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Old 05-30-2019, 06:01 PM   #1
kark0202
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Should i add a battery or two?

2016 raptor with one battery and room for more. Should i add another or two and if so how easy is it?Click image for larger version

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Old 05-30-2019, 06:41 PM   #2
Logan X
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Adding batteries is very easy if you have the space to do it, which it appears that you do. The question I would ask is what type of camping do you do? If you always or almost always stay in parks with full hookups you probably don’t need more batteries. If you camp without electrical hookups for any length of time you may want to add more batteries.

The main thing you want to consider with your trailer battery is how many amp hours it has. Amp hours is how you measure stored energy. The battery you have in the picture is a hybrid deep cycle/starting battery so it probably has limited amp hours. It will say it somewhere on the battery. It probably has around 70 amp hours.

If you do want to add batteries you may want to consider replacing your current battery as well because all of your batteries should be the same type and age.

6v golf cart batteries generally have the most amp hours. A common upgrade is to install two 6v golf cart batteries in series to get the required 12v output. My two 6v golf cart batteries have 230 amp hours.

Or you could simply add another 12v battery to the one you have although it would probably be a relatively small improvement.

Edit-if you have an onboard generator you may want to keep the starter battery to start the generator.
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Old 05-30-2019, 06:44 PM   #3
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Should i add a battery or two?

If you add 12V battery’s, you can add any number in parallel and be ok.

If your adding 6V batteries, they must be in “ pairs” to make 12V and then ties together.

For example: 2 more 12V batteries for a total of 3.

All the positives are joined, all the negatives are joined. Trailer leads go to opposite ends.

If you use 6V batteries you have to use 2 or 4 or 6. Each pair is jumpered positive to negative ( like a flashlight) and then all the 12V positives are joined, all the 12V negatives are joined and again the trailer leads go on opposite ends.

Make sense?
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Old 05-30-2019, 07:10 PM   #4
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The first picture is 6v batteries connected in series.

The second picture is 12v batteries connected in parallel.

Series adds the voltage together and the amp hours stay the same (6v + 6v =12v)

Parallel adds the amp hours together and leaves the voltage the same ( 4 100 amp hour 12v batteries = 400 amp hours)
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Old 05-31-2019, 03:07 PM   #5
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I do have a generator so i guess i should just stick with what i have.

Was just curious.
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Old 05-31-2019, 04:39 PM   #6
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You could add an identical battery (or 2 or 3) to your current set up and that would work.

Or I think you could keep your current battery for the generator and use a separate battery bank for house power.

But if you usually have hook ups, your probably ok with what you have.
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Old 05-31-2019, 09:44 PM   #7
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You asked should you add a battery, Yes. have 2 12v deep cycle batteries and a add a switch so you can use 1 or 2 or both. That way keep 1 for starting the genny when needed at a rest stop etc. The other to run the other stuff when you need power when not on shore power. That would be a minimum of power I would and have had with a genny in a RV.
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Old 06-01-2019, 03:51 AM   #8
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I have a raptor as well, and we (currently) use 2 12v in parallel, but do not do much boondocking at all.


Just out of curiosity, what would be the issue with starting the Generator with 2 6v wired in series? Not enough CCA?
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Old 06-01-2019, 04:10 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kark0202 View Post
2016 raptor with one battery and room for more. Should i add another or two and if so how easy is it?
It's a good, natural question and the answer depends on whether you've ever needed more battery than you have, just want a 'safety' factor, or whether you plan to boondock. It essentially boils down to, how do you use your rig?

You're just curious so I would recommend using that to read about how RV electrical systems work –including batteries– and then the upgrade choices available.

You ask a simple question but the answer can be quite involved if the goal is to have an RV outfitted for your needs without wasting money.

Some good links to start with (which I got from ppl here):

http://www.marxrv.com/12volt/12volt.htm

https://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/


GL
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Old 06-01-2019, 07:51 AM   #10
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The biggest 12 volt draw is the furnace, also the biggest LP hog, so if you can do without it your battery/batteries, & propane, will last much longer.
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Old 06-01-2019, 08:06 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by Harleydodge View Post
I have a raptor as well, and we (currently) use 2 12v in parallel, but do not do much boondocking at all.


