Venting second battery box question.

[Lee F.]

I have installed a second 12 volt battery in my rig in a battery box with a vent tube just like the OEM. In my last 5er the second vent tube was spliced into the first tube with a plastic T shaped fitting. I have checked my local RV dealers and they don't have anything like that. It seems they just cut annother hole and put in a second vent. I would rather not do that. I have tried the plumbing dept. at Lowes and Home Depot for a PVC fitting that would fit the pipe without results. Does anyone know what I can use?

[dieselguy]

I had the same issue on my 2005 2980RL ... dealer wanted to cut another hole in the front. I went to the local yard store and bought some aluminum tubing that fit and welded it together into a tee. Have you tried Ace hardware ... farm supply stores ... Grainger ... McMaster-Carr or just asearch online for a plastic tee the size you need?

[HamRad]

Lee,
On my rig they simply cut the hose from the second box to match the hole they cut in the existing vent hose. To make the connection stick they just used a lot of tape. Going on 10 years plus with no problems. A "T" would certainly look more professional. But whatever works. Good luck. Dennis

[illapah]

I bought a copper 'T' fitting of the same hose size, painted it and hooked both batteries to the one exit hose.

[DQDick]

Not meaning to highjack the thread, but is there anything tricky to adding a second battery. Do you just wire the + to the plus and the - to the - of the existing battery or is there more too it like there usually is?

[awaywego]

I bought a 1 1/4 white plastic T from Home Depot and put a little vinyl tape around the ends (won't take much) and slipped the T inside the plastic hose. I used a cable strap to keep it on the T. I really wanted a Y but couldn't find one.

[Lee F.]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll let you know what I end up doing.

[H. John Kohl]

quote:Originally posted by DQDick

Not meaning to highjack the thread, but is there anything tricky to adding a second battery. Do you just wire the + to the plus and the - to the - of the existing battery or is there more too it like there usually is?

Your answer is correct for two 12 volts. They are connected in parallel.

If it is two six volts then they are wired in series. Rig positive cable to bat positive and then - to + between batteries and the rig negative to bat negative.

[rollie41]

I went to a vaccumm cleaner shop and got hose and fitting that worked

[2Wanderers]

I too didn't want to drill a second hole for a second vent, but I felt the second battery should be vented. I took the hose off the factory vent as a mobile reference, went to Lowes and found a similar flexible hose, a rubber T that grips the hoses from the exterior surface, and a sleeve to go through the top of the second battery box. It wasn't easy finding all the right pieces and I would have preferred a plastic T that went inside the fexible hoses, but it works. Lots of luck in your search for a workable solution.