Camper batteries

shawn

shawn

running dog lackey of the oppressor class
Administrator
Joined
Mar 13, 2005
Location
Raleigh, NC
We were awoken at 4AM at DPG by the CO detector. Turns out it was pissed off because the house battery was dead.

So I've been looking into the 6V battery conversions, AGM batteries, and all that mess. It sounds like two 6V golf cart batteries (Trojan T105 or similar) would give over 300 minutes of reserve capacity at 20A. And anybody that has done the conversion says the two 6volts hold up a lot better than two 12volts did.

I'm wondering if it's worth the trouble, though. Figure our camper doesn't see a whole lot of boondocking time. Either it's running on the generator, or it's plugged into the truck or shore power. It only spends a few hours a day on battery when we're using it, and maybe a few weeks at a time when its in storage (and not much is running).

And it means giving up a cheap, sealed battery for a more-expensive flooded deep cycle that needs regular maintenance.

Anybody want to swing my opinion one way or the other? The good news (if you can call it that) is that I'll have to build a new battery box regardless. The current battery is mounted under the kitchen sink, so that's got to change.
 
Yes well worth the converison. Pm me for the inside story on where to buy... I use 4 6v batteries in the tool truck and it holds up much better than 12v deep cycles i use to use.
 
Shawn, my coach came spec'd with two 12v cranking battery's and four 12v house battery's to run the coach. The previous coach I just sold had four 6v battery's and I like the 12v better. Both were AGM's. Just curious as to what you are running on the system and your trailers's needs? Look at the Trojan 115's, same footprint as size but 1inch taller and more reserve amps.
 
Honestly, all the trailer needs is to tolerate being abused and neglected. The sum total of the 12V loads in the camper are the lights (most fluorescent), the water pumps, and the electronics for the refrigerator, the water heater, and the furnace. Oh, and the damn CO and Propane detectors. Figure the actual camper part of the trailer is only as big as a truck camper, and most of the heavy loads are either 120V or propane-powered.

The battery that's in it right now has to be shot. It only managed maybe 6hrs unplugged just powering the fridge, a few lights, and some intermittent pump use. I'm going to check the house panel for shorts or phantom loads before I throw any real money at it, but it's just a regular 12V car battery with an unknown history. It's just worn out.
 
ONE 12v light will kill a new battery in 8 to 10 hours. Change out the lights to led's and you will notice a huge change.
 
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