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Old 10-04-2015, 08:30 AM   #21
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Originally Posted by Leichardti View Post
The standard 12 volt interstate battery has gone bad in my parents 2014 Forest River 8289WS TT.

Debating if I should replace the battery, replace the battery and add a second 12 volt battery or upgrade to two 6 volt cart batteries like I have on my toy hauler.

The trailer will be plugged in most of the time when it is being used but there will be times when power will not be available.

I am not familiar with the electrical setup on the forest river.

Can upgrading to two 6 volts cause any problems or void warranty?
Any opinions?

Thank you for your time

I went back and read your original post and wanted to add a comment.

If I were only going to have 2 batteries they would be 12v for several reasons most of which have been noted here. If one of the batteries goes out you still have a 12V battery to get home on. With 2 6's and one goes your screwed.

I think 2 12's are better than 2 6's but 4 6's are better than 4 12's.
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Old 10-04-2015, 08:54 AM   #22
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Originally Posted by oldtool2 View Post
Look at AGM batteries. They are a sealed batteries so you don't need a vented battery box. They are more expensive but worth it.

Jim

Thanks Jim.


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Old 10-04-2015, 09:03 AM   #23
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I use 2 12volt odyssey "extreme" batteries and love them. These batteries can be depleted by 80% and still accept a charge. Since I have them stored in a diamond plate box, I love the no venting on the deep cycle batteries.
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Old 10-04-2015, 09:38 AM   #24
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Originally Posted by captainperry View Post
I use 2 12volt odyssey "extreme" batteries and love them. These batteries can be depleted by 80% and still accept a charge. Since I have them stored in a diamond plate box, I love the no venting on the deep cycle batteries.

I have put odyssey batteries in everything I can.
Was thinking rv as well, but hadn't heard anyone using them for that purpose. Good to hear.

Btw. I killed an odyssey. It can be done. Two years old, it was in my jeep, and I left something on for a few weeks. Would not come back.
Battery store replaced it, no questions asked!


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Old 10-05-2015, 07:39 PM   #25
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Originally Posted by leefl View Post
So the 12v are only 70 to 85 Ah each, but the 6v are 180 to 220 each ?!?

Remember that for 2x 12v in parallel you double the individual Ah rating, but for 2x 6v in series you don't, so it's just the per battery rating
This seems to be a subject many do not understand. Problem=1x6vdc bat/150amp hr. Two 6vdc bats/150amp hr in series=12vdc/150amp hr total. Three 6vdc bats/150amp hr in series=18vdc/150amp hrs total. Four 6vdc bats/150 amp hrs in series= 24vdc/150amp hrs total and so on.
The amp hr rating of a bat is AT THE VOLTAGE of the battery only. If you connect the 6vdc bats in parallel, you double the amp hrs and STAY at 6vdc. If you connect the 6vdc bats in series, you double the voltage, BUT THE AMP HRS REMAIN THE SAME AS ONE 6vdc BAT.
BTW, I'm not sure I've ever seen a 220 amp hr, 6vdc bat. Not saying they don't make them, just that I've never seen one.
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Old 10-06-2015, 06:33 AM   #26
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Originally Posted by Blackhat6mike View Post
This seems to be a subject many do not understand. Problem=1x6vdc bat/150amp hr. Two 6vdc bats/150amp hr in series=12vdc/150amp hr total. Three 6vdc bats/150amp hr in series=18vdc/150amp hrs total. Four 6vdc bats/150 amp hrs in series= 24vdc/150amp hrs total and so on.
The amp hr rating of a bat is AT THE VOLTAGE of the battery only. If you connect the 6vdc bats in parallel, you double the amp hrs and STAY at 6vdc. If you connect the 6vdc bats in series, you double the voltage, BUT THE AMP HRS REMAIN THE SAME AS ONE 6vdc BAT.
BTW, I'm not sure I've ever seen a 220 amp hr, 6vdc bat. Not saying they don't make them, just that I've never seen one.
That's what I was trying to explain to folks too, but I've given up.
As someone with electronics + electrical and CS degrees, it's infuriating trying to get folks to comprehend this

One last try: -
2x 12v batteries in series = 12v at double the listed Ah rating per battery
2x 6v batteries in series = 12v at just the listed Ah rating per battery
4x 6v battery (2 series pairs in parallel) = 12v at double the listed Ah rating per battery

No matter how you slice it, to get more juice from a 6v battery, it would have to be rated at more than twice the Ah capacity rating of the 12v battery (which may exist)

That being said, I never camp without power anyway so I'll stick with my single 12v for now. If/when it dies I'll go to the store and get another one :-P
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Old 10-06-2015, 07:21 AM   #27
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are you sure that aint 24 v..........you said" One last try: -
2x 12v batteries in series = 12v at double the listed Ah rating per battery"
To increase voltage, connect batteries in series. This will not increase the system capacity.
Example :
Two T-105, 6V Batteries rated at 225AH Connected in Series

System Voltage: 6V + 6V = 12V
System Capacity = 225AH

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Old 10-06-2015, 10:03 AM   #28
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I have never heard of hooking up two 12v batteries in series, that would give you 24 volts I have always thought, in parallel you get 12v only? What am I missing here? I think it called living on 12v or something like that, is where I read that and hook-up my two 12v batteries in parallel. Also why wouldn't I get double the AH? Isn't each battery supplying the rated amp hours. Now I'm confused.
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Old 10-06-2015, 10:20 AM   #29
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This thread is starting to look like a bucket full of wire.

Parallel= Hooking Positive to Positive and Negative to Negative= Voltage remains the same Amp Hours multiply


Series= Hooking Positive to Negitive and so on = Voltage multiplies Amp Hours remain the same.
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Old 10-06-2015, 02:39 PM   #30
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Originally Posted by deebarjay View Post
are you sure that aint 24 v..........you said" One last try: -
2x 12v batteries in series = 12v at double the listed Ah rating per battery"
To increase voltage, connect batteries in series. This will not increase the system capacity.
Example :
Two T-105, 6V Batteries rated at 225AH Connected in Series

System Voltage: 6V + 6V = 12V
System Capacity = 225AH

Ooops, typo, meant 2x 12v batteries in parallel. Thanks for spotting my stupid typo
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Old 10-06-2015, 02:40 PM   #31
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Originally Posted by gljurczyk View Post
I have never heard of hooking up two 12v batteries in series, that would give you 24 volts I have always thought, in parallel you get 12v only? What am I missing here? I think it called living on 12v or something like that, is where I read that and hook-up my two 12v batteries in parallel. Also why wouldn't I get double the AH? Isn't each battery supplying the rated amp hours. Now I'm confused.
Dumb typo, meant 2x 12v in parallel.
I should proof-read my own posts.
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Old 10-06-2015, 02:50 PM   #32
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Originally Posted by DKRITTER View Post
This thread is starting to look like a bucket full of wire.

Parallel= Hooking Positive to Positive and Negative to Negative= Voltage remains the same Amp Hours multiply


Series= Hooking Positive to Negitive and so on = Voltage multiplies Amp Hours remain the same.
Thank you....
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Old 10-07-2015, 11:52 AM   #33
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Originally Posted by leefl View Post
Dumb typo, meant 2x 12v in parallel.
I should proof-read my own posts.
"As someone with electronics + electrical and CS degrees, it's infuriating trying to get folks to comprehend."

Ok, BE NICE JIM! Slap my face! We all make mistakes sometimes.

Jim
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