotte, Hastings and Ionia, you'd find me. LOL

I regularly run 50 through Charlotte to 66 north through Ionia and north to 46. Then 46 over to 131 and up to my property in Stanwood (Big Rapids) where I camp.

[SidecarFlip]

"Most batteries are located under the bunk step today, Pretty much SOP."
That should read, most small camper have batteries under the bunk step.
Most larger campers have a dedicated door on the outside for the batteries.
6 volt golf cart batteries are designed to be drawn down further without damage than 12 volt batteries.
6 Volts also can be charged more times before being toast.
The down side is that if you lose one battery and don't have a generator, you are toast.

6 volt golf cart batteries are designed to be drawn down further without damage than 12 volt batteries.
6 Volts also can be charged more times before being toast.

Care to substantiate that with a link or is that strictly your opinion?

[Chief 2]

6 volt golf cart batteries are designed to be drawn down further without damage than 12 volt batteries.
6 Volts also can be charged more times before being toast.

Care to substantiate that with a link or is that strictly your opinion?

This link might be helpful.

http://www.chargingchargers.com/tutorials/batteries.html

[skyhammer]

6 volt golf cart batteries are designed to be drawn down further without damage than 12 volt batteries.
6 Volts also can be charged more times before being toast.

Care to substantiate that with a link or is that strictly your opinion?

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic...vel/iemjq4uAqU0
Advantages and Disadvantages of using two 12 volt batteries connected in parallel or two 6 volt batteries connected in series.

It would appear that there is no significant difference in capacity and voltage between these two examples. But this really is not the case. The plates designed for the T-105 use the same active material and alloy of the group 27 deep cycle batteries but both the T-105 negative and positive plates are 60% thicker than those found in the deep cycle 27 group sizes. The significance of this is that these 6 Volt batteries should have a longer lifespan than the two deep cycle 27 group sizes, if properly cared for. While the capacities are similar (220 versus 225 Amp Hrs.), battery longevity favors the two 6 Volt batteries. Why? Because a major cause of deep cycle battery failure is the shedding of active material from the battery plates.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseacti...id/18139423.cfm

[SidecarFlip]

Interesting. It pushes me toward Lithium-Iron when my T105's expire (and of course the market price of the L Iron batteries come down).

Couple things I like about L Iron batteries is no off gassing, so they can be installed anywhere.

They are not position critical, you can run them on their sides, upside down, whatever way they fit the application.

Very compact, a typical L Iron battery is 1/4 the size of a conventional battery and 1/4 the weight. That would allow me to run 4 L Iron batteries in the same space as my 2 Trojans

The complete discharge/ recharge cycle with no memory and the constant voltage output to almost no available charge is a plus as well. L Iron batteries are not impacted by low temperatures or high temperatures, their amp output remains constant at all temperatures within a normal enviroment.

On the downside is the cost, which should decrease as the technology becomes more mainstream

Finally, L Iron batteries, unlike L Ion batteries aren't prone to overheating and catching on fire like the ones in the Samsung Galaxy phones did.

One issue is, L Iron and L Ion batteries are advertised as one in the same and they aren't. A little discretion is necessary when purchasing them.

[RV_Tech]

As time moves on the absolutes are less clear when it comes to battery selection. It used to be the case that 6-volt golf cart batteries were the clear choice and you found virtually all the RV manufacturers installing them when multiple batteries were in play. You also read about them in the RV hard copies. And they are still a very reasonable choice. Then the AGMs came along and of course they don's gas, can be installed anywhere and in any position including lying on their sides.

Now all the talk is about LI+ batteries with the obvious downside being cost and of course the hope they do not burst into flames or explode as has occurred in some applications. so, if you are on the cheap go golf cart. If you have the time and interest research some of the newer 12-volts deep cycles and particularly the AGMs for either voltage. Li+? I don't think we are there yet, but maybe soon.

There is a ton of info about this stuff on the Internet for those who are interested.

Steve

[SidecarFlip]

Steve..

Again, don't confuse Lithium Ion batteries with Lithium Iron batteries, 2 different animals. The L-Iron batteries don't produce eccessive heat when rapidly discharged which is what happened with the Galaxy phones.

L-Iron batteries are stable in operational parameters...but expensive right now.

I really plan on switching in a few years when my 105's poop out. Cost right now is prohibitive. A group 24 equal in a L-Iron would set you back close to a grand.

I'm in my 2nd year with the Trojans and I expect them to go another 3. I watch the water because they do gas off and require a vented battery box.

Did you get your HJ front mount installed?

[towpro]

6V used to be a better deep cycle battery, but in recent years that is becoming less true.
you will find many 12V "Marine Starting batteries" which are not as good deep cycle batteries as 6v golf cart batteries.

6V battery @ 180 Amp hour reserve capacity. If you wire 2 of these in series you will have 12V @ 180 amp hour reserve capacity.

12V battery @ 90 Amp hour reserve capacity. if you wire 2 of these in parallel, you will have 12V @ 180 amp hour reserve capacity.

NOTES:
some RV's may have limited battery space, you may be able to use two 6V batteries to get more reserve capacity for your space.

If you use AGM batteries, they can be laid on there side for space.

Note: I see there are 8V golf cart batteries now. you don't want them.

I have heard the logic:
If one 6V battery fails, you end up with one 6V battery which is useless in a 12V system.
if you have one 12V battery fail, you can disconnect it and run of the other 12V battery.