Extra Battery configuration

[Pomacanthus]

Wondering if anyone has rigged 2-4 deep cycle marine batteries in parallel on a smaller hybrid, I have a 17. I was thinking maybe in the compartment under the bench seat because its near the front? I have an extra battery was planning on swapping them out but I think that means restarting everything I swap?

Planning on a smaller solar configuration either a portable suitcase or roof mount,
just trying to get some ideas on configuration.

Thanks newbie here, I like the back country and suffered needlessly last year lol

[Jmooney]

I can't speak to where to place batteries, but from a sizing perspective.....

A 200 watt solar panel , with 6 hours of solid sunlight can give you about 80amps of charge in a day.

a pair of 12 volt 80 amp hour batteries , 160 amph total, used 50% each day, ( good battery management says 50%, then recharge fully ) would potentially recharged each day.

My point is only that the size of a solar array should be considered in the sizing of the battery array.

Weather they are 12 volt, or 6 volt. 2, 3 or 4 batteries..... consider your recharging system in your decision.

My.02

[sebring96hbg]

I have two battery setups: 1) 105 AH Group 31 battery and 2) a pair of Trojan T-105 batteries at 225 AH for my hybrid. Both setups are flooded wet cell types.

This is what I did to add a second battery.



If you were to install a battery under a bench seat, the battery should either be a sealed type such as AGM or properly vented if a flooded type.

[Seann45]

IF you put a battery under the bench seat you will have to have a "special box" for it that vents the battery gas to the outside of the RV. I have 6-6volt batteries on the tongue and had a welder fab up a bracket for them. Just don't weld the bracket to the A-frame as it will mess with the tempering of the metal.. bolt it down...

[Jaws014]

Originally Posted by Seann45

IF you put a battery under the bench seat you will have to have a "special box" for it that vents the battery gas to the outside of the RV. I have 6-6volt batteries on the tongue and had a welder fab up a bracket for them. Just don't weld the bracket to the A-frame as it will mess with the tempering of the metal.. bolt it down...

Seann45, Do you have a picture of your setup, I can't picture 6 batteries on a tongue, but love the idea of it. Hopefully picture will help OP, others, and myself.

[Mustang65]

Originally Posted by sebring96hbg

I have two battery setups: 1) 105 AH Group 31 battery and 2) a pair of Trojan T-105 batteries at 225 AH for my hybrid. Both setups are flooded wet cell types.

May I ask how you have them hooked up and how you charge the 2 different Ah battery groups?

Don

[Seann45]

Originally Posted by Jaws014

Seann45, Do you have a picture of your setup, I can't picture 6 batteries on a tongue, but love the idea of it. Hopefully picture will help OP, others, and myself.

There are pictures in the MOD section.. you will have to go back a few years on it...
http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f3...stem-5305.html

[klassic]

Originally Posted by sebring96hbg

I have two battery setups: 1) 105 AH Group 31 battery and 2) a pair of Trojan T-105 batteries at 225 AH for my hybrid. Both setups are flooded wet cell types.

This is what I did to add a second battery.
.

I have the same setup.
I use a BlueSea battery selector and leave the 12v smaller ah battery charged as a back up if I drain the Trojans.
Which ever bank is selected that's the one that charges. Then switch over to charge the other bank.

[Pomacanthus]

Thanks that looks outstanding, so both batteries are in that box? Love the box did you fabricate it yourself? Never seen one like that before.

[Pomacanthus]

Sebring96 do you recharge with solar? and where can I find that awesome battery box?
I bought a cheesy one from Fleet Farm for $8 and I wanted to fabricate one myself but don't have any material instock

[sebring96hbg]

Originally Posted by klassic

I have the same setup.
I use a BlueSea battery selector and leave the 12v smaller ah battery charged as a back up if I drain the Trojans.
Which ever bank is selected that's the one that charges. Then switch over to charge the other bank.

Don and klassic,

I have not progressed this far yet. At the moment, the Group 31 battery is on the tongue charged by solar and the Trojans are securely in the garage on a tender.

Joe

[sebring96hbg]

Originally Posted by Pomacanthus

Sebring96 do you recharge with solar? and where can I find that awesome battery box?
I bought a cheesy one from Fleet Farm for $8 and I wanted to fabricate one myself but don't have any material instock

Please see my thread here about the box and where I bought it. The box is nice and it is made from a very durable plastic.

And, please see, also, this thread on my installation of solar on my X23B. The solar panel is keeping my battery in the storage lot charged.

[Isaacs]

I mounted an extra battery on the rear bumper. I bolted a flat micarta board (you could use treated plywood) to the bumper, then I bolted a Walmart battery case to the board. This and the tongue mounted battery are hooked in parallel, each with its own 30A inline automotive type blade fuse. I simply pull the fuse on the battery I don't want in the system, keeping one fully charged in case I deplete one. They are charged by either the onboard charger or a 160W solar panel on the roof.