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08-14-2017, 08:14 AM
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#21
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 25,264
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CW usually sells Exide batteries. I don't have any experience with their 6 volt offerings, but was not impressed with their 12 volt batteries. Most people have great experiences with Trojan. If you're looking to "just buy two and get to camping, I'd suggest the Duracell brand at Sam's. That's what we have, $90 each and they're 4 years old and still going strong.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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08-14-2017, 09:06 AM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: South Jordan, Utah
Posts: 2,032
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X2 ^^^ Sams has the best pricing on both the 12v and 6v. When I replace the current 12v batteries in the Cougar I'm going to use 6v. Longer amp hour run time.
__________________
2017 Cougar 279RKSWE
2007.5 Dodge Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins
Retirement Training Completed
I think the little voices in my head have started a chat group.
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08-14-2017, 09:30 AM
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#23
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Fruitland
Posts: 3,358
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I dry camp nearly every year. Have for about 40 years. I run a genny every day for a few hours or longer. Always had 12v batteries. They will not last more than a couple days unless you charge them.
__________________
2013 24RKSWE (27ft TT) Cougar 1/2 ton series SOLD 10-2021
2013 Ford F350 4x4 CC 6.7 engine, 8 ft bed, 3.55 rear end, lariat package
Retired from Oregon State Police in 2011 than worked another 9.5 years as a small town traffic cop:
As of 05-2020, I am all done with 39 years total police work. No more uniforms for me.
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08-14-2017, 09:35 AM
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#24
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Windsor
Posts: 8
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2-6 volt batteries, wired in series produce 12 volts, and can produce 200 to 250 amp hours depending on the brand of battery. Think of amp hours as fuel, the more the better. If you wire 2 additional 6 volt batteries, in parallel, then you double your amp hours to 400 or 500 depending on the batteries.
A typical 12v deep cycle will give you 75-85 amp hours, so 2 in parallel yield 150 to 170 amp hours.
I have 4-6v batteries, run a residential refer, heated cpap machine and power my entertainment circuit. Typically, I'll still have enough power to make a pot of coffee before I need to fire up the generator.
Hope that helps,
Ken
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08-14-2017, 08:16 PM
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#25
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Central
Posts: 63
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"A typical 12v deep cycle will give you 75-85 amp hours, so 2 in parallel yield 150 to 170 amp hours." Those numbers are for a rv/marine battery, not a true deep cycle battery. Two true deep cycle12v batteries from Interstate or Trojan will give you about 210 amp hours, so are similar to two 6v batteries.
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08-14-2017, 11:23 PM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: tucson
Posts: 303
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this is all great info, really appreciate everybody
I would love to have 4-6 volts or 4 -12 volt batteries ...but cannot handle the extra weight, especially anywhere on the front end
So it will definitely be 2-6 or 2-12
Exit ramp to CW was closed so did not stop and saw there was not much on their website battery wise, i just figured they would have trojans or at least some high quality batteries..
2 questions
For those running non sealed batteries how often do you have to check the water?
And if i take the batteries home tomorrow, fully charge them then have them tested and one/both fail is there any point messing with the hydrometer to see if a cell is bad
Or is that just if they pass the test at autozone and i am still suspicious there could be an issue
This is a really tight work week for me and i dont want to waste time
Bought this trailer to help cut down driving time for work and every spare moment i am fixing something on it, so this has not worked out quite like a planned
The battery stuff is on me though, i should have shut off the frig and unhooked the batteries or gotten solar on here sooner-
I know better
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2015 Outback Terrain 230
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08-15-2017, 04:33 AM
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#27
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Central
Posts: 63
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For your first question if you really want to play it safe, you could check them once a week until you get an idea how much you are losing. Most likely once a month will be sufficient.
For your second question I think the hydrometer would not be required if it already failed the load test at the auto parts store.
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08-15-2017, 05:19 AM
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#28
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 18,525
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Hydrometer is very cheap to buy, I would buy it and keep it in the trailer for future use. If current batteries fail a load test then they don't need to be tested with a hydrometer though.
__________________

