Kirk wrote: That will depend upon the RV and where your present battery is located. There are battery boxes available that will fit them and many RVs have room to change to them as designed. The is particularly true if your RV already has two batteries. A 6V golf cart battery will be slightly larger than a standard 12V battery and noticeably taller. In my RV, the coach batteries are located under the step, inside of the coach and for that reason there is about 1/2" too little space for the taller batteries, even though the other dimensions would fit fine.
I had height issues, too. I ended up shortening the battery posts and using terminal clamps all the way down on the posts, and connecting the cable lugs to the pinch bolts instead of to the taller top studs.
A hold down can be made from two lengths of angle iron and a rod.
Quote: But since I don't do much dry camping, it just isn't worth the work that I would need to do for the amount that I would gain.
Yup. Only dry campers need to maximize their batteries.
Bill and Susan
84 Barth 30 tag powered by ht502/Thorley, Gear Vendors OD
Siamese Calvin and Airedale Hobbes
4WD Toyota toad
We have 6-6Volt GC Batteries in Our Rig. All the power that We have Ever Needed while Boon Docking in Mexico and SoCal. We keep them topped up with 3-75 Watt Solar Panels. Have to run the Genset Once in a while if it's been a few Days without much Sun. Also the Alternator in our Motorhome does seem to be able to keep them Up while travelling!
No we do NOT run the A/C!
Rob & Jean 90 Southwind John Deere/Oshkosh/Freightliner Class A Ford 460/ Toad 92 Tracker 2 wd 5sp Convert Still running Great!
That will depend upon the RV and where your present battery is located. There are battery boxes available that will fit them and many RVs have room to change to them as designed. The is particularly true if your RV already has two batteries. A 6V golf cart battery will be slightly larger than a standard 12V battery and noticeably taller. In my RV, the coach batteries are located under the step, inside of the coach and for that reason there is about 1/2" too little space for the taller batteries, even though the other dimensions would fit fine. For that reason I continue to use two 12V batteries in parallel, even though I as an electrical type tech. I would much rather have two 6V in series. But since I don't do much dry camping, it just isn't worth the work that I would need to do for the amount that I would gain.
Thanks for the feedback. I currently have a single 12 v on the tongue of the PUP, if/when it goes belly up I might switch to the dual 6V from Sam's Club.
"Also the Alternator in our Motorhome does seem to be able to keep them Up while travelling!"
Good point and a coincidance that you should mention this, especially with respect to your large house battery bank. I've recently been into some long forum conversations talking about how RV engine alternators just don't cut it, in general, for bringing an RV battery bank up to full charge.
I say large enough alternators can, and do. I rely on mine doing that between, and sometimes at, camp sites.
* This post was
edited 09/26/07 11:36am by pnichols *
I bought my 6 volt golf cart batt's from the local Interstate Battery dealer/distributor. Cost $65 each. They also ordered 2 of the correct size boxes for them as they didn't have the boxes in stock. I think the boxes we about $20 each. Also keep in mind you have to also purchase longer box straps for each, maybe $7 each.
Quote: Just for the record, if you switch from one grp 27 12v battery, to 2 golf car 6v batteries, you would have increased capacity by 100%.
Gotta' read this one carefully!
There is a persistent myth that a serial configuration will have more capacity than a parallel one. It is a myth because any capacity change will come from the batteries and not how they are wired.
When you just add a battery in parallel to your existing one, you will get something like 10% more capacity than you'd think by just adding the two AH ratings together. This is because you will draw less current from each battery (they share current) to power things. Lower current draws in lead acid batteries means a higher available energy capacity.
When you decide to swap out your battery for a pair of 6v in series, that means you are going to a different battery. Often this means a T105 or equivalent replacing a typical group 27 RV/Marine. The T105 is a bigger and heavier battery and that means it has a bit more energy capacity.
Trying to compare battery specs for 12v parallel vs 6v series banks is not simple. For a first approximation, just adding the specified 20 hour rate will do - as will comparing overall weight and size. After that, you need to determine the energy capacity that each battery will have based on its use profile in its position your battery bank. That can get tricky. - doesn't make much difference, anyway, in practical terms.
Capacity isn't the only factor nor is it really the primary factor. You can always add capacity by adding another battery. Trojan sells something like 27 different 6v and 12v batteries they cite as appropriate for RV and Marine use to choose from. They trade off capacity, cost, and longevity so you can choose what suits.
What I think most folks have trouble with is keeping batteries healthy. This is more about treating the batteries properly than it is haggling over 6v vs 12v.
Get enough batteries so your use discharges them between 15% to 50% each use. Recharge promptly with a good 3 stage charger that can provide 20 amps per 100 AH capacity. Use a battery maintainer on the batteries between uses that will desulfate and equalize. Do that and you should get 5 - 10 years out of your batteries.
WillJ wrote: I bought my 6 volt golf cart batt's from the local Interstate Battery dealer/distributor. Cost $65 each. They also ordered 2 of the correct size boxes for them as they didn't have the boxes in stock. I think the boxes we about $20 each. Also keep in mind you have to also purchase longer box straps for each, maybe $7 each.
What is the rating or part number of those batteries?
Thanks,
Brad
huskyhauler wrote: whole lot cheaper than the Trojans i use to sell and install. if they fail twice in the time one trojan fails, you are still money up.
Low $60 vs mid $80 for T105 batteries - that's not twice
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