Planning Battery Upgrade--Need advice

[brooklyncowgirl]

We own a Tracer Air 252 trailer. The trailer came equipped with an Exide group 24 dual purpose marine battery. We've found that even without using lights (we're planning to upgrade to LED) that we had to run the generator every day when camping without shore power.

Since our plans are to do a lot of boondocking and camping in national parks and forests, etc. we want to upgrade our battery capacity and add a portable solar panel and use the generator for backup when solar fails.

The battery bracket is on the tongue behind the gas canisters. It consists of two pieces of L iron, the shorter of which is 26" set 9" apart welded onto the tongue from underneath (I'm a bit concerned about the strength)

The cheapest option would be to add another group 24 battery. I'd like to go with a true deep cycle battery instead of a dual purpose. Can I mix the two or would I have to buy two deep cycle batteries?

I'm also looking at the possibility of going with two 6 volt golf cart batteries. These should fit in the space we have and give us more power. Batteries Plus near me sells Duracell 6 volt batteries at a pretty good price. This would be more expensive but give us more battery for the buck.

At any rate, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[elundquist]

In grouping batteries you should use batteries of the same type and age. One rotten apple will spoil the bushel!

A weaker battery will have a negative effect on a stronger battery. If you want extended battery use for boon docking go with new 6 volt deep cycle batteries. Just make sure your charging system and solar system is compatible with the batteries you select.


Erik Lundquist

[Mountndream]

Alot of people here use 2 6v Trojan t105's. they have 225 amp hours and if you look around can be had for relatively little more than standard 6 volts batteries. if you compare the amp hours, you get ALOT more with the T105s

[f5moab]

I run 2-deep cycle series 27 batteries and can run the heater for a number of nights in temps that drop below 30 deg. Understand you have a bigger trailer, but I bet it is more airtight than my popup.

As for 6-volt batteries. I looked at those, but if one failed while camping, your totally out of luck for running anything in the trailer on 6-volts. If one of my 12-volts fails, I still have 12 volts via the second battery.

[boondocking]

I have had (2) GC2 6 volt for a few years now and I am very pleased with them. I don't worry about one dying, the chances of that happening are very rare.

[Gregg Willow]

If you do not have room for two 6v's or want to stay in the 12v world the Trojan T1275 has been a great battery for me. It is 12v, 150ah @ 20 hr rate and is heavy (82lbs). It has thick plates like the 6v's. I switched over to all LED lighting when I first got my camper and can go for about 4 days with conservative use before needing a charge.

T-1275 | Trojan Battery Company

[DaveSchwartz]

My previous TT had dual 12V Interstate Marine/RV deep cycle batteries, as large as would fit in the battery trays (don't know what the group was since that trailer was totalled out by a deer 2 years ago). Never had a problem or ran short on power in 9 years.

[TURBS]

I have had and used dual interstate srm24 batteries for 5 years now with great success.

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded
2011 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "27 nights"

[brooklyncowgirl]

Originally Posted by elundquist

In grouping batteries you should use batteries of the same type and age. One rotten apple will spoil the bushel!

A weaker battery will have a negative effect on a stronger battery. If you want extended battery use for boon docking go with new 6 volt deep cycle batteries. Just make sure your charging system and solar system is compatible with the batteries you select.


Erik Lundquist

Thanks, so it looks like we're in for two new batteries no matter what.

[elundquist]

Yea

I am waiting for my current battery to die before upgrading to a bank of 6 volt deep cycle batteries.




Erik Lundquist

[RubberNail]

I 2nd Turbs. Best bang for the buck are 2 Interstate SRM 24 batteries. About a 20% premium over Walmart batteries, but well worth the difference. Go by the Interstate Battery outlet and pick one up. Compare the weight to the other suppliers. Weight difference is in the lead, and lead is battery life.

[hankpac]

I have used 6 volt systems for the last three trailers (10 years) and have been very happy. I think it is a matter of preference, if you can get an equivalent number of amp hours. that is the true measure of how much power you have to run things.
Adding solar is a sound idea. We have a cheap set of two panels, that make around 19 volts, running though a controller, that keeps it at 14 volts, and keeps the batteries well charged. They aren't mounted, so I just put them on top of the rig when I park and put them back in the box when we leave. I rarely run the generator, and we boondock for up to a month at a time (archery elk season in Oregon). The genny only runs if there is a real cold front for several days, or if we need to run the water heater or A/C.
Good luck.

[brooklyncowgirl]

Originally Posted by Gregg Willow

If you do not have room for two 6v's or want to stay in the 12v world the Trojan T1275 has been a great battery for me. It is 12v, 150ah @ 20 hr rate and is heavy (82lbs). It has thick plates like the 6v's. I switched over to all LED lighting when I first got my camper and can go for about 4 days with conservative use before needing a charge.

T-1275 | Trojan Battery Company

Thanks, do you use one or two of these batteries. A single battery at 150 AH would be about double my single 24 group battery's capacity.

[brooklyncowgirl]

Originally Posted by TURBS

I have had and used dual interstate srm24 batteries for 5 years now with great success.

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded
2011 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "27 nights"

Thanks for the input. I looked on the Interstate web site and didn't see the amp hour rating.

[Mountndream]

Originally Posted by brooklyncowgirl

Thanks, do you use one or two of these batteries. A single battery at 150 AH would be about double my single 24 group battery's capacity.

remember that you only really get half that amount of Amp hours on a 12 volt battery

[boondocking]

Originally Posted by brooklyncowgirl

Thanks for the input. I looked on the Interstate web site and didn't see the amp hour rating.

That one is 84 ah, so you have approx 42 usable amp hours.

[brooklyncowgirl]

Thanks guys. I Appreciate the input. Looks like size wise We're limited to 2 6 volt, 2 group 24 12 volt or one bigger 12 volt. That and the fact that we are cash strapped newbies and therefore need moron proof DIY. 6 volt sounds good and I've seen the wiring diagrams it doesn't look too complicated but what happens if we screw it up?

[Gregg Willow]

Originally Posted by brooklyncowgirl

Thanks, do you use one or two of these batteries. A single battery at 150 AH would be about double my single 24 group battery's capacity.

Yes, I just use one. It is the capacity of my a-frame at the hitch. That is the reason why I went with one battery but needed some oomph.

You are a smart newbie by creating a thread like this and being informed. Best of luck with your choice.

[Gregg Willow]

A good read here...

What does “20 Amp Hr rate� mean?

[yvesm]

I use 2 Trojan 24 tmx deep cycle batteries. Dual purpose batteries are not as good as a battery made for deep discharge.