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Old 12-29-2010, 02:37 AM   #1
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More batteries

I like to boondock so I'm going to install more battery capacity. I'm sure others here have installed larger battery banks. Where did you put the batteries?

I'm familiar with DC power systems from my work. I've got lots of battery options, work connections help with this too.

I'd love to see some pictures of battery bank installs in your georgetown.

I'm going to install an inverter too, anyone have good pictures of their inverter install? Where did you install your inverter?
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Old 12-29-2010, 08:26 AM   #2
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I have a 5th wheel so my installation may not be very helpful (except as an example). What ever you do make sure you:

1) Have a battery set disconnect switch
2) Wire the house (+) cable to one battery and the house (-) cable to the other one.
Do this even if you have 2 12vDC batteries in parrallel to avoid over working the battery closest to the house connections.

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Old 12-29-2010, 08:39 AM   #3
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On my fiver I just took the front storage compartment and made it a giant battery box. I currently have 4 and probably next spring will have 6 deep cycles up there.
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Old 12-29-2010, 08:46 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donn View Post
On my fiver I just took the front storage compartment and made it a giant battery box. I currently have 4 and probably next spring will have 6 deep cycles up there.
Are they 6 or 12 volt batteries?

Remember to maintain even charging and discharging they have to be wired in "cells" so that the current flow is identical through each battery.
This will avoid overworking one battery and allowing the others to "loaf" along.

http://www.solarrvpanels.com/index.p...s-in-parallel/

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Old 12-29-2010, 09:00 AM   #5
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"I currently have 4 and probably next spring will have 6 deep cycles up there."

Six batteries !!??
That is a heck of a lot of extra weight, not to mention the cost of the batteries. I assume you do a lot of dry camping?
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Old 12-29-2010, 10:12 AM   #6
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We spend about half of our camping year "dry camping" and the campgrounds (FAMCAMPs) that we use have very restrictive "quiet hours."

Charging and maintaining the batteries is a significant part of my "chores."
We are also heavy "electronics" users after sundown, so we not only need lights, TV, surround sound, and computer; but since Florida has been freakin' COLD! the heater has to last the night.

So far 2 DC-24s have been plenty for us.
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Old 12-29-2010, 10:14 AM   #7
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herk, using all of those appliances, how long does a battery charge last?
Do you have 6 deep cycles?
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Old 12-29-2010, 01:51 PM   #8
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No, just the two 12 volt DC-24s.

It used to go flat pretty often until I put in the 2nd battery and learned how to manage the charge. See attachment.

Also the TM2025 monitoring system helps me manage the battery perfectly and I was able to better utilize the capacity I do have.

That is why I did the 100% conversion to LED lights. Now my battery lasts almost 10 times longer than previously.
Attached Files
File Type: pdf The 12 volt Side of Life.pdf (438.4 KB, 102 views)
File Type: pdf TM2025-User-Manual.pdf (243.0 KB, 72 views)
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Old 12-30-2010, 12:35 AM   #9
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I replaced the 2 stock 12volts with 4 6volts. Sorry no pictures until spring.

2 went into the stock location under the steps. The other 2 went into a vented battery box I built into the basement compartment in front of the door behind the passenger wheel. The basement on your DS is different than mine but I imagine you might be able to do the same thing. Venting is important if you put them in an enclosed space. Others have built battery racks up front in the engine compartment.
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Old 01-06-2011, 11:14 PM   #10
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Well I took the motorhome down to the local welding shop and had them cut out the old battery tray and install a new one large enough to hold the larger batteries. And four jars instead of just two.

