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Old 04-01-2012, 10:06 AM   #1
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Toolbox Battery Mod

So after much screwing around and slowly gathering the parts I needed, I have completed Phase I of my electrical upgrade. Replaced the single 12V Group 24 battery with two new Energizer 6V GC2 batteries from Sams Club. I also took the opportunity to install the new batteries into a side mount toolbox. Got this idea from someone on RV.net (Gilldawg79, I think) and lots of advice from my pal Roy Braddy. Thanks to both of you for the ideas and help.

For now, I am using the old wiring to the converter but Phase II of my plan is to replace that and lay the groundwork for a 1500-2000W pure sine wave inverter that I will install in the forward storage compartment.

Phase III will include the new inverter, power monitoring panel, and completing the replacement of the standard lights with LEDs. I've done a few but I need to just finish that work.

Here is a link for some photos and more detailed comments:

http://s827.photobucket.com/albums/z...view=slideshow
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Old 04-01-2012, 10:22 AM   #2
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I'll be curious to see how the interior of the metal box fares after a few years.

Great job! Very professional install.
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Old 04-01-2012, 08:35 PM   #3
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Quahog,

You and I seem to be going down the same paths these days - very nice install. I hadn't thought of a narrower box like that - will have to look around and see what I can find. For now my Energizer GC2's are on the stock battery tray. Your install is way cooler than mine...I'm impressed.

I'll get my blog and pics updated here one of these days

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My Write-up on managing 12V and batteries
LED Bulbs and what I did
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Old 04-02-2012, 05:53 AM   #4
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Thanks fellas... I do like the way it's all enclosed now. I picked up that box at Lowes... normally goes for $168 but since my oldest daughter works there, she got me a better deal.

Chak, I posted this on another thread and don't know whether you saw it or not but there's some good info here that you may find useful to your 12V write-up:

http://www.rv-dreams.com/rv-electrical.html

Follow the link to Jack Mayer's page for a much more in depth discussion. There's a lot of good info there.
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Old 04-02-2012, 07:55 PM   #5
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Wow - that is a very nice write up. I'll be linking it, as well as learning from his writing style

-Chak
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My Write-up on managing 12V and batteries
LED Bulbs and what I did
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Old 04-03-2012, 07:35 PM   #6
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Nice job. I miss my toolbox. With the new rounded fronts and a power tongue jack there doesnt seem to be any room on my tongue for a toolbox. I sure would like to to another one. I would surely use some of your ideas. Especially the vents.....Boy what was I thinking? Those flat screens were right next to the ones I got. Again, nice job! I'm proud to see somebody using an idea I posted on here. That's why these forums are great.
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Old 04-03-2012, 07:44 PM   #7
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Quahog does good work. On your trip back East you can stop by here and rig mine up with all that fancy stuff (sine wave inverters, LED`S, etc) along with the battery box!
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Old 04-04-2012, 02:13 PM   #8
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Sure, I work cheap...
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Old 04-04-2012, 02:18 PM   #9
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I will pay off ion crabs, not dollars. Crabs for inverters, crabs for LED`s, crabs for tool box, crabs for labor. Hungry?
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Old 04-04-2012, 02:23 PM   #10
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Do crabs freeze well?
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Old 04-04-2012, 05:16 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by Crabman View Post
I will pay off ion crabs, not dollars. Crabs for inverters, crabs for LED`s, crabs for tool box, crabs for labor. Hungry?
I will do it if he doesn't, I WILL! I love crab!!!!!!! MMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!! :hihi:

My Aunt and Uncle used to go to the Chesapeak Bay to visit her sister. They would always bring back several large coolers full of blue crab. The family would get together an have a crab feast. I miss those days.
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Old 05-15-2012, 04:31 PM   #12
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Hows the battery box working out... I lost one of my GP24 batteries when I started getting my POPUP out of its long winter sleep.. Im down to two now and these remaining two are only a year newer than the one that failed so I'm guessing this is probably my last season with the remaining two. i would love to procure those Trojan T1275s 150AH 12VDC batteries. Cost will probably make me go for the COSTCO/SAMs GC2s 6V batteries... I'm saving my pennies now to start getting them.

I need to get busy now on the two battery banks I want to do. Two batteries on the trailer tongue and two more batteries in the bed of my truck. This will let me run my emergency communications events from the truck without running down my truck start battery and when camping off the power grid I can easily combine the two banks together and get my 450AH to 500AH battery capacity I am wanting....

I will probably dupicate what you did with the trailer tongue install and do some smaller box in the bed of the truck. The truck is already covered by the thick FOLD-A-COVER folding panels so might just have to install the regular NOCO battery boxes from COSTCO/SAMs. I already have a tool box taking up half of the area in the truck bed.
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Old 05-15-2012, 05:18 PM   #13
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Great job! How much did the batteries run you?
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Old 05-16-2012, 08:48 AM   #14
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I will pay off ion crabs, not dollars. Crabs for inverters, crabs for LED`s, crabs for tool box, crabs for labor. Hungry?
Got crabs??? go see the Dr.. :hihi:
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Old 05-16-2012, 09:54 AM   #15
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Pretty sure the COSTCO/SAM Club cost for the GC2 batteries is less than $100ea. They have a good warranty as well...

