Adding Dual Gel Batteries - Have Questions

[sherdep]

I have a Mini Lite 2306 - it has the WFCO Model # WF-8955 PEC

I looked thru the manual and it doesnt state anything about the type of battery so my question is -

1 - will it matter using a Deep Cycle Gel Battery versus the normal Deep Cycle that has water in it?

2 - is there anything special I need to do to install two batteries other then + (plus) to + (plus) and - (minus) to - (minus) which will double the amps output.

3 - should I put drain holes in the bottom of the battery boxes to drain any water that gets into the box or not bother since it was made without holes?

Thanks in advanced for any info and suggestions are welcome

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by sherdep

I have a Mini Lite 2306 - it has the WFCO Model # WF-8955 PEC

I looked thru the manual and it doesn't state anything about the type of battery so my question is -

1 - will it matter using a Deep Cycle Gel Battery versus the normal Deep Cycle that has water in it?

2 - is there anything special I need to do to install two batteries other then + (plus) to + (plus) and - (minus) to - (minus) which will double the amps output.

3 - should I put drain holes in the bottom of the battery boxes to drain any water that gets into the box or not bother since it was made without holes?

Thanks in advanced for any info and suggestions are welcome

In my opinion:

1) Should make no different at all.

2) Yes there is. When you parallel two 12 volt batteries, the internal resistance of the batteries and the resistance of the connecting cables must be equal in order for the charging current into and out of the bank to be equal. If one has less resistance than the other, it will be worked harder and will wear out sooner than the other reducing the life of both and also reducing your bank capacity earlier than would have normally been the case. Connecting your batteries as shown will create and equal path through both batteries insuring equal charging and discharging. The two interconnects MUST be of equal length.

3) I would put drain holes in. Not too many, just enough so that when you flush out the box and wash down battery tops with baking soda it has a place to drain.

[sherdep]

Hey Lou
Thanks for the drawing.

Here is a question I forgot to ask - the trailer is wired with 8 Gauge wire and I bought 6 Gauge wire to attach the batteries together - do you thin the 6 gauge make any diffrence

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by sherdep

Hey Lou
Thanks for the drawing.

Here is a question I forgot to ask - the trailer is wired with 8 Gauge wire and I bought 6 Gauge wire to attach the batteries together - do you thin the 6 gauge make any difference

Here is my thought on that.

The maximum charging amps coming from your converter should never exceed 40 amps and the inline fuse limits it to that.

However, with two batteries you will eventually install an inverter. They draw huge amounts of amps over 150 amps potentially. 6 gauge wire is perfect for the short runs to your inverter and batteries.

Here is how I laid mine out.

[jim81147]

Herk , is there a diagram that explains everything that you have done there and what it all is? It looks quite complicated.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by jim81147

Herk , is there a diagram that explains everything that you have done there and what it all is? It looks quite complicated.

It is laid out as I would draw it. What questions do you have about it?

The horizontal thing is a "shunt" used by the Trimetric battery monitoring system. The red thing is the battery shutoff switch. The vertical item is the 150 amp fuse for the inverter. The switch kills power to the front landing gear (security and tamper prevention). The little red thing is the 40 amp auto-resetting fuse to the main 12VDC buss.

Off the buss are two green fuse holders for the main slides; a black fuse holder for the landing gear (now located above the switch in the lower photo) and the red wire to the camper's converter.