Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Technical Corner
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 06-02-2015, 03:44 PM   #1
Pull Toy
Senior Member
 
Pull Toy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Southeastern Connectiut
Posts: 1,305
Dual 6 volts, any thoughts or second opinions?

Probably due for new battery (batteries?) soon.

History:
Campground to campground.., every time, 50 amp plug-ins (Mama's choice), where available.
Only boondock overnight occasionally, while en-route.
Upon return home... plug in for maintenance, refrigeration, and storage ...
Stay plugged in for "WINTER REFUGE" (Nov thru Mar) in cases of Loss of power to residence. (I have a 10 foot Bargman 7 pin male to 7 pin ten female foot (8 gauge) extension for 12v charging if necessary, using Tow Vehicle as power source, also 975 watt generator for maintenance top off only charging, as back-ups).

Question(s):

1. Will dual 6'ers hold up better to constant 120v plug in "shore power" inverter charge, than a quality 12 Deep Cycle?
2. Isolate battery, and use Tender on 12v deep cycle battery while staying plugged in to "shore power" for general inverter use?
3. Any other advice, to maximize "Battery Life", and still maintain "at home flexibility"?
__________________

Pull Toy

Steve & Jan, Ava & Emma (Mini Schnauzers):
2016 F350 Lariat 4X4 Powerstroke CC/SB "PULLTOY V"
2013 Alpine 3535RE "MAGIC CARPET IV"
Proud Navy Vet!
Pull Toy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 03:49 PM   #2
Seabee
Senior Member
 
Seabee's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: The Historic Triangle, Virginia
Posts: 117
If you have not had any issues with your type of use with your current 12V deep cycle set-up, why fix what ain't broke? Were you a Nuke by chance?
__________________
2015 Cougar X-Lite 31SQB
2015 Chevy 2500HD Z71 Duramax
Seabee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 05:05 PM   #3
Festus2
Site Team
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Fraser Valley BC Canada
Posts: 7,015
If the vast majority of your camping involves 50A hookups, then I see no need for you to change to 2 6V batteries. For a night or two of dry camping, a single, well-maintained 12V battery will meet your needs.
__________________
2008 Cougar 5th Wheel 27RKS
2005 2500 GMC Duramax
Festus2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 05:51 PM   #4
cb1000rider
Gone Traveling
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 101
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pull Toy View Post
Probably due for new battery (batteries?) soon.
I've seen 2 years out of a battery and I've seen 7 years. Want to know what condition they are in, charge them up, take 'em out, and find an Autozone to load test them.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Pull Toy View Post
1. Will dual 6'ers hold up better to constant 120v plug in "shore power" inverter charge, than a quality 12 Deep Cycle?
2. Isolate battery, and use Tender on 12v deep cycle battery while staying plugged in to "shore power" for general inverter use?
3. Any other advice, to maximize "Battery Life", and still maintain "at home flexibility"?

1) I wouldn't assume that they'd do any better than any other flooded cell battery. How long they last on the chargers in my experience is usually related to how smart the chargers are. Chargers that change and hold to 14.7 are hard on batteries.

2) That's certainly a safer way to do it - they typically can't overcharge as easily.

3) For flooded cell, maintain the water level. With a new charger, I check to see what it's doing with a volt meter every now and then. My Jayco would hard charge to 14.7v and hold. Turns out there was a $20 module I could plug in and make the charger a lot *smarter*.

Generally what you get out of the 6V batteries is the ability to discharge deeper. You mention "deep cycle" by my understanding is that there are very few true deep cycle batteries out there (haven't done my homework in a while). Residential solar guys prefer the 6V stuff.
cb1000rider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2015, 04:04 AM   #5
Face Down
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: RDU Carolina
Posts: 129
Unless you plan to boon-dock more than you indicated, I don't think they would be worth the weight or the cost.
__________________
2016 Keystone Carbon 357
2006 F350 4WD CC LB DRW (aka Big Sexy)
Reese 20K Goose Box/Draw-Tite Remove-a-Ball
Face Down is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2015, 01:39 PM   #6
Pull Toy
Senior Member
 
Pull Toy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Southeastern Connectiut
Posts: 1,305
Hey SEABEE, negatory on the NUKES... Airdale thru and thru! CVA42 "USS FDR", Aviation Electronics Tech, Radar, was my home. Went NUKE, as a civilian, post service at United Nuclear Corp. Montville, CT building fuel cells for the subs, ironically my office now has a slot machine. UNC went under, now the home of Mohegan Sun Tribal Casino... second largest Casino in the world. Foxwoods, then Mohegan Sun, both within 5 miles of each other.

Thanks for all of the input... concern is "unintended incidental Boondock winter camping" induced by shelter in place BLIZZARDS! (Global warming my behind! Last winter was cold!)
__________________

Pull Toy

Steve & Jan, Ava & Emma (Mini Schnauzers):
2016 F350 Lariat 4X4 Powerstroke CC/SB "PULLTOY V"
2013 Alpine 3535RE "MAGIC CARPET IV"
Proud Navy Vet!
Pull Toy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-14-2015, 01:35 PM   #7
Bob Landry
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Austin, Tx
Posts: 1,910
For the occasional overnight boon dock, the 6volts are overkill and any benefit from them does not compensate for the extra size and expense.

Another thing that many do not think about is that to get 12V you have to combine them in series. With a two battery setup, if you lose one of the batteries, nothing on your trailer works as you are down to a single 6V battery. A single properly charged 12V battery, properly charged will meet all of your needs.
__________________
2011 Outback 277RL
2013 F250 XLT Crew Cab 6.2L

Bitter Gun Owner
Bitter Clinger
Armed Infidel
Bob Landry is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:50 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.