This is what JiminMich from RV.net reported on 4-30-12 on cost from SAMs CLub
$88
Model: Group Size EGC2
Item #:347631
•20 amp hour rate:230
•5 amp hour rate:174
•6 amp hour rate:178
•BCI Group Size:GC2
•Minutes at 25 amps:448
•Minutes at 75 amps:120
•Volts:6


$78
Model: Group Size GC2
Item #:347700
•20 amp hour rate:215
•5 amp hour rate:157
•6 amp hour rate:156
•BCI Group Size:GC2
•ContentsNE EACH
•Minutes at 25 amps:395
•Minutes at 75 amps:105
•Volts:6

The also have a AGM 6 Volt under the Duracell brand:
$159
Model: Group Size GC2AGM
Item #:401742
•1 amp hour rate:103
•100 amp hour rate:220
•20 amp hour rate:190
•3 amp hour rate:145
•5 amp hour rate:163
•6 amp hour rate:167.8
•8 amp hour rate:173.7
•BCI Group Size:GC2
•CCA at 0 degrees F:680
•MCA at 32 degrees F:900
•Minutes at 15 amps:718
•Minutes at 25 amps:409
•Minutes at 5 amps:2304
•Minutes at 50 amps:171
•Minutes at 75 amps:94
•Minutes at 8 amps:1409
•Reserve Capacity:380
•Volts:6

The also have a 12volt golf cart battery:
$184
Model: Group Size GC12V
Item #:401749
•20 amp hour rate:155
•BCI Group Size:GC12
•Minutes at 25 amps:292
•Minutes at 56 amps:110
•Minutes at 75 amps:77
•Volts:12

CostCo probably has about the same deals.

Kinda hard to beat $78 for a 215AH deep cycle 6VDC battery with a Reserve time of 395 minutes (6.5HRS) at 25AMPs.
Connecting two of these in series will give you 12VDC at 215AH with a reserve time of 6.5 hours drawing 25 AMPS...
Connecting two groups of these in Parallel (four GC2 batteries for $312) will give you 12VDC at 430AH with a reserve time of 13 hours drawing 25 AMPS. Thats a big deal for camping off the power grid. I think the SAMs Club warranty is two years...

Around the 500AHs is just what I need for my battery banks camping off the power grid and being able to re-charge to 90% charge state the next day running my 2KW Honda Generator for 2-3 hours.
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2008 STARCRAFT 14RT OFF-ROAD POPUP with PD9260C and three 85AH 12VDC batteries
2010 F150 FX4 5.4 GAS with 3.73 gears - Super Cab - Towing Package - 2KW Honda EU2000i Gen
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Old 05-16-2012, 12:13 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by RoyBraddy View Post
Hows the battery box working out... I lost one of my GP24 batteries when I started getting my POPUP out of its long winter sleep.. Im down to two now and these remaining two are only a year newer than the one that failed so I'm guessing this is probably my last season with the remaining two. i would love to procure those Trojan T1275s 150AH 12VDC batteries. Cost will probably make me go for the COSTCO/SAMs GC2s 6V batteries... I'm saving my pennies now to start getting them.

I need to get busy now on the two battery banks I want to do. Two batteries on the trailer tongue and two more batteries in the bed of my truck. This will let me run my emergency communications events from the truck without running down my truck start battery and when camping off the power grid I can easily combine the two banks together and get my 450AH to 500AH battery capacity I am wanting....

I will probably dupicate what you did with the trailer tongue install and do some smaller box in the bed of the truck. The truck is already covered by the thick FOLD-A-COVER folding panels so might just have to install the regular NOCO battery boxes from COSTCO/SAMs. I already have a tool box taking up half of the area in the truck bed.
The batteries are working out great and I have quite a bit of room for misc junk even though I chose to place the batteries in the center vs. off to the side. My toolbag, chocks, electrical adapters, dog chain, camera cable, etc. all fit with some room to spare.
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Old 05-16-2012, 12:14 PM   #17
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Great job! How much did the batteries run you?
Batteries were each about $78 at Sams Club. I had to pay a core fee of $8-9 each and some $3 disposal fee but both were under $200.

Costco has a better warranty on their batteries but when I needed them, I couldn't find them there. Shortly after I finished the job, Costco got them again! ARGH!
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Old 05-16-2012, 06:14 PM   #18
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Mike how much weight does the box and extras in the box add to the tongue wt. on the trailer? Or is the wt. difference negligible?
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Old 05-16-2012, 08:42 PM   #19
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Basically, the box weighs maybe 10 lbs. It's very light. The extra battery is where most of the weight comes from. If I had to guess, I'd say it's about 60-75 lbs extra with box, extras and additional battery. I want to take the trailer to a CAT scale once I get the Reese HP DC WDH installed and then I will know the tongue weight for sure. It was right at 600 lbs before I did the mod.
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Old 05-17-2012, 10:07 AM   #20
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On my trailer I can add some off-set togue weight by carrying more fresh water. It is located just behind the wheels on my trailer.
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RETIRED DOD DOAF DON CONTRACTOR Electronics Tech 42YRS

"We're burning daylight" - John Wayne
2008 STARCRAFT 14RT OFF-ROAD POPUP with PD9260C and three 85AH 12VDC batteries
2010 F150 FX4 5.4 GAS with 3.73 gears - Super Cab - Towing Package - 2KW Honda EU2000i Gen
K9PHT (since 1957) 146.52Mhz
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