Battery charger (Wizard)

[Springhook]

If and when I replace my 12 volt batteries with 6 volt , do I need to do anything with the Wizard battery charger? I understand that the battery output while in series would be 12 volts. However, isn't the charge volts going back to the 6 volt batteries 12 volts. Will the Wizard convert this? Please educate me.

[BigJohnD]

6 volt in series is 12 volts, no need to change anything. Positive to one battery positive, negative to other battery negative, jumper between batteries remaining positive/ negative. You want 12 volts going from charger to 6 volt set in series, as they are essentially one big 12 volt battery at that point.

[shadester]

Your battery charger output wires would need to be moved across the 12 potential, if your going from 12v parallel to 6v series parallel.

[norty1]

The wizard works in the background to keep your batteries charged. Weather 1-12v or 2-6v in series.

[ETCrockett]

Originally Posted by Springhook

If and when I replace my 12 volt batteries with 6 volt , do I need to do anything with the Wizard battery charger? I understand that the battery output while in series would be 12 volts. However, isn't the charge volts going back to the 6 volt batteries 12 volts. Will the Wizard convert this? Please educate me.

I guess I have to ask why would you replace 12 volt batteries with 6 volt batteries. You are buying 2 6 volt batteries for every 12 volt battery you replace and linking them to still get 12 volts. I must be missing something here as to why you would double the number of batteries rather just buying another 12 volt battery.

What is the advantage?

[Pickledill]

Advantage of 6v is well chronicled. Short story, more amp hours, more recharge cycles, and more resiliency if excessively discharged.

[GrumpyDad]

Originally Posted by Pickledill

Advantage of 6v is well chronicled. Short story, more amp hours, more recharge cycles, and more resiliency if excessively discharged.

Good quality 6V deep cycle batteries are availible at very reasonable costs. Generally going to a 2x 6V will mean you have a larger amp-hour reserve at a lower cost than multiple 12V batteries.

And absolutely no changes needed to chargers or anything as long as you wire them in series.

[Mopar_Earl]

You don't double the capacity of 6v batteries when you put them in series, only the voltage. You would need 4 6 volt batteries to double the capacity compared to using 2 12v batteries. Easier to do with 12v batteries as you double the capacity for every pair. But, 12v batteries don't take a beating like the 6v batteries. I've had 6v batteries last for 8 years in my rv.
Common myth that putting batteries in series increases capacity. It does not. Must be paralleled to increase capacity.

Earl

[ETCrockett]

Thanks for the education. I have a bank of 6 12 volt batteries in parallel on my Pinnacle. If I were to switch to 6V batteries, does that mean I need 12 batteries and will they fit in the same space as 6 12V batteries?

[GrumpyDad]

Originally Posted by Mopar_Earl

You don't double the capacity of 6v batteries when you put them in series, only the voltage. You would need 4 6 volt batteries to double the capacity compared to using 2 12v batteries. Easier to do with 12v batteries as you double the capacity for every pair. But, 12v batteries don't take a beating like the 6v batteries. I've had 6v batteries last for 8 years in my rv.
Common myth that putting batteries in series increases capacity. It does not. Must be paralleled to increase capacity.

Earl

Totally correct, but in my experreince, the 6V batteries are higher AH capacity than similar cost 12V batteries.
My trojan T105's are 225 AH capacity, so yes, with two of them, I still only have 225 AH (not 450 like some would assume), but that 225 is pretty high.