Batteries - 6 or 12 volt?

[Superslo]

We just bought a 2005 Forest River Lexington. I'm going through the usual repairs of a used RV (We've owned many over the years.)
So I'm in a local RV parts/repair store talking batteries. The last batteries I replaced were on my 2001 Bounder. I put 2- 6 volt deep cells in that. We don't do a lot of 'dry camping' however the occasion arises enough where we pull of, call it a day and spend the night in a parking lot...
Anyway, this guy was telling me things I have never heard about auxiliary batteries. He said, I don't need 2 batteries if I'm usually on shore power, that the second battery would never get charged. He also said not to use 6 volt unless I'm going to put in solar.
I know enough about electricity and charging to know that if I use 2 batteries they both charge, 6 or 12 volt. Am I wrong? I never had any problem with the 2-6 volt in the Bounder (Except remembering to check the water after hot summers!). I'm leaning towards replacing the batteries in this one with 2- 6 volt, but I'm open to suggestions. Thanks.

[PhilFromMaine]

Originally Posted by Superslo

We just bought a 2005 Forest River Lexington. I'm going through the usual repairs of a used RV (We've owned many over the years.)
So I'm in a local RV parts/repair store talking batteries. The last batteries I replaced were on my 2001 Bounder. I put 2- 6 volt deep cells in that. We don't do a lot of 'dry camping' however the occasion arises enough where we pull of, call it a day and spend the night in a parking lot...
Anyway, this guy was telling me things I have never heard about auxiliary batteries. He said, I don't need 2 batteries if I'm usually on shore power, that the second battery would never get charged. He also said not to use 6 volt unless I'm going to put in solar.
I know enough about electricity and charging to know that if I use 2 batteries they both charge, 6 or 12 volt. Am I wrong? I never had any problem with the 2-6 volt in the Bounder (Except remembering to check the water after hot summers!). I'm leaning towards replacing the batteries in this one with 2- 6 volt, but I'm open to suggestions. Thanks.

Two 6v batteries, wired in series, for all practical purposes, are one 12 volt battery. It will charge with your 12 volt system converter.

[BehindBars]

Originally Posted by Superslo

We just bought a 2005 Forest River Lexington. I'm going through the usual repairs of a used RV (We've owned many over the years.)
So I'm in a local RV parts/repair store talking batteries. The last batteries I replaced were on my 2001 Bounder. I put 2- 6 volt deep cells in that. We don't do a lot of 'dry camping' however the occasion arises enough where we pull of, call it a day and spend the night in a parking lot...
Anyway, this guy was telling me things I have never heard about auxiliary batteries. He said, I don't need 2 batteries if I'm usually on shore power, that the second battery would never get charged. He also said not to use 6 volt unless I'm going to put in solar.
I know enough about electricity and charging to know that if I use 2 batteries they both charge, 6 or 12 volt. Am I wrong? I never had any problem with the 2-6 volt in the Bounder (Except remembering to check the water after hot summers!). I'm leaning towards replacing the batteries in this one with 2- 6 volt, but I'm open to suggestions. Thanks.

“This guy” talks a lot of nonsense. If you have two 12 volt batteries in parallel, or two 6 volt batteries in series, in both cases all batteries get charged. Funny, too, I had two factory supplied six volt batteries in my previous motorhome and it never had solar.

If you want two 6 volt batteries and your Lexington has the space for them, go for it.

[phillyg]

Guy doesn't know what he's talking about. I have six 6v batts in my golf car. They all charge at the same time, duh.

[Aussieguy]

Start with upgrading the battery to suit your camping style and power use
You can look at adding more options such as solar later


If you doing a weekend .... maybe a long weekend away.
Look at the Golf cart style battery GC2 (lead acid)


Lithium is now becoming a good priced option
you can use the existing converter (charger) if it can charge AGM
and buy a small lithium charger to use once in a while

or swap out the converter to a newer Lithium one (extra $200 -250)
You pay a bit more BUT you don't have to water the lithiums and they charge faster and last a lot longer...


If you go with 6v GC2 be aware of how they are installed
they need to be in series to give you 12v

Look some solar or a small generator if you want to start boondocking for more than a weekend / overnight

[Chuck_S]

It's not that hard.

A "12v battery" is actually six (6) 2v batteries connected in series in a handy box. 2+2+2+2+2+2=12.

A "6v battery" is, no surprise, actually three (3) 2v batteries connected in series in a handy box. 2+2+2=6.

Connect two "6v" batteries in series and you get six (6) 2v batteries connected in series but in two (2) boxes. 2+2+2 + 2+2+2 = (wait for it!) 12!

-- Chuck

[boondocking]

I would go with a pair of the 2+2+2 volt batteries.

I find that they are more durable than 12v. Mine have been going strong for the last 10 years.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by Superslo

We just bought a 2005 Forest River Lexington. I'm going through the usual repairs of a used RV (We've owned many over the years.)
So I'm in a local RV parts/repair store talking batteries. The last batteries I replaced were on my 2001 Bounder. I put 2- 6 volt deep cells in that. We don't do a lot of 'dry camping' however the occasion arises enough where we pull of, call it a day and spend the night in a parking lot...
Anyway, this guy was telling me things I have never heard about auxiliary batteries. He said, I don't need 2 batteries if I'm usually on shore power, that the second battery would never get charged. He also said not to use 6 volt unless I'm going to put in solar.
I know enough about electricity and charging to know that if I use 2 batteries they both charge, 6 or 12 volt. Am I wrong? I never had any problem with the 2-6 volt in the Bounder (Except remembering to check the water after hot summers!). I'm leaning towards replacing the batteries in this one with 2- 6 volt, but I'm open to suggestions. Thanks.

You're not wrong. "He" is. Hit the delete button on his statements and go with what you know.

Like others have said, all batteries in a combination that produces 12V will charge as long as they are connected properly. (series for 2-6 V; parallel for more than one 12 V)

[tomkatb]

GC2 batteries are deep cycle batteries. A different design than car batteries.

Longer life. Better tolerant of abuse. Cheaper than what he wanted to sell you.

Disadvantage is you have to add water. Maintenance.

Virtually all wet cell batteries are heavy.

A lithium 100 ah battery is double the price. Same amps. But #125 lighter, but you might need a new converter.

[NavyLCDR]

"This guy" is an idiot.

[NoviBill]

I have a single 100ah AGM 12 volt and it will go 2-3 days in warm weather just running lights and the water pump. It will go one night at 35f if we keep the heat at 60 (50% charge in the morning). I have a 110 watt solar cell and it will take the battery from 50% charge to 100% in 10-12 hours of sunlight.

*For any of the lead-acid batteries, never discharge them more than 50%, it will dramatically shorten their life.