Quote:
Originally Posted by Moosure
pgandw - A couple of questions if you don't mind - Did you put your 2 six volt batteries in a box? If so which one did you use? How did you mount the set up?
I'm thinking of switching to two 6v batteries also.
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Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. When I bought my A-frame, I had the dealer do a dual 12V battery install as part of the dealer prep. He used a commercial box for both batteries mounted behind the propane tanks, and I believe (not sure), he had to reroute the propane line under the battery box. The box wasn't really big enough for the 2 Interstate Group 24s the dealer supplied - the battery edges overlapped.
I had 5 problems with the install and original equipment, causing me to end up where I am today.
1) No shutoff switch so I was removing one of the battery cables after each trip. Because of the 12V batteries, I bought a marine dual battery switch, but I never got around to installing until the other problems. I eventually mounted it on the end of the battery box, and use it frequently.
2) Propane leaked at the pigtail connection to the A-frame piping. We could smell it, but since it was outside, the leak never set off the propane detector. Dealer fixed right away - showed me the defective union fitting.
3) Unbeknownst to me for a long time, the WFCO converter never went into trickle mode. Found this out taking voltage measurements when I had the battery problems. May or may not have contributed to the fire. Ended up replacing the WFCO with a Progressive Dynamics unit rather than getting a warranty replacement. Not sure whether the WFCO ever went into bulk mode or not - I never caught it, and only heard the WFCO cooling fan once. The PD converter works great in all 3 modes. I get barely audible capacitor squeal when the converter first turns on. The cooling fan is very quiet.
4) The single tie down strap for the dual battery box cover was inadequate for the crosswinds while towing in Eastern Colorado and Nebraska. The winds ripped the battery cover off, never to be seen again. I made a new wooden cover for the battery box - still with a single strap - which also blew away. I made a second cover of wood, with eyes for 2 bungee cords to secure it. This has worked well.
5) I eventually had an electrical fire in the battery box when I reconnected the 2 12V batteries in parallel after trying to charge them separately with a separate battery charger - the battery fuses had blown in the WFCO converter for unknown reasons. The parallel cables glowed cherry red from the current between the 2 batteries at different voltages. The heat of the cables was enough to cause the hydrogen venting out the batteries to flame. I was able to grab some lineman's pliers and cut the cables, which caused the fire to die out.
The battery tops had holes and were molten, the cables were charred and melted. The battery box was unharmed, but I was pretty shaken.
After careful measuring, I found the Costco Interstate GC-2 batteries would fit tightly in the box, and were the cheapest way to replace the batteries ($150 for the pair). I replaced the cables, and installed the cut-off switch. I also wired in a voltmeter with a switch just inside the entrance door beside the stereo.
The GC-2 batteries and the PD converter work wonderfully, and I can check battery or converter status at any time with the voltmeter.
Photos below. The battery cutoff switch photo won't display correctly.
Fred W
2014 A122 Rockwood A-frame
2008 Hyundai Entourage minivan
camping Colorado and adjacent states one weekend at a time