Just out of curiosity, what would be the issue with starting the Generator with 2 6v wired in parallel? Not enough CCA?
I assume that you meant 2 6v wired in series not parallel. I don’t see a problem with CCA with 6v batteries in series.
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Old 06-01-2019, 08:11 AM   #12
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I assume that you meant 2 6v wired in series not parallel. I don’t see a problem with CCA with 6v batteries in series.
Sorry, yes, I've edited my mistake,thanks.
And that's what I thought, not a problem, I just was wondering what Logan X meant at the end of his post (#2)
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Old 06-01-2019, 08:34 AM   #13
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Originally Posted by Harleydodge View Post
Sorry, yes, I've edited my mistake,thanks.
And that's what I thought, not a problem, I just was wondering what Logan X meant at the end of his post (#2)
I was under the impression that a true deep cycle battery set up did not have enough cold cranking amps to be an effective starting battery.

I just did some quick research and it looks like the 6v batteries in series do have enough CCAs to start the generator although I did read some people had trouble using the 6v batteries to start a generator under extreme conditions, like very cold or repeated starting attempts.
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Old 06-01-2019, 09:36 AM   #14
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I was under the impression that a true deep cycle battery set up did not have enough cold cranking amps to be an effective starting battery.

I just did some quick research and it looks like the 6v batteries in series do have enough CCAs to start the generator although I did read some people had trouble using the 6v batteries to start a generator under extreme conditions, like very cold or repeated starting attempts.

OK, thanks for clarifying that.
I had considered changing to 2 6v batteries once my 2 deep cycle 12v ones give up the ghost. With our on-board 6kv Onan, I may have to research that myself.
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Old 06-01-2019, 01:32 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by Harleydodge View Post
OK, thanks for clarifying that.
I had considered changing to 2 6v batteries once my 2 deep cycle 12v ones give up the ghost. With our on-board 6kv Onan, I may have to research that myself.
Probably the easiest to manage solution to the potential for not enough CCA to start the generator (I really don't think you'd have a problem, but) would be to install a GP24 auto battery as a "dedicated generator start battery" and use a trickle charger to keep it charged . It would be a "separate and distinct dedicated battery" used only to start the generator. Since most generators don't have the capacity to recharge the starting battery, you'd need to either isolate it from the "golf cart battery system" or use a trickle charger. The easiest to install would be the trickle charger but adding "battery isolator systems" to prevent that GP24 from being discharged along with the main system (golf cart battery bank) is expensive, but possible.
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Old 06-05-2019, 06:54 PM   #16
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Old 06-06-2019, 09:43 AM   #17
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I would say the biggest reason to have a separate battery for Generator is if you run down house batteries (and trust me at some point you probably will) it will be too late to start the generator to recharge. If you keep it (somewhat) isolated then it can be started and recharge your house batteries.
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Old 06-06-2019, 03:41 PM   #18
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Originally Posted by Harleydodge View Post
I have a raptor as well, and we (currently) use 2 12v in parallel, but do not do much boondocking at all.


Just out of curiosity, what would be the issue with starting the Generator with 2 6v wired in series? Not enough CCA?

Actually there is no problem starting the generator with golf cart batteries. Technically they are not starting batteries, and if you were starting a huge engine it could be a problem, but in this case it's not a problem. I've owned sailboats for 30+ years and have used golf cart batteries to start a 52 horsepower diesel engine for as many years.
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Old 06-17-2019, 04:17 PM   #19
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Since you have a Toy Hauler, you probably boondock quite a bit. Consider your batteries as your gas tank. The more amp hours you have, the less you will need to run the generator. As others have stated, the 6 volt batteries will give you the most amp hours. Also consider the battery type as type 24, 27,31. Then decide whether you want flooded or AGM. AGM require the least maintenance. All depends on $$$$. Check out Trojan Batteries, USA Batteries, and Battleborn Batteries.
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