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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08-15-2017, 08:51 AM
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#29
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: tucson
Posts: 303
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There is no way i have time to put check the water in the batteries every month, so will definitely go sealed
Now just have to figure out which ones
Had some trojans on another trailer years ago and they worked well, but my mechanic is an interstate dealer so will talk to him also
These seem to be doing better now that i have been running genny more on them, but i am taking them home to fully charge and test
Would be great if i could wait until the camper is back in tucson to deal with swapping batteries and mounting the permanent solar panel
Will use the portable one for right now
Just need things to make it another 5-6 weeks , too busy to deal with it now if it can be put off
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2015 Outback Terrain 230
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08-15-2017, 09:23 AM
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#30
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Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Boise, ID
Posts: 50
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I've been very happy with my sealed Universal AGM batteries that I got from bestconverter.com. http://www.bestconverter.com/Univers...ies_c_127.html
The factory battery racks in my 2015 Raptor didn't have enough height to go with 6v batteries so I ended up with 3 of the 12V 100AH model. They are big and heavy so check measurements. Getting them in on my unit took a bit of effort. Price wise I think they are definitely on the high end but ease of maintenance for a true sealed battery and life expectancy is much better than what I was able to get out of a standard battery.
There is a link to this website on the above mentioned website which I found very useful. http://www.marxrv.com/12volt/12volt.htm
__________________
2015 Raptor 332TS
2005 F350
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08-15-2017, 09:48 AM
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#31
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,073
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cvin
For those running non sealed batteries how often do you have to check the water?
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I recently switched to a dual 6 volt system and upgraded my converter to one that does a better job of charging the batteries quicker (PD4655), when using a generator for short bursts. As the batteries charge up, the WFCO converter, a common OEM converter, will drop the voltage and the last bit of charging takes longer.
I also added a system for checking/filling the batteries that is pretty slick and just takes a couple of minutes and does both at once.
fill system
fill pump
The connector for the fill system sits in one of the wire access holes in the new battery box I had to buy to hold the new 6 volt batteries.
I bought the batteries (SLIGC115, 230 AH Duracell) from Batteries + Bulbs, they had a 10% off coupon for internet orders and the pair were $197.98 + tax and any state/local fees and picked I them up locally.
Costco had the interstate GC2 batteries, but they were less AH rated than the Duracell and not much cheaper.
-Brian
__________________
2014 Bullet Premier 22RBPR - let the camping commence!
2013 F150 Platinum - 5.0 - 3.55 ELD + towing package
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08-15-2017, 11:20 PM
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#32
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: tucson
Posts: 303
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best converter looks like it has good prices
i dont mind spending 200 a battery for sealed ones
is there any kind of meter that would kill the batt power to the trailer if the batteries get to a certain low point? seems that would be useful
put water in all these and have them on the chargers now
so even the newer WFCO like in my 2015 is not that great? guess i thought from some old reading the older ones were not great but the newer ones are more stages or something and ok?
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2015 Outback Terrain 230
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08-16-2017, 04:32 PM
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#33
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Sands
Posts: 70
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I installed a meter like this one
http://r.ebay.com/620xeU
Not sure how to use it yet. But you can set a minimum voltage and use a relay to open the circuit and protect the batteries.
I just use it to see what each item draws. I will figure it out on where to set the battery capacity according to the voltage left.
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
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08-16-2017, 05:52 PM
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#34
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 409
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cvin
Doing research found my model of dometic frig has a 12 volt on all the time heat strip in it to help with moisture around the doors...
Older models i guess have a switch to turn this off for when you are boondocking
Newer ones they eliminated the switch- oh joy
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As for the dometic fridge, the connector plug for the 12v heater is right behind the light fixture. An automotive interior panel puller will let you remove the light fixture and pull the plug in less than five minutes.

Light removed: You can see the connector (large red wire) that I disconnected.

Light re-installed: I left the connector visible.
****Make sure the fridge is NOT cold when you pull the light. ****
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08-17-2017, 03:47 AM
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#35
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Central San Joaguin Valley, CA
Posts: 2,117
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If you search the forum, there was a thread some time ago that explained how to wire a switch into the circuit for the heating strip.
__________________

Jack & Marty
2018 Laredo 298 SRL
2011 F-250 SB Crew Cab 4x4 6.7L
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08-17-2017, 04:07 AM
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#36
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 409
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jsmith948
If you search the forum, there was a thread some time ago that explained how to wire a switch into the circuit for the heating strip. 
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There are a hundred internet threads on this. My method preserves the warranty and is easily undone. A similar tap connector would easily allow a switch addition. Not everyone is comfortable cutting wires in thier fridge.
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
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08-17-2017, 04:15 AM
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#37
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Austin, Tx
Posts: 1,910
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cvin
I have 2 of the biggest deep cycle on here from autozone...
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Are you sure the batteries are true deep cycle and not "all purpose" batteries?
There is a difference.
__________________
2011 Outback 277RL
2013 F250 XLT Crew Cab 6.2L
Bitter Gun Owner
Bitter Clinger
Armed Infidel
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08-17-2017, 06:09 AM
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#38
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Gone Traveling
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Highland, IL
Posts: 512
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Landry
Are you sure the batteries are true deep cycle and not "all purpose" batteries?
There is a difference.
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That is where I was heading with my question earlier in the thread.
Buying at AutoZone? I doubt they are deep cycle. 12 volt? Odds are even less they are deep cycle.
Running 10 days on batteries sounds pretty good to me with all the parasitic loads a camper has. The batteries were probably run down too far which is why they are dead.
You can't just run on batteries and ignore them. You have to know your capacity, loads and monitor/charge them.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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08-17-2017, 07:58 AM
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#39
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,073
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cvin
so even the newer WFCO like in my 2015 is not that great? guess i thought from some old reading the older ones were not great but the newer ones are more stages or something and ok?
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I bought this converter, from best converter, it was just the board assembly and it fit right in the WFCO power center.
My old WFCO had failed and the dual 12V interstate batteries were toast, so my decision was pretty simple.
The WFCO was only a few weeks past the 2 year warranty and they sent me a new MBA assembly, which I sold to a member here and that offset some of the cost for the the new converter
I read somewhere the Progressive converter stays in boost mode longer than the WFCO and that allows you to get more of a charge into your batteries, if you are running your generator for just a couple of hours to charge them.
-Brian
__________________
2014 Bullet Premier 22RBPR - let the camping commence!
2013 F150 Platinum - 5.0 - 3.55 ELD + towing package
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08-17-2017, 08:15 AM
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#40
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: tucson
Posts: 303
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I dont know about the marine deep cycle at auto zone, the trailer had one of those group 29 in it and my trailer guy added a group 27 of the same type...
Both batteries took a charge and seem fine on my ctek smart charger but it is all moot because the one that was in the trailer when i bought that was supposed to be relatively new is leaking battery acid out the sides
My mechanic thinks he can get me 2-6 volt interstate for 100 each, just found that case leaking this morning and leave tomorrow to head back north, so if he can get these 6 volt wet today then i will just have to do that
Will keep you guys up to date
__________________
2015 Outback Terrain 230
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