Battery Question

[hozerdude]

The 2008 Jayco Eagle 341 RLQS I just bought has only 1 battery. There is room for another. Do you think I should get another battery just in case?

If so what would be the best one to get. I will have a 60 Watt Solar Panel with a regulator to make sure the Solar Panel does not over charge the batteries.

[Seann45]

It depends on how much battery power you use over night. IF you have room for 2 batteries and need the power then go with a pair of 6 volt golf cart batteries. They hold more power and will last longer (hook pos to neg to give you 12 volts)
The charge controller does more than just make sure your batteries do not boil. At night it keeps the solar panels from discharging your battery bank.

[Jagiven]

X2 with Seann

It really depends on the type of camping you do. If you are always going to places with hookups, then no. If you like to be off the grid for a few days, and you like your power gadgets, then absolutely. My recommendation though is look at you power usage and try to start with replacing your incandescent lights with LEDs, that will drop your power consumption greatly.

[jal0710]

Why not have two batteries, if there's room for them. Never hurts to have more than enough capacity. I made sure I had two batteries in my FW I bought two years ago just so I could have a bit more time without having to ramp up the generator. While camping at Grand Teton in June this last two years, we have been able to get about five days of use out of the batteries before resorting to recharging them with the generator. And, if you have room, two six-volts would be great as they have greater capacity, reserve and power than do two 12-volt ones, if I remember prior posts correctly.

[hozerdude]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. Maybe I should get the extra battery just in case Power goes out. I will have it parked on a RV with power in a mountain area.

[RoyBraddy]

If you install two batteries just be sure your on-board converter/charger DC output will have at least 45AMPs or more DC Output Current capacity. It is probably a 55AMP unit but need to check to be sure what you have. Your on-board converter/charger should also be a SMART MODE TECHNOLOGY unit to take good care of your two batteries for you. You may want to increase the wire size between the on-board converter and your two new batteries as well. I use 4AWG wire size here for my battery inter-connections.

If you are unsure of any of this then post your on-board CONVERTER/CHARGER unit manf/model number... Keep in mind you don't want to drain your batteries below the 12.0VDC level before re-charging otherwise you may start doing internal damage to your batteries and require replacement.

Roy Ken

[msturtz]

A few things about batteries. A group 27 battery has a 20 AMP rate of about 117 AH at max if you use two 12V group 27s you double the AH if you use two 225 AH 6V GC2 batteries you get only 2X the voltage not 2X the voltage and 2X of the AH. This is critical when planning capacity. For instance you may be able to fit two group 29 batteries into the group 27 / 24 holder. Group 29 batteries are slightly taller and longer.
Group 27:
Length 12.72
Width 6.60
Height 9.24
Amp hours:
5-Hr Rate 85
10-Hr Rate 97
20-Hr Rate 105
100-Hr Rate 117

GC2 Golf Cart battery
Length 10.30
Width 7.11
Height 11.07

5-Hr Rate 185
10-Hr Rate 207
20-Hr Rate 225
100-Hr Rate 250

Group 29 batteries have
Length 13
Width 6-3/4
Height 10

20 Hr rate 125 AH

The last version is a group 31 commercial that has even better performance. I always get the largest batteries I can fit into the storage location I have to work with. Keep in mind that you get progressively lower and lower AH out of a flooded lead acid battery the higher the amp draw is (Peukert effect). AGM batteries are not subject to this limitation.

[hozerdude]

Thanks for the battery info guys!!!

Now I was told today if I have my RV pluged into a 50 amp plug the RV will charge the battery also is that not true?

[msturtz]

Originally Posted by hozerdude

Thanks for the battery info guys!!!

Now I was told today if I have my RV pluged into a 50 amp plug the RV will charge the battery also is that not true?

Yes it will charge the batteries. RVs have converters to charge the battries.