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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / November 2005Aux Battery Bank
Auxiliary Battery Bank For 5th Wheel. Like many RVs there is one thing that is always at a premium, that is space. I have in the past stored my two EU2000i gen sets in the front compartment just behind the pin and tow vehicle where the single gp24 battery is located. I have no additional room for batteries unless I move the gen sets to the tool box in the Ram. I intend on replacing the gp24 with two gp27 batteries. I have the second battery well on order. This alone will not sustain a lengthy stay in a remote spot, additional batteries must be added. I have been thinking about tutting two additional batteries in the back of the Ram, one on each side just in front of the 'V' louvered tailgate. I think by staying with all gp27 deep cycle batteries I would be better off rather than trying to go over to the big six volt golf cart batteries. The gp27 is more readily available and is the same as the two already in the Ram. I also intend on adding a 700 - 1000watt true sine wave inverter to operate a few ac small appliances, VCR and TV. This will be mounted in the 5er battery compartment. Bottom line, I intend on keeping it simple. If any one has any ideas of how to provide the simplest larger battery bank I would appreciate it.  SignatureBILL P. 2004, 2500 SLT Quad Cab, Dodge Ram, SLT, SWB, 2WD, 5.9 HO Turbo Diesel, 48RE Auto Trans, Anti-Spin 3.73 Dif.Rhino Liner, Husky 16K. Voyager Controller 2005, 27RL Wildcat, DT/PC Wi-Fi. Dual EU2000i Hondas Just Me and Dog > Auxiliary Battery Bank For 5th Wheel. Like many RVs there is one > thing that is always at a premium, that is space. I have in the past [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > If any one has any ideas of how to provide the simplest larger > battery bank I would appreciate it. I have an RV book that says it is safe to put gel cel batteries in the trailer because they do not vent like regular batteries. I am looking at getting one or more (once I confirm this is true!--my ulterior motive in replying is to hear from the experts on this while they answer Bill's question too<G>) to put inside where there is plenty of room. Advantage is can run an inverter off them (which the cigarette lighter connection won't do -it has 8 amps so times 12 that's a 96 watt limit) without running wires out to the battery compartment, no need for a remote control for the inverter which can also be inside (needs to be near-but not in with - the batteries for short run for the most amps), inverter can be with battery since there is no explosive gas venting, it is nice and warm inside so the extra batteries will be at full strength instead of down about 25% of their rating due to freezing weather. (Just when the furnace is eating all your amps), no need to get the inverter mixed in with the trailer's own AC/DC power distribution with transfer switches etc. And the extra batteries don't have to match the trailer's existing ones in type, size, and age since they will not be banked with them. Same book says they put their "spare" battery in the truck box when they go on errands and charge it up from the trailer connection wires they have tapped into for the charging wires in that collection. Or you could run a "smart" charger from the gen set all in the truck box while driving around away from any "no generator" rules where the trailer is. Or just use booster cables from the truck battery--these places won't let you run a quiet generator, but they can't stop you running your truck in the daytime. Our trailer's outside vented battery compartment will not take a 27 (too long) only two 24s , but it does take a pair of 6 volt 225 amp/hr ones (gives 225 total for the pair) that are taller than a 24 but not too tall. Maybe yours is the same. I didn't understand about the "battery well" I guess you know if you wanted to put the new batteries in the cargo bay where your gen sets have been you are putting the hazardous venting things inside your trailer, which is a no-no. Regards, Barry > I have an RV book that says it is safe to put gel cel batteries in the > trailer because they do not vent like regular batteries. I have looked in this. Such batteries can be placed just about ANYWHERE in just about ANY position (on their side, etc) but they must still be in a VENTED compartment. :) JR >> I have an RV book that says it is safe to put gel cel batteries in the >> trailer because they do not vent like regular batteries. >I have looked in this. Such batteries can be placed just about ANYWHERE in >just about ANY position (on their side, etc) but they must still be in a >VENTED compartment. If I may add -- AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) batteries can be placed and used in any position except upside down and DO NOT need to be vented -- and require no maintenance at all (indeed, none is even possible). I'm not sure about gel cel, since I have no experience with that type. But there is a big difference between AGM and gel cel. GB in NC > If I may add -- AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) batteries can be placed