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06-06-2018, 07:31 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Anchorage
Posts: 32
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Converting to dual 6 volt batteries?
We may be doing more dry camping than expected so I’ve been researching the use of two 6 volt batteries rather than the current 12 volt or dual 12 volts.
Today I was told by a local RV shop that there’s probably not enough room on the TT tongue, but I’m not convinced that is true.
Has anyone already done this on a 19’ Passport or similar and had some advice or pointers?
Thanks, Ed
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06-06-2018, 07:42 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,347
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If the pair of 6V boxes don’t fit in the current battery tray, you can simply weld new rails lengthwise and mount the boxes on them if there’s room. You may be able to move the propane tank tray for more room.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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06-07-2018, 04:41 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Anchorage
Posts: 32
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Current battery box is definitely too small for two 6 volt batteries. Thanks.
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06-07-2018, 05:18 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Central NH
Posts: 89
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Don't let a $5 plastic battery box stop you from switching to 2 6 volt batteries.
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06-07-2018, 05:34 PM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,996
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A 12 volt GP24 battery box and a 6 volt CG6 or ECG6 battery box have the same "footprint". If you have space for two GP24 batteries and have an extra 3 or 4 inches of height above the GP24 boxes, then golf cart batteries will fit, in boxes, in the same space.
If you only have room for one GP24 battery box (usually with enough space for another "half box" then you'd need to rearrange or reposition the existing battery box rails and possibly move the propane tank rack.
It's not difficult to do, but if the rails are welded in place, then you'd need to hire a welder (unless you know how to weld) to cut the existing brackets off the trailer tongue and reweld them (or new ones) in place.
Alternatively, you can leave the existing rails in place and position new ones on top of the trailer tongue A frame.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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06-08-2018, 09:18 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,090
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I converted my trailer from 2 X G24 12V to 2 X GC2 6V.
I bought a box that holds both batteries, end 2 end and fits in the same rails as the 2 boxes that held the 12V batteries.
The CG2 batteries are a couple of inches taller, as mentioned, but the footprint is the same.
I went from 150 amp hour capacity, with the 12V batteries, to 230 amp hour capacity with the GC2.
-Brian
__________________
2014 Bullet Premier 22RBPR - let the camping commence!
2013 F150 Platinum - 5.0 - 3.55 ELD + towing package
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09-11-2020, 08:55 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Wallace
Posts: 41
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What brand box did you buy. I was looking for one that would also take the place of my 2 12v group 24 batteries. I wasn't successful in finding one.
__________________
2019 Ford F250 Lariate, 6.7 Diesel
2020 Cougar 22RBSWE
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09-14-2020, 07:34 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Anchorage
Posts: 32
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Hi, not sure of the brand. It might be Century Plastics. Got it from Renewable Energy Systems. Item #BOX-GC2-E.
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10-06-2020, 02:06 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Florissant
Posts: 702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by B-O-B'03
I converted my trailer from 2 X G24 12V to 2 X GC2 6V. (Snip)
I went from 150 amp hour capacity, with the 12V batteries, to 230 amp hour capacity with the GC2.
-Brian
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That is very impressive!
__________________
Skids
2019 Bullet 248RKS
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06-12-2018, 04:49 AM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Hilton Head Island
Posts: 78
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Maybe I am uninformed or missing the point, but what is the advantage of two 6V batteries over one 12V? More capacity?
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06-12-2018, 04:57 AM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,347
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Msmith2054
Maybe I am uninformed or missing the point, but what is the advantage of two 6V batteries over one 12V? More capacity?
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When boondocking it’s all about amp hours, so in a nutshell yes more capacity.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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06-15-2018, 03:02 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,090
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Msmith2054
Maybe I am uninformed or missing the point, but what is the advantage of two 6V batteries over one 12V? More capacity?
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From my post, right above yours...
Quote:
Originally Posted by B-O-B'03
I went from 150 amp hour capacity, with the 12V batteries, to 230 amp hour capacity with the GC2.
-Brian
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__________________
2014 Bullet Premier 22RBPR - let the camping commence!
2013 F150 Platinum - 5.0 - 3.55 ELD + towing package
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06-12-2018, 05:01 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: "Murvil, TN
Posts: 2,212
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Yes, two 6 volt golf cart batteries will typically provide approx. 225 amp hours off of battery power. The typical 12 volt group 24 battery is providing approx. 75 amp hours. So if you have two of them hooked up in a parallel configuration....approx 150 amp hours....vs. two 6 volt batteries in a series connected configuration....225 amp hours
__________________
2016 F350 King Ranch Crew Cab Dually Diesel 4x4
2018 Grand Design Momentum 394M
2023 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+
Excessive payload capacity is a wonderful thing
"If it ain't Fast....It ain't Fun"
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06-12-2018, 07:41 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Home, Idaho
Posts: 3,013
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From looking around. This is a simple explanation. And yes... under most circumstances two GC2 6 volt golf cart batteries will outperform 12 volt batteries in parallel... if you are always using shore power it’s a toss up...
What is the difference between 6 volt and 12 volt deep cycle batteries? ... Both are lead acid batteries, both contain 2.1 volt cells. Three cells in the 6 volt battery and six cells in the 12 volt battery. The 6 volt battery has more space per cell than the 12 volt hybrid so the plates are thicker and will last longer.
__________________
2007 GMC Classic club cab 4x4 Duramax LBZ
2014 Alpine 3010 RE. 34 foot fifth wheel
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06-12-2018, 09:29 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: "Murvil, TN
Posts: 2,212
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Each plate in the 6 volt battery has more surface area than the 12 volt group 24....thus more amp hours. You can buy group 27 and 31-and they are larger too....but for the footprint size and the fact that the GC2 are true deep cycle batteries, they are hard to beat.
__________________
2016 F350 King Ranch Crew Cab Dually Diesel 4x4
2018 Grand Design Momentum 394M
2023 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+
Excessive payload capacity is a wonderful thing
"If it ain't Fast....It ain't Fun"
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09-06-2020, 02:09 PM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Mountain Home
Posts: 5
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Question about converting to 6 volts
Just made my purchase based on several recommendations. I bout 2 6v batteries and wired them in series. When purchased them, the sales rep also suggested a new jumper which is a larger gauge than my original cables. Do I need to upgrade the ground and positive cable to my trailer or is all good?
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09-06-2020, 02:59 PM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Anchorage
Posts: 32
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It appears I never followed up with what I ended up doing. So, FWIW... I bought 2-Rolls GC2 AGM 6 volt batteries along with a new battery box and also upgraded the power converter. Have not had a single issue with battery life since. Well worth the cost!! Thanks again for all the valuable input!
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09-16-2020, 06:09 AM
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#18
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,996
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blueticks
Just made my purchase based on several recommendations. I bout 2 6v batteries and wired them in series. When purchased them, the sales rep also suggested a new jumper which is a larger gauge than my original cables. Do I need to upgrade the ground and positive cable to my trailer or is all good?
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The short answer is no. Both of those wires are probably either 4 ga or 6 ga copper stranded wire. 6 ga is rated at 65 amps (4' length) and 4 ga is rated at 85 amps (4' length)... Your trailer has two "mini-breakers" on the tongue that are 30 amp breakers. The "maximum amperage through the breakers" is going to be 60 amps, so either gauge wire is sufficient.
That being said, it won't "hurt anything" to change out the wiring, but it's not needed.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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09-20-2020, 08:28 AM
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#19
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 2
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Great information!
Thank you for the easy to follow information on this subject everyone! I do lots of dry camping and plan on converting to a setup like this as soon as possible!
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