6volt vs, 12volt

[Don57]

I've often heard rumors that dual or even quad batt. are the way to go,on the previous r.v.'s I've had 2 12 volt deep cycle batt. were used,is it preference or is one really better than the other.

[rames14]

Don57 - it depends. We have dual 6v batteries wired in series (so you get 12v). The golf cart batteries provide a longer charge for boondocking than traditional deep cycle batteries. However, some have done well with the new glass mat technology 12v batteries. People that do more boondocking may need longer battery life. It also adds considerable weight. In our experience so far, the golf batteries do significantly better than the regular 12v. They are, however, also more expensive.

[TLightning]

Two six volt batterys are better than two 12 volt batterys.

[7.3Ford]

Don,

Haven't had the chance to check out the performance boon docking yet, but I just put six Trojan 6V T-105 batteries in my Monty. Cost me more this time, because I didn't have cores, but I got them for $579. plus tax and cores charges and local golf cart store. I had an old 12 Volt deep cycle I used for one of the cores, but had to pony up $100 for the others five cores.

[Chip]

It's hard to find the Trojan's around here. How do the Energizer 6 volt battery compare? You can get energizer's at Sam's Club.

Drew

[firetrucker]

Look at installing two 100 AH AGM batteries. They are very close to the capacity of the golf cart batteries, are more similar in shape to the standard auto battery, and, since they are sealed, don't need to be installed in battery boxes or vented.

Bob

[Ozz]

Got my 6 volts at Sam's, I have two, love them.

[Trailer Trash 2]

Don57 I used to run 2, 12's but I now run 2, 6 volt batteries I havnt noticed that much differance as far as life dry camping, I do notice a differance when using the high amp draw items like the slides and front legs lifting it 6 or 7 inches they seem to maintain a good current for those when I use them. below is my install the batteries weigh almose 75. lbs each but my Optima batteries weighed the same but they were no maintenance either where the 6 volts need water. another item to check.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...5/DSC06221.jpg

[Art-n-Marge]

Putting two 6V batteries in series will give you the equivalent voltage of one 12V battery but by nature 6Vs have better Amps/hour (Ah) ratings than 12V and are more efficient in how they work. So you can imagine that another two 6V batteries in series connected in parallel to the other set of dual 6V batteries will give you plenty of Ah that would last longer than two 12V batteries trying to do the same thing. This is where the Quad term comes from four 6V batteries versus dual 12 volt.

The disadvantages of 6V are cost and weight, but the return on power and Ah should more than make up for that. As for the 6V themselves the Trojans are rated high but other brands should also be as good when compared to the benefits.

I currently have dual 12V in my rig because at the time I didn't know about the 6V option. When these die I will convert to a dual set of 6V to start since we don't boondock very much to warrant four 6 volts. I would certainly check the Ah ratings of Trojans and other batteries then measure it against what I want to spend. The cabling, venting and battery cases should be the same or similar in either case.

[camper4]

I used to use two 12'volt marine. I dry camp often so I had large ones. They failed early. I always got a credit towards the new batteries.
Two years ago I put two 6's in. They do not have as much total amp capacity as the two 12's did but they are pretty close. I never got two years out of the 12's. These 6's are as good as the day I first put them in.
So, even though the 6's cost a little more, not having the hassles I got from the 12's is well worth it!

[PapaBeav]

I installed two 6 volt's a couple of years ago and they seem to be better at holding a charge the the 12's that I had. Also I am not adding near the amount of water that I used to put in the 12's.

[8.1al]

Chip,
The Energizers from Sam's have almost identical specs to the Trojan T105. Several MOC members are using them and are quite happy with them and you sure can't beat the price

[Trailer Trash 2]

quote:Originally posted by 8.1al

Chip,
The Energizers from Sam's have almost identical specs to the Trojan T105. Several MOC members are using them and are quite happy with them and you sure can't beat the price

I agree with you 8.1al, a electrican friend of mine said all batteries are made the same and eventually last the same too.

[Chip]

Thanks for the reply.

Guess you just have to make sure you maintain them correctly.

I think I am going to run two 6 volts and one 12 volt for back up.

Chip

[7.3Ford]

quote:Originally posted by Chip

Thanks for the reply.

Guess you just have to make sure you maintain them correctly.

I think I am going to run two 6 volts and one 12 volt for back up.

Chip

Don't mix'em... The battery book I got with the batteries talking about configuring 6 volt batteries to get 12 volts, says in big red type. "NOTE: These systems can also be configured using 12-volt batteries. It is not recommended that you mix batteries of different voltages within the same system.

[Chip]

Not really mixing as they go through a manual selector switch so only one bank is on at a time. I wouldn't run them in the "Both" setting. Don't see why that won't work.

Chip

[lenlin84]

We still use two 12volt deep cycle batt's because we don't do a lot of dry camping( besides stopping at flying J truck stops). The second reason I like to keep two 12 volts on hand is for back-up incase the F350 batts, one or both, go bad. Had that happen already. Believe me you can't start a 7.3 powerstroke with one 12v battery or 1 12v and 1 6v. The dual 12v's last as long as I need them and if you do need to replace one or both go bad, you can get them anywhere.