Before and after pictures are below.
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Old 01-06-2011, 11:16 PM   #11
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Oh and right now I'm testing the old batteries (installed in March, 2010) and it looks like one of the two jars has a shorted cell. No wonder I didn't have much battery capacity.
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Old 01-07-2011, 09:54 AM   #12
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Excellent mod!
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Old 01-07-2011, 10:33 AM   #13
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I noticed there are no drain holes. Won't water (and road salt) collect there and rot out the trays? I would hate to see your batteries fall out one day.
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Old 01-07-2011, 12:40 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by herk7769 View Post
I noticed there are no drain holes. Won't water (and road salt) collect there and rot out the trays? I would hate to see your batteries fall out one day.
Very good point. You can't see it in the pictures but there is a gap under each cross-bar and an open slot at each of the four corners of the tray so water can drain.

I will also need to paint everything. But it's too cold right now. So it'll have to ride with no paint util spring, then I'll wire brush it all and hit it with rustolium. I plan to do that to the frame anyway.
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Old 01-07-2011, 01:14 PM   #15
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Then you thought of everything. Good job by the way.
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Old 01-07-2011, 11:02 PM   #16
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Put the batteries on the tray today. Wow am I sore! Also wired everything up, all works great.

The good news:
Old battery capacity: 110Ah (20hr rate)
New battery capacity: 536Ah (20hr rate)

The bad news:
Old battery bank weight: 108lbs
New battery bank weight: 400lbs
** Not including tray

So why did I use such heavy batteries? Well I already had them so they where free. Four Torjan T-145's which would have given me 520Ah for only 288lbs. But those four batteries would have cost me ~$800. So free won out over weight.

On the other hand there is no maintenance with the batteries I installed.
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Old 01-08-2011, 07:32 AM   #17
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Excellent job wiring it up too. Very neat installation and correctly wired (House + to one battery and house - to the last one in the bank).
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Old 01-08-2011, 12:24 PM   #18
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I have two 12 volt batteries in our 5th wheel. They are on either side of the front storage bay, each positive lead goes to a single post ( same post) on a 30 amp circuit breaker and than to a disconnect switch and than on into the camper system. Both batteries negative cables are grounded to the camper chassis, is this ok or should they have run the wiring some other way?
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Old 01-08-2011, 01:30 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by f150k View Post
I have two 12 volt batteries in our 5th wheel. They are on either side of the front storage bay, each positive lead goes to a single post ( same post) on a 30 amp circuit breaker and than to a disconnect switch and than on into the camper system. Both batteries negative cables are grounded to the camper chassis, is this ok or should they have run the wiring some other way?
To ensure even charging and discharging, the total resistance (wires and internal resistance) from the charging source to the positive terminal of the battery bank; through the bank (or cell) to the negative terminal; to Frame Ground must be identical. Now, in your setup the split to the two batteries begins at the post of the 30 amp breaker (CB) and ends at the Frame.

In order to keep the current flow to the two batteries identical the wire lengths from the CB post to each battery must be equal and the length of the ground wires from the ground battery post to the frame must be equal.

Since your system has two different grounds, you must be very diligent to make sure the ground connections of both batteries are good. Rust can increase resistance at the ground connection and isolate one of the batteries without any indication to you (except decreased capacity). It will just work the "good ground" battery much harder while allowing the other to "loaf."

While all that may not seem like a big deal, remember that deep cycle battery life is determined by the number and depth of each charge/discharge cycle. If one battery is being discharged deeper than the other continuously, that battery will need replacement before the other one. Since they much be switched out in sets, you will not get full usage out of the "loafing" battery".

You might think you can rotate the batteries through the two "stations" but once they get "out of sync" the weaker battery will continue to be over worked and the stronger one will continue to loaf due to increased internal resistance in the weak battery.

Whew... mud?
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Old 01-08-2011, 02:25 PM   #20
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Lou thank you, Ok let me see if I have this right. 1st can I keep the batteries in their present location or should I move them? 2nd could I remove the one cable from the 30 amp breaker and run it to the positive post on the other battery and also the same with the negative and then to chassis ground. Or should I move the battery next to each other, hook the positive to positive and than to the disconnect switch, and the same with the negative side,than to ground. All I would have to do is plug the vent for the one side of the cargo bay and hook the two in one vent if I move the batteries.
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