and > used in any position except upside down and DO NOT need to be vented -- > and require no maintenance at all (indeed, none is even possible). > > I'm not sure about gel cel, since I have no experience with that type. > But there is a big difference between AGM and gel cel. I was referring to AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries. I found a credible source (and, of course, lost it) that said they must still be vented. I would PREFER that they DON'T have to be VENTED as installing a pair of them inside the camper would be a MUCH easier project in that case. I WAS convinced venting was required. I am no longer, particularly if you would please provide a source for YOUR stance. Muchas gracias. (much grass) :) JR Signature2000 Skamper Ultra 249 TT 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Vortec 8100 - Allison 1000 > Or you could run a > "smart" charger from the gen set all in the truck box while driving around > away from any "no generator" rules where the trailer is. We have not found "no generator" rules in places that have no electric hookups. We've found a few places with overly restrictive generator hours, but none prohibiting generators entirely. My experience, Barrie B >>Or you could run a >>"smart" charger from the gen set all in the truck box while driving around [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > My experience, > Barrie B I have given some serious though to installing 6 to 8 golf cart batteries in place of a generator with a inverter and be able to produce over 1000watts of power for 6hrs or more and much lighter loads for several days with no noise. Something else to consider to is if you converted your 120 volt lighting to the new high efficency blubs powered by a inverter powered by batteries,, you could get more light for a much longer period of time on a lot less power than running 12v lights on a battery. Signature----------------- www.thesnoman.com > I have given some serious though to installing 6 to 8 golf cart > batteries in place of a generator with a inverter and be able to produce [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > longer period of time on a lot less power than running 12v lights on a > battery. And without a generator, how would you recharge the batteries when they finally do discharge? 600 to 800 AH is a major charge job, unless you have serious solar chargers available, or expect to plug in to AC mains. You will need a BIG converter to do it fast, too. Also, I believe your calculations assume total discharge of your batteries; if you want 1000 watts of power, 6 golf cart batteries will last only about three hours to 50% discharge, which would result in years of battery life (we got 5 years from our two Trojan T-105's). Total discharge will kill them much faster. Wondering, Barrie B >>I have given some serious though to installing 6 to 8 golf cart >>batteries in place of a generator with a inverter and be able to produce [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > Wondering, > Barrie B Those 6 volt batteries are rated at 25 amps for about 280 minutes. 8 of them is series parallel could do 100 amps for same period of time at 12v or about 1200 watts/hr and a 50 amp rates (600 watts) you would get a lot more than double the charge life because efficency improves at lower discharge rates. Also those batteries will take discharges better than regular deep cycles because that is what they are built for. As far as charging, depending on the drain on them, you could charge them in 12 hours or less at about a 40 to 50 amp rate if they were flat. If you only use part of the capacity, towing with truck would keep them charged. Also you could even carry small super queit 850 or 1000 watt generator to charge tha battieris in a pinch or to greatly extend their charge life under a heavy load. The shear size of the batteries capacity would make charging less critical in that they would not discharge as fast and need charging as often. Signature----------------- www.thesnoman.com > Those 6 volt batteries are rated at 25 amps for about 280 minutes. 8 of > them is series parallel could do 100 amps for same period of time at 12v [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > would make charging less critical in that they would not discharge as > fast and need charging as often. My Trojan T-105 batteries, which are golf cart batteries, recommend not discharging below 50% charge for maximum life. They are rated at 225 AH. I would not want to take more than 112 AH out of fully charged ones before recharging. I rarely connect to AC mains and do not have solar. My normal operation is to charge my pair of T-105s with my 55 amp converter while we run the generator for coffee or other food preparation, 10 to 15 minute run periods for max of an hour a day. I don't think bigger batteries would help us, as we'd just have to run the generator longer to charge them up if we went a day without running it. If you really want to recharge an 800 AH system as rapidly as possible, I'd think you would want a much larger converter.....but evidently you are thinking of using your batteries differently than I use mine. I prefer running my