Second Battery for new 2017 Flagstaff 27BHWS

[clintbonnie73]

Originally Posted by J007

One last question, what are people doing to keep an eye on there battery levels? Is there a good piece of hardware, that i can install that I don't have to keep pulling out the Multi-meter?

I would suggest buying one of these for a quick check of the voltage .. and it also has charging capabilities for smart phones, etc.. (Amazon.com) (you can just leave it plugged it all the time)

https://www.amazon.com/Charger-Voltm...ords=12v+meter

[boondocking]

Originally Posted by FFred

As most batts will loose 1% per day internally, just sitting.

You must have been talking with the OP's dealer about batteries.

At that rate of discharge my batteries should be totally dead in the spring.
My pair of 6v lose 15% charge after sitting outside disconnected for 5 months in the winter. The trolling motor batteries kept inside lose 25% in the same period.

[camaraderie]

Boondocking has it right. At ROOM temperature ...WET CELL batts lose about 10-15% per month... In cold weather that can drop to a few % per month.
If you have long term winter storage needs...an AGM battery will lose 1/10 of what a wet cell would....but even a fully charged wet cell with the negative disconnected will last all winter without falling below 50% charge. And a full charged battery freezes at 90 degrees BELOW zero. An 80% discharged one freezes above zero...so it's best to keep the batteries over 60% in hard freeze areas where you want them to be safe to at least 20 below 0.

[cmac7203]

I, too have will be converting to a dual battery setup. I have a 26BHXL that I am converting from a single 12v to 2, 6V Trojan T-125s in series. Hopefully I am not hijacking the thread...does anyone have a recommendation on a good quality, digital, multi-phase charger? Yes, I will get a hydrometer also. Thanks!

[camaraderie]

With a pair of golf cart batts...you'll have roughly 200 amp hours of battery life. Wet cells are most efficiently charged at 20-25% of their rated amp hours so something in the 45-55 watt range with 3 stage charging AND an EQ phase would be a good choice. The IOTA DLS-45 with smart IQ....or the Progressive 9245 with charge wizard would be excellent choices.

[cmac7203]

Thanks Camaraderie! I checked on those and they are not portable. I should have specified portable in my original post.

[johnbryanpeters]

Why would one choose a pair of 6 V golf cart batteries over, say, a single 12 V AGM? Is it simply cost?

[cmac7203]

I am choosing 6v B/C I boondock 40% of the time and the higher amounts of amps ensure I will have enough juice at the end of an evening after running heat and my CPAP. Also...just personal preference. I will get more cycles out of them in the long run.

[camaraderie]

Originally Posted by cmac7203

Thanks Camaraderie! I checked on those and they are not portable. I should have specified portable in my original post.

I guess I'm confused. WHAT is a portable charger?? Is it one of those jump starter things with a handle or one of those mini chargers that puts out a lousy charge and is not hard wired to the batteries?? Or is it one of those chargers on wheels you see in the auto shops?
I can't figure out what you are thinking to do especially when you rely on a CPAP and need to replenish 100 amp hours when you get to 50%. I'm prolly misunderstanding something.

[cmac7203]

Yep...one,of those crappy things. I'm afraid that wiring isn't my strong suit. There are some,deep,cycle portables out there that will do 3 phase deep cycle charging. No wheels. That's why the 6V deep cycles. Charge them up next morning with a generator. Just didn't want to go to shop and pay ungodly dollars to have it put on. I do the merits of the links you sent...just scared I will do it wrong and get zapped or zap someone else. I have no problem being challenged...keep the input coming b/c it helps sharpen my understanding. ;-)

[boondocking]

I use a Schumacker 40 amp charger, works great.

[camaraderie]

Originally Posted by cmac7203

Yep...one,of those crappy things. I'm afraid that wiring isn't my strong suit. There are some,deep,cycle portables out there that will do 3 phase deep cycle charging. No wheels. That's why the 6V deep cycles. Charge them up next morning with a generator. Just didn't want to go to shop and pay ungodly dollars to have it put on. I do the merits of the links you sent...just scared I will do it wrong and get zapped or zap someone else. I have no problem being challenged...keep the input coming b/c it helps sharpen my understanding. ;-)

First, you need a modern 3 stage charger with an EQ cycle to take good care of those batts and you need a solid connection to them which is not a pair of battery clamps. You also don't wanna have to remove the caps and be venting H2 from a bulk charger.
The Iota and Progessive Chargers simply plug into any electrical outlet & out the other side you just run a black and red battery cable to the positive and negative terminals on your new "12V" battery. Done AND you'll save a LOT of generator run time.

The other thing I suggest you do whichever way you go... is get a true battery monitor so you can tell the EXACT state of your battery at all times. It will tell you how many amp hours are left at the present rate of draw, it will tell you the moment the batteries are "full". It will tell you the amp draw of the various things you use and when it is time to recharge. Cost about $150 ...Victron BMV700 or Trimetric but the Victron is cheaper and smaller.
Installation is 3 wires and a short battery cable you can get from autozone... once you have the hole cut for the read-out panel...the rest of it takes less than 15 minutes. Here's a video on the install... he spent more time on woodwork than hookups!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuiwotyx3Wg

[cmac7203]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

First, you need a modern 3 stage charger with an EQ cycle to take good care of those batts and you need a solid connection to them which is not a pair of battery clamps. You also don't wanna have to remove the caps and be venting H2 from a bulk charger.
The Iota and Progessive Chargers simply plug into any electrical outlet & out the other side you just run a black and red battery cable to the positive and negative terminals on your new "12V" battery. Done AND you'll save a LOT of generator run time.

The other thing I suggest you do whichever way you go... is get a true battery monitor so you can tell the EXACT state of your battery at all times. It will tell you how many amp hours are left at the present rate of draw, it will tell you the moment the batteries are "full". It will tell you the amp draw of the various things you use and when it is time to recharge. Cost about $150 ...Victron BMV700 or Trimetric but the Victron is cheaper and smaller.
Installation is 3 wires and a short battery cable you can get from autozone... once you have the hole cut for the read-out panel...the rest of it takes less than 15 minutes. Here's a video on the install... he spent more time on woodwork than hookups!

Wow...this is super helpful. Thanks so much!

[J007]

The more I'm on this sight, the more money keeps going out the door on all these great modes. Thanks for this info.

[cmac7203]

Right?!

[J007]

Well worth it though!!!

[J007]

Ok, I ended up going with two 6V Interstate batteries and you guys talked me into a Victron 702 battery monitor. I got a good deal on PKYS on the Victron and ended up buying the blue tooth adapter the day after. Not if the 25th of this month would just get her, so we can to pick up the rig, even though we are getting 12-18 inches of snow tomorrow. I guess I'll be snow-blowing a good parking spot in the yard for when it arrives. Now I just need to figure out a good setup for solar. Since it's pre-wired for Zamp, I was thinking of going that route, but would appreciate your opinions.

Thanks for all the help so far on the battery selection and monitoring unit.

[boondocking]

If I were you I would shop elsewhere. Zamp products are way overpriced.

Example:
Zamp 160 watt portable - $780
Eco-Worthy 200 watt portable - $350

[J007]

Boondocking... Thanks... That's kind of what I was thinking after reading a bunch tonight. I'll check out the Eco-worthy. I was also looking at the Renogy panels.

[boondocking]