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Old 05-19-2011, 08:58 PM   #1
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How to wire two Battery's??

Just added a second battery to my jayfeather 197. I am so confused on how to hook up the batteries. I'm assuming I want to parallel the batteries and not install them in a series? I heard you can fry your electrical if you have them in a series? - to - + to+ ????? Please help!!

Thanks Again!! Great Site!!
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Old 05-19-2011, 09:05 PM   #2
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Search for "battery" or "batteries" and you'll find lots of info on this site. I did a quick check and found....
http://www.jaycoowners.com/showthrea...hlight=battery

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Old 05-19-2011, 09:11 PM   #3
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If they are both 12 volt -then parallel - Plus to Plus - Neg to Neg....

Parallel - same voltage
Series - add the voltages (how you do 6 Volt batteries)

I recommend this site as well -- The 12 Volt Side of Life

Remember - pics posted to the mod section when you get done



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Old 05-19-2011, 09:25 PM   #4
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I get the + to + , - to - part, but im confused with the wiring from the trailer. Does the negative from the trailer go to the negative on one battery while the positive wire from the trailer go to the other positive on the other battery? Thanks Guys!!
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Old 05-19-2011, 09:54 PM   #5
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Pull the (+) and (-) off the same battery for best results.



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Old 05-19-2011, 10:03 PM   #6
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Im sorry tafische, what do you mean?
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Old 05-19-2011, 10:30 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by tafische View Post
Pull the (+) and (-) off the same battery for best results.
Why is that?
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Old 05-19-2011, 10:31 PM   #8
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Im so confused!!
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Old 05-19-2011, 10:33 PM   #9
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Hey Smoker Bill, I was looking at your post regarding your mod with pics. is your set up parallel or in a series? Thanks
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Old 05-20-2011, 12:32 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by clossan View Post
I get the + to + , - to - part, but im confused with the wiring from the trailer. Does the negative from the trailer go to the negative on one battery while the positive wire from the trailer go to the other positive on the other battery? Thanks Guys!!
For a picture, surf: http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...Vbatteries.jpg

Note: Each battery's "-" cable can be connected to seperate Frame Ground points. re: Different steel bolts on the steel tonque.


For total 110V + 12V diagram, surf: http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...VDiagram-1.jpg

Hope this helps...

.
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Old 05-20-2011, 12:54 AM   #11
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I get the + to + , - to - part, but im confused with the wiring from the trailer. Does the negative from the trailer go to the negative on one battery while the positive wire from the trailer go to the other positive on the other battery? Thanks Guys!!

Exactly....That's the best way to connect two 12v battery's to your trailer.

Look at configuration-7.

Click image for larger version

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Old 05-20-2011, 04:52 AM   #12
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Thus far we are assuming the OP is adding a second 12V battery (he has yet to confirm), so just in case:



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Old 05-20-2011, 07:06 AM   #13
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Originally Posted by SmokerBill View Post
Why is that?
My opinion is that it is best to be on the same battery for a couple of reasons....

- if you have a problem with one of your cables between the batteries, you don't loose complete power (ie - less chance of problem)

- it gives you the flexibility to remove one battery if you want to charge it or do other maintenance.

- I am just speculating, but I would think it could be an issue if you are pulling a heavy load. If you had too much resistance between the connecting cables it would create a differential in voltage between the two batteries...maybe that is not an issue....but not sure....

Anyway, those are my thoughts....would love to hear differing opinion if someone thinks just the opposite.



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Old 05-20-2011, 07:17 AM   #14
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Yes, I added a second 12v. Thanks
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Old 05-20-2011, 07:19 AM   #15
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Hey Smoker Bill, I was looking at your post regarding your mod with pics. is your set up parallel or in a series? Thanks
They are connected in parallel, with the positive posts of each battery connected to each other, and same for the negative posts.

I had no problem making the parallel connection, but I was also unsure of which posts of the two batteries to use to make the connection to the trailer. In found diagrams and instructions for doing it both ways; using the negative post of one battery, and the positive post of the other one- or using both the negative and positive off of one battery.

I opted for the former- using the negative post of one battery, and the positive post of the other one - because I thought there might be some benefit when charging the batteries. But that was just a guess.

Actually, I don't think it really matters how you make the trailer connection from the parallel-connected batteries. And that's why I asked Tafische why he believes that using the pos/neg from the same battery is the best way.

I'm really curious about this one.
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Old 05-20-2011, 09:11 AM   #16
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I have a 36 ft 5er and only one battery. Do you recommend I add a second one. (No boondocking)
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Old 05-20-2011, 11:21 AM   #17
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I have a 36 ft 5er and only one battery. Do you recommend I add a second one. (No boondocking)
not if you never boondock... with one battery you can spend ONE night in a parking lot but that would be about it...
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Old 05-20-2011, 12:38 PM   #18
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My opinion is that it is best to be on the same battery for a couple of reasons....

- if you have a problem with one of your cables between the batteries, you don't loose complete power (ie - less chance of problem)

- it gives you the flexibility to remove one battery if you want to charge it or do other maintenance.

- I am just speculating, but I would think it could be an issue if you are pulling a heavy load. If you had too much resistance between the connecting cables it would create a differential in voltage between the two batteries...maybe that is not an issue....but not sure....

Anyway, those are my thoughts....would love to hear differing opinion if someone thinks just the opposite.
I didn't see that you posted ahead of me. You make some good points. I think I used #4 multi-strand cable between the batteries, so I don't think voltage drop would be a problem under extreme loads, at least there. But I do think the wiring from the batteries to the power converter could be a little stouter. When the snow's gone, I think I'll pull out my meter, turn on all the lights and the furnace, then check the DC voltage at the battery terminals, then at the converter. I bet there's a drop between the two points.

But it's cold and wet outside now, and it's so nice and warm in here! I'm just gonna stay inside and soak up the heat. :hihi:
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Old 05-20-2011, 01:42 PM   #19
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snip...... But I do think the wiring from the batteries to the power converter could be a little stouter.....snip
Bill,

I agree, and I believe that Jayco uses 10 gauge (maybe 8) from the converter/charger to the battery. My Jayco converter/charger is located at the rear of my TT, so I'm sure there's a drop with my set-up once it lands at the battery. I plan to up-grade my existing 2-stage converter/charger to a PD 3-stage converter/charger in the near future, but I plan to locate it in my front pass-thru storage area which will be only a couple of feet away from my battery bank.

One thing that I picked up over the years when banking batteries is make the cable lengths the same between the batteries (balance), and go heavy on the cable gauge. With my (2) 6V deep cycle batteries (in-series) I used a 1-gauge cable between the two. http://www.jaycoowners.com/showthread.php?t=2752

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Old 05-20-2011, 04:43 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tafische View Post
My opinion is that it is best to be on the same battery for a couple of reasons....

- if you have a problem with one of your cables between the batteries, you don't loose complete power (ie - less chance of problem)

- it gives you the flexibility to remove one battery if you want to charge it or do other maintenance.

- I am just speculating, but I would think it could be an issue if you are pulling a heavy load. If you had too much resistance between the connecting cables it would create a differential in voltage between the two batteries...maybe that is not an issue....but not sure....

Anyway, those are my thoughts....would love to hear differing opinion if someone thinks just the opposite.
The biggest problem with they way you are suggesting is it ages battery 1 faster than battery 2 as all voltage must go through 1 to get to 2. With taking pos and neg off of opposite batteries they all age the same.. I know this is a purest point.. On my 6-6 volt system the power goes in pos on the N side Neg on the S side.. and comes out Pos on the S side and Neg on the N side ... ahhhhh I hope that is clear
LOL
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