Another battery

[Shelbs]

I am considering the addition of a 2nd battery on the Passport. I have the space on the A-frame so I figure why not? This question is almost too dumb to ask. But I would rather ask what I think is a dumb question than blow up my rig. So....is it just as simple as running wires from one battery to the other? + to +, - to - ? Are there any tricks or any issues I need to be aware of?

[f6bits]

Welp, there goes another can of worms.

Here’s an article from the RV Doctor:
http://www.rvdoctor.com/2011/11/bett...-charging.html

Pay close attention to where the wires hook up in the diagram. You *can* do it the way you describe, but the article shows a better way to distribute the load.

Or, you can use two 6-Volt batteries:
http://www.modmyrv.com/2008/06/05/rv...attery-upgrade

[Festus2]

If you always or almost always use hookups when you go camping, having a second battery isn't really necessary. However, if you plan on doing a fair amount of dry camping, then adding another battery isn't a bad idea.
If you do add another battery, you might want to consider 2-6 volts - especially if your present 12v battery is marginal or getting near the end of its useful life. You can check the date on it.
The advantages of 6 volts is explained in the last link above. They are somewhat heavier, larger and more expensive than a 12v but preferable if you are going to be dry camping often. They are wired in series rather than parallel.

[2011 keystone]

BUT if you are planning on camping in a campground with full hookup's most of he time 2 batt's are of no use. except for lights while you hook up to shore power. and as hank says just my 2 cents.

[SAABDOCTOR]

WOW NO CAN O WORMS. WHICH EVER WAY YOU GO... PLEASE SAFTY GLASSES AND THAKE OF ANY RINGS. GLOD IS A KILLER CONDUCTOR AND SKIN BURNS EASY.I KNOW I WILL GET %^$FOR THIS. IT'S RARE BUT IT CAN HAPPEN. NONE OF MY TECHS AT MY REPAIR SHOP WEAR JEWLERY.

[jbutcher3]

You might consider this, if adding a battery the new battery hooked together with an old battery will not perform the same, old battery will pull down new battery.
Should replace both at same time with identical specs.

[SteveC7010]

The first link above points at an article by the RVDoctor. The second half of his reply will apply to multiple batteries in BOTH 6 and 12 vdc. There has to be adequate charging capacity for both batteries. If not, then adding a second battery probably cause more issues than it might resolve.

One solution is to convert to solar charging. Most of our Keystones are large enough to place several panels on the roof if permanent installation is an option.

We dry camp for 10 to 14 days at a time in NYS DEC parks. Luckily, DEC allows up to 5 hours a day of generator time so our Honda eu2000i will keep a single battery well charged for the entire trip.

If we were to move to dual batteries, I would also have to install a different charging system, either solar or a beefier convertor package.

One other option to consider here is to add a battery switch along with the second battery. Using just one of the batteries at a time, it is possible to keep the other in reserve, but not alter the charging requirements. I suppose a switch isn't absolutely required as our marine/rv batteries all have wing nuts on the battery posts. However the switch is much safer as it eliminates the inevitable fumbling around that would occur at zero dawn thirty when the first battery goes low just when you need the furnace to keep going.

[smiller]

Originally Posted by SteveC7010

If we were to move to dual batteries, I would also have to install a different charging system, either solar or a beefier convertor package.

And that's a point worth considering. If you increase the amp-hour capacity of the battery bank then you increase the required charge current over a given time. If you dry camp a lot (the main reason for increasing battery capacity) and need to recharge during your stay the stock converter may do the job, but it's going to take a long time. If you want to minimize generator run rime you'll probably need a beefier converter (or go solar but that's not cheap.)