generator for shorter periods, charging at a high rate. I cannot imagine running it for 12 hours. I also do not want to carry more battery weight than I need. We camped near a couple who ran their 2KW Honda quiet generator continuously during daylight, every day. It was not bothersome to us, but I wondered why they did it that way instead of using their batteries to run TV and such, and running the generator only when they needed to recharge. Good luck with your project. Regards, Barrie B > I have given some serious though to installing 6 to 8 golf cart > batteries in place of a generator with a inverter and be able to produce [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > longer period of time on a lot less power than running 12v lights on a > battery. BUt you don't get something for nothing in this deal. How are going to recharge this extra capacity? Has any thought been given to recovery time with the present charging system? I think that your charging system should be close to half of the A/H of the batteries to recover from 50%, discharge in a reasonable time. Leanne > BUt you don't get something for nothing in this deal. How are > going to recharge this extra capacity? Has any thought been > given to recovery time with the present charging system? I think > that your charging system should be close to half of the A/H of > the batteries to recover from 50%, discharge in a reasonable > time. Everything I have seen on that says batteries can't "see" more than 1/4 their amphr rating without being ruined somehow. !/2 for charging is double what they are supposed to take? Agree on charging problem. We have 2- 6s as a 12 for 225 amphr, and it is tough to get them charged over 75% when it all slows to a crawl doing the higher volt/low amp phase to go from 75-100. This means you effectively operate in the 75-50% range while boondocking, and in our case that is a range of 56 amps --one day's consumption for the average RVer Regards, Barry > Auxiliary Battery Bank For 5th Wheel. With two Group 27 batteries *AND* 3200-watts (4000-watts surge) ULTRA QUIET generating power available, I wouldn't hassle with additional battery capacity. If still determined to add more battery capacity, I would go gel cell in a couple RV compartments. Big Bux but "zero" maintenance. :) JR >>Auxiliary Battery Bank For 5th Wheel. > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > :) > JR Thanks I'll consider the gel batteries, but they are not readily stocked allowing replacement on demand. SignatureBILL P. 2004, 2500 SLT Quad Cab, Dodge Ram, SLT, SWB, 2WD, 5.9 HO Turbo Diesel, 48RE Auto Trans, Anti-Spin 3.73 Dif.Rhino Liner, Husky 16K. Voyager Controller 2005, 27RL Wildcat, DT/PC Wi-Fi. Dual EU2000i Hondas Just Me and Dog > Thanks I'll consider the gel batteries With thanks to GB in NC, I was (am) referring to AGM batteries. > but they are not readily > stocked allowing replacement on demand. Agreed. Add to that the fact that they are terribly expensive. Using that type of battery requires a serious committment. :) JR >With thanks to GB in NC, I was (am) referring to AGM batteries. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Agreed. Add to that the fact that they are terribly expensive. Using that >type of battery requires a serious committment. "Terribly expensive" is relative. Consider the time you spend doing maintenance on other types of batteries. I bought one Group 24 (that's as much space as I have in my Class B and really all the 12v power I need anyway) for $150 + $20 shipping to my door. It's warranteed for five years in RV applications, so doing some rough math says that I'm spending less than $3 per month for 12v power with NO MAINTENANCE. Those last two words mean a lot to me. Time is money. I just don't want to have to fool with it or worry about it. That's worth $3 a month to me. In addition, the house battery in my van is nearly impossible to get to and involves some cabinet disassembly (literally), so now I don't have to deal with that either. I never even look at the thing. After this experience I can't imagine ever having any other type for house batteries, even if they were sitting on a shelf right in front of me. All things considered, it's one of the cheaper things I've bought for the RV. But YMMV. GB in NC > "Terribly expensive" is relative. Consider the time you spend doing > maintenance on other types of batteries. [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > GB in NC I think GB has the right idea, at this stage of the game my time is a lot more important than it was when I was younger. OK! They came in, two Trojans weighing 70lb each. I parked a transport cart on my front porch and the UPS guy made use of it. Had to bring the truck around to the front to get them transported back to the shop. That makes a 140lb battery bank, of which is more than likely 100lbs heaver than what I had. It is a good thing they had heavy duty carrying straps on them. Now I am wondering if they could be to heavy for the plastic battery wells. Maybe I should fabricate a support strap that will run under the battery wells. SignatureBILL P. Just Dog & ME |
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