Battery Compartment

alex00 · 12-20-2010, 06:23 PM

Hi all, first post here. I have a 31.5 BHDS fiver (Eagle Superlite) with the exterior battery compartment just in front of the front axle on the curb side. I'm not sure if all the fivers have the same type of setup for the batteries. What I have, for lack of a better term is a plastic cubby, which has a sliding tray that will hold two 12v batteries, secured by a nylon strap. There is a metal door with a lock on the outside.

I recently switched over to two 6v batteries, and they are too tall to fit in the tray. My concern is that there is no real way to secure the 6v batteries in the compartment. There is nothing inside the compartment to anchor a strap or brace to. I made a metal brace that goes across the opening of the compartment to give the door a fighting chance if the batteries shifted hard enough in a wild left turn. There is about 3.5" of clearance on either side of the batteries for them to slide around.

Is this an issue I should be concerned with, or are the batteries heavy enough that they won't go sliding around? What have you done to secure your larger batteries in the outside compartment? Thank you.

Denise · 12-20-2010, 06:34 PM

Welcome to the Jayco Owners Forum Alex00! You found the right place to interact! There are Jayco specific techies that love questions like you posted. Lotsa 5'er owners here too.

alex00 · 12-20-2010, 07:17 PM

Thanks Healthi, I'm glad I found my way over here.

dg1971 · 12-20-2010, 08:11 PM

Something very simple that came to mind, take a few rolled up newspapers and wedge them between the batteries and the compartment walls for a quick fix....it will eliminate the shifting and you can roll up or adjust the papers to fit...spilled battery acid (if it happens) will be absorbed by the paper. I'm sure someone else will have a more professional idea but I was raised on the farm and you learn to use whats available when you break down in the field.

alex00 · 12-20-2010, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dg1971

Something very simple that came to mind, take a few rolled up newspapers and wedge them between the batteries and the compartment walls for a quick fix....it will eliminate the shifting and you can roll up or adjust the papers to fit...spilled battery acid (if it happens) will be absorbed by the paper. I'm sure someone else will have a more professional idea but I was raised on the farm and you learn to use whats available when you break down in the field.

That's a great idea except the compartment gets a lot of water when it rains. I may end up cutting some wood blocks to fit. Thank you for the idea. If it was summer I'd run out and do it right now.

Myles6543 · 12-21-2010, 07:17 AM

You might want to try a few strips of velcro on the bottom as well. It might work.

renoman69 · 12-21-2010, 04:06 PM

I put in 2 6 volt batteries and was in your situation. I cut some wood blocks to put along side and between the batteries and the door. It works good and I have had no problems at all.

alex00 · 12-21-2010, 07:54 PM

Thanks for all the replies. I think I'll be going with the wood blocks.

Myles6543 · 12-22-2010, 09:58 AM

I have to ask. What is the advantage of 2-6 volt batteries as opposed to 2-12 volt batteries.

Seann45 · 12-22-2010, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myles6543

I have to ask. What is the advantage of 2-6 volt batteries as opposed to 2-12 volt batteries.

2-6's have more storage capacity and due to the thicker plates will last far longer...
I have 6-6 volt batteries (660 amp hours) and 500 watts of solar on the roof.. have been camping full time without hookups since Oct 19... this message is being sent via solar powered computer and satellite internet connection.

alex00 · 12-22-2010, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myles6543

I have to ask. What is the advantage of 2-6 volt batteries as opposed to 2-12 volt batteries.

I noticed a huge improvement in battery run time when I switched over to the 6 volts. With my wife's schedule we can't take much time off in the summer so we camp in the fall and winter. On the two 12 volts the furnace would take them down to one light on my tank/battery panel by morning. The two 6 volts still show 3 lights in the morning. It's great peace of mind knowing the batteries won't die in the middle of the night when it's cold outside. I was able to buy the 6 volts for $75 each and get 210 amp hours, versus the 170 amp hours my two 12 volts stored.

Myles6543 · 12-22-2010, 11:56 AM

Thank You very much for that information. I will take a look at my battery compartment and see if that is a possibility. I think my compartment only holds one battery but perhaps it can be modified. More amp hours would definitely be a big plus. I assume they would have to be wired together. I have always carried 2 batteries but 1 is stored in the storage compartment.

alex00 · 12-22-2010, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myles6543

Thank You very much for that information. I will take a look at my battery compartment and see if that is a possibility. I think my compartment only holds one battery but perhaps it can be modified. More amp hours would definitely be a big plus. I assume they would have to be wired together. I have always carried 2 batteries but 1 is stored in the storage compartment.

The 6 volts have roughly (if not exactly) the same footprint as a 12 volt, but are significantly (about 2 inches) taller. This page is an example of a set of 6 volts wired in series. As opposed to two 12 volts that would be wired in parallel. The 6 volts always have to be wired together to attain 12 volts.

Don't forget that when comparing amp hours on 6 versus 12 volt batteries, the stated value on the 6 volt won't double like it will when wiring up two 12 volts. Two 6 volts at 220 AH each run in series will give you 220 AH. Two 12 volts at 85 AH each run in parallel will give you 170 AH. I hope that makes sense.

Myles6543 · 12-22-2010, 02:58 PM

That link just helped me a great deal. I probably would have wired them in parallel and screwed up everything. Thank you very much for all that information. If I can't fit them into my present battery compartment, I may add a few more and relocate them. Thats the great thing about the Designer, tons of storage space.

edatlanta · 12-22-2010, 04:00 PM

Here is a picture of my conversion to two six volt golf cart batteries (Trojan T-105's). I had to cut the white plastic trays to allow the taller batteries to tilt enough to install, but I didn't have to cut them all the way down to the bottom as you can see from the photo. Please note the wiring was very simple and actually used one less wire than if I was hooking up two 12 volt in parallel. I used both white leads as you can see. The original leads from the Designer aren't visible unless you look real close in the shadows, but they are totally original including length.
For what it is worth, there is 1/8" clearance between the top of the top battery and the on/off switch. Close, but it does fit.
The tie down straps were the original ones provided by Jayco.

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