How Many House Batteries?

[pward]

Just purchased a 2018 Redhawk 22j that has one house battery and solar panel on roof. This is our first motor home and the others we looked at had two house batteries. The 22j battery is in a side compartment in a slideout tray that does not have room to add a second unit.


Do I need to add another? Unit has less than 12k miles and dealer is going to install a new battery. With the solar panel and not planning on boondocking other than at freeway rest stops, not sure if another one is needed.


Any advice/guidance very welcome

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by pward

Do I need to add another? Unit has less than 12k miles and dealer is going to install a new battery. With the solar panel and not planning on boondocking other than at freeway rest stops, not sure if another one is needed.

You shouldn't need a second.

[pward]

Thanks for the quick reply! I had searched for similar threads but didn't have the algorithm correct and didn't get any hits, until after I posted this, so apologize for redundant question.


Okay, will give it a go with the single
Thanks again.

[GHen]

Agreed, if your always hooked to shore power no need for a second battery.
If you do stay overnight somewhere without power, you’ll find out real quick if you have enough power to get by. Conserve during the first couple nights, and check your voltage with a digital volt meter of some sort. Don’t let the battery stay under 12.2 very long to prevent damage.
Your furnace will be your biggest draw during a cold evening. One battery won’t be enough if it running overnight. Set your heat to 55 and add another blanket to the bed.

[Siamese]

The quick, and likely best answer, is one.

With your usage pattern, anyway. However, you may have not yet encountered a boondocking night where the temperature gets into the low 30's. The furnace fan is a big draw on your battery, and a single night can discharge it excessively.

We usually just boondock one night at a time, with a very rare second. Our boondocking is the occasional Walmart, Cracker Barrel, etc., and we're extremely pleased with our pair of 6v batteries wired in series. A lot of 12v storage for the buck. A single night barely puts a dent in them. Duracell from Sam's Club.

One 12v if you stick with your present pattern. A pair of 6v if you want some more capacity and perhaps, peace of mind.

[pward]

Originally Posted by GHen

Set your heat to 55 and add another blanket to the bed.

Can tell you have obviously never met my wife. 70 degrees is "bone chilling"

[John7349]

Originally Posted by pward

Can tell you have obviously never met my wife. 70 degrees is "bone chilling"

My wife is the same.... I have two 6V batteries.

[GHen]

I understand, with 4 batteries we have 350 amps and 200 amps of solar. No problem keeping the heat on over night. Even with that, during winter trips I would need to run the generator daily to keep it all charged up. 70 is the norm during the day, 55 while in bed.