I have a Carriage Cameo with a battery compartment that will accomodate 2 group 24 batteries. Currently, we only have one battery. I need more reserve power from the battery when the coach is in storage for the regrif and Big Foot jacks prior to each trip, so I'd like to add a 2nd battery. I do not know the exact age of the battery that came with the coach, but we took delivery in September of 2011. Is it ok to add the second battery to the current battery or should I start out with 2 fresh, new ones? Thanks, Phillip
I would go with 2 group 27 batts instead of the 24, more pqwer ans more reserve, or 2 6volt golf cart batts.
Bob and Sue
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If the batteries do not have some sort of isolation between them, then both batteies should be new and the same. If you have isolation, you can add a different battery in parallel with no issues.
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I also have a Cameo that came with 1 12V battery. It is best to pair the batteries with the same type and age. I will be waiting a year or two for the 12V to age a bit and then will be installing two 6 V batteries in. this will give me longer life and more power. It will also allow boondocking to be more feasable. I do not know what type of batteries I will use yet or the brand. Research will be done on this later. It will be either Interstate or a well known brand, not Chinese.
Remember when adding that second battery, you should buy two NEW batteries, as adding that second new battery to an older one will defeat the purpose of having that additional battery. You will not achieve that much of a longer stay time when having dissimilar batteries.
Yes you can simply add a second battery and it will work fine. for the MAXIMUM difference they would need to be the same but under any circumstances, adding a second battery in good condition will increase the amount of power available. With two fresh new batteries you would come close to doubling the power but adding a second battery may give you 75% more.
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fishingbob61 wrote: I would go with 2 group 27 batts instead of the 24, more pqwer ans more reserve, or 2 6volt golf cart batts.
I don't think that two group 27 batteries will fit in the compartment. We don't do any dry camping. I am mainly looking for more reserve power for the refrig the day or 2 before departing on a trip.
Prior to our last trip, the refrig, along with its two cooling fans, ran the battery down enough that the refrig quit cooling. So when we got to the rig toload the refrig it was not cold and the Big Foot would not operate. It was over 90 degrees outside so I imagine that the frige coolings fans ran a lot.
Anyway, I'm just trying to the best thing so that this does not happen again. Thanks, Phillip
* This post was
edited 06/22/12 08:34am by pcm1959 *
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