What am I missing...trying to install 2 6 volt batteries?

[Coaster51]

I have looked all over for the hidden circuit breaker and couldn't find one. Here are some shots I took of the various locations I looked.

[Dan50]

Originally Posted by Exlimey

Just got got back from the FROG rally. They had a seminar on electrical 101. The technician that gave the seminar greatly advised against using two 6 volt batteries. It has to do with the voltage range needed for the converter. They can drop below the required voltage much easier than a single 12 volt battery.

Next time you see this guy tell him he's an idiot.

[spaach]

In your picture IMG_3348.jpg you show the main DC breakers. Did you find voltage on both sides of them? These are normally the ones that will take out the whole inside of a trailer. Feel for the button on the bottom of them.

[harleybiker]

I have used two 6v deep cycle Interstate batteries in series for 6 years with no problem, and I assume many RV'ers do.

[bob213]

3rd picture with battery disconnect. Right(red) wire from disconnect appears to go to red lower/grey upper resettable breaker. Look for black button on side of it and push to reset.

[genehorn]

Check to see if you accidently reversed polarity of the batteries, make sure the positive lead connects to the positive post on the battery.

[OldBob]

Most of the RVers I know including myself have been using 2 or more 6v golf cart batteries (Trojan T105s in my case) for many, many years. There is no issue with converters, inverters or any of the like. Multiple 6v golf cart batteries give you much greater amp/hours and longevity. Each cell in a battery produces 2 volts. This is why a 6v battery has 3 cells and a 12v battery has 6. The more lead between each cell the more amp/hour potential a battery has. Thinner lead plates allow for a fast, massive discharge of energy which is what you need to start a car (for instance). A 6v golf cart battery usually weighs more than a 12v battery of the same size because it has much thicker lead plates between the cells which allows for a slower, longer lasting discharge. This is why 2 or 4 six volt golf cart batteries are superior to 12v batteries for RV usage.

Some "do gooder" electrical technician can tell me why I shouldn't be using 6v batteries but I have dozens of years of experience that tells me he doesn't know what he is talking about. Use what works best for you. In MY case I'll always use 6v Trojans.

[Exlimey]

I think I'll keep 2 cents to myself around here from now on. The tech at FR does this for a living and I trust him. See ya.

[boondocking]

[pmsherman]

Your photo showing the "Battery Disconnect" seems to have two circuit breakers in it. I suspect that the first one (closest to the camera) feeds power to the jacks which are working and the second one feeds everything else in the trailer.

With operating jacks and nothing else working, I'd suspect that the second breaker is tripped and needs to be reset. If there's +12V on the side of that breaker that has multiple wires attached to it, then something else towards the distribution box is the issue.

Phil

[Coaster51]

I would like to thank everyone for their help and suggestions on my issue. Being a novice I wasn't sure what to look for or where, until you guys sent ideas, pictures and comments.

I was finally able to locate a tiny reset on a circuit breaker in the pinbox and voila, everything works again! Now I'll be able to sleep tonight!

Thanks again, everyone!

[OldBob]

Originally Posted by Exlimey

I think I'll keep 2 cents to myself around here from now on. The tech at FR does this for a living and I trust him. See ya.

Exlimey,

We NEED your 2 cents worth and everyone else's so please don't keep them to yourself. Sharing ideas and opinions is healthy and very educational. Often times there are many right answers and one person's right answer may be the wrong answer for someone else. Keep those 2 cents coming!

[twoclaws]

Originally Posted by Exlimey

Just got got back from the FROG rally. They had a seminar on electrical 101. The technician that gave the seminar greatly advised against using two 6 volt batteries. It has to do with the voltage range needed for the converter. They can drop below the required voltage much easier than a single 12 volt battery.

Exlimley, yep your are correct! This was said and he cautioned on type of batteries used if you have a household refer in your Rv. Brian is more than just a tech for FR. Also I believe he said a fully charged "12 volt" battery actually is 13 something volts. And 2 six volts do not produce the same voltage as a single 12 v.

[N6ZCM]

Not saying to believe me or this FR tech... BUT
Google it...

One 12 volt battery fully charged is 12.7 volts, it takes 13.8 volts to charge it.
Two 6 volt batteries in series is 12.7 volts and takes 13.8 to charge it.

One 12 volt battery consists of 6, 2.11666 volt cells to equal 12.7 volts.

6 volt batteries have 3, 2.11666 volt cells which is 6.35 volts, so to get 12.7 volts it takes 2 6 volt, so the same amount of cells to get to 12.7 volts... they still need 13.8 volts to charge to full capacity.

There is no difference in voltage between 1, 12 volt or 2, 6 volt in series.
The only thing that is different is the Amp Hour... which 2, 6 volt will take a little longer to charge to full capacity if drained to 40% of its capacity!

The largest and best Deep cycle 12 volt battery has just over 100ah of storage, so if you use 2, that will give you just over 200ah, compared to two 6 volt in series in equal size and quality can have over 300ah of storage!

Research 40 foot and larger motorhomes 99% of the time they have Four 6 volt batteries, 2 in series then those parallel(that is around 700ah of storage), and they have inverter to run all of the appliances except AC, then the generator starts up to re-charge the batteries and run the AC

[ScottBrownstein]

Originally Posted by twoclaws

... And 2 six volts do not produce the same voltage as a single 12 v.

No, not at all. A 12 volt battery has 6 chemical cells, a 6 volt battery has 3 chemical cells. Two six volt batteries, connected in series has the identical number of identical chemical cells that a 12v battery has and is indistinguishable from a 12 volt unit by any test you can run. It is a 12 volt lead acid battery in all ways.

[boondocking]

Wow, "Brian the Tech for FR" needs to go to the battery university and learn the basics.

[510Rick]

Dang my kid even knows this stuff . He learned it playing with RC cars .lol. But we use Lithium Polymer LiPo batteries .

[johnbryanpeters]

Originally Posted by Exlimey

Just got got back from the FROG rally. They had a seminar on electrical 101. The technician that gave the seminar greatly advised against using two 6 volt batteries. It has to do with the voltage range needed for the converter. They can drop below the required voltage much easier than a single 12 volt battery.

As an electrical engineer with considerable experience in this area, I'd like to see substantiation of that claim.

[richp]

Hi,

In a related episode, I was chatting with the owner of a brand new Champaign, parked behind me in the infield. One of his service items was a wiring problem.

He told me the technicians examined his system and found his dealer had installed two six volt batteries. They advised that was part of his problem, and that he needed two 12 volt batteries. So he was going to purchase them there on their advice, and go back to his dealer for some kind of adjustment.

I was puzzled then, and was even more puzzled after the seminar. But that didn't stop me from reflecting on decades of successful use of Trojan T-105s, with both stock and upgraded aftermarket converters.

FWIW.

Rich Phillips

[CHICKDOE]

just what did the forest river guy say and how did he explain it? as far as I know 12.7 volts is 12.7 volts however it gets there. and what is the statement about having to watch what type of battery you use if you have a residential refrigerator? what do you have to watch? the type of battery (flooded, agm, lithium, etc). the amp-hour capacity of the battery? the voltage (6 vs 12)? the charger capabilities? just what was this guy trying to sell? forest river and all other manufacturers ship the units without batteries and the dealers install whatever they feel like installing. so if forest river is so concerned about the batteries, why do they leave it to the dealers to decide what gets installed. does anybody have a service bulletin from forest river to the dealers that dealers what the concerns are? i's like to see it.