6 volt questions

[wakamicamper]

I just switched over from 1 x 12 volt battery to 2 x 6 volt batteries on the advice of a long time camping friend. I understand the benefits involved, but have discovered something that has me wondering.

My 12 volt battery charger and the 12 volt Battery Tender Plus equipment is now useless for charging 6 volt batteries. I have already ordered a 6 volt version of the Battery Tender Plus, but I also have a 2000 watt Honda generator and a 4 ft by 2 ft solar panel that I use for trickle charging on sunny days.

When using the generator, which battery do I hook up the power leads to?
On the solar panel, again the same question. I am taking a hard look at the solar panel, as I now believe that the generator is more useful. Is it even safe to use the generator on the 6 volt configuration?

Which is better, parallel or serial hookups on the 6 volts, and why. I am presently waiting for the dealer to get back to me on which setup they did.

I should have thought about this before the switchover, but I didn't know that the 12 volt charger wouldn't work on a 6 volt battery.

[bikendan]

my battery charger has a 12/6 volt switch.

why don't you just hook the trailer's shore line to the generator to recharge the batteries.'
you have a 3-stage charger in your converter and it'll charge the batteries almost as well as a stand alone unit.

unless you already have the batteries out and want to charge them.
6volts are wired in series.
you need to read "the 12 volt side of life".
here's a link:

The 12volt Side of Life (Part 1)

[LadyWindrider]

Well, not as confusing as you make it, and your 12 volt stuff will work just fine. The batteries must be hooked up in series to get the proper 12 volts to all the right places. While hooked in series, you can charge both at the same time with a 12 volt charging source. Your batteries should be wired as follows:

positive cable {+ battery A -} jumper cable {+ battery B -} frame ground.

You just hook your charger from battery A plus to battery B - and should be fine. Use a voltmeter to help figure this out, or trace the jumper wire between the batteries, and use the other two post.
One last thought, for a 12 volt charger on this configuration, you will always have the Positive cable on a Positive battery terminal, and the Negative cable on a Negative battery terminal. Any other way is wrong.

[Herk7769]

If you take the batteries out; just take the jumper out too.

Connect one + terminal to the - terminal of the 2nd battery and then use your charger across both batteries. + on one and - on the other. That way its the same as a GIANT 12 volt single battery.