Adding Batteries

[MacDR50]

I have two AGM batteries I want to add to the trailer system. I will be adding a solar charging system later. My new 3585 has the battery in a plastic box with venting and drain. Has anyone added batteries to this set-up and did you install them with venting and drain to make them consistent with the existing battery? Is a replacement battery box available for multiple batteries?

[YOPPER]

YES TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION. SEPERATE BOX TIED INTO EXISTING VENT HOSE WITH A PVC "Y". SEARCHED FOR FOR ONE BOX FOR BOTH BATTERIES AND CAME UP EMPTY. BOX AND "Y" UNDER $10.00.

[jpbcny]

AGM batteries DO NOT need venting.

[boat391]

I have 6 batteries in my unit split into two groups so I can run my inverter system as we do mostly dry camping I built my batt. box out of plywood and covered it and ran the vent out just like the factory set up it also gave me a place to carry my sat dish made a nice shelf I use a marine a/b switch to run the different group or both at the same time an thinking about solar for charging next as of now I use a yamaha 3000 sei to charge and run the bigger things in the monty like the a/c and micro have stayed out 5 days and only used 5 gallons of gen gas to charge up and do the other things hope this help a bit happy trails

[HamRad]

There is a marine outfit that carries an excellent battery box. Blue something or the other but can't remember the name. At one time there were some nice pics of an installation someone had done. But my CRS prevents me from retaining information longer than a minute or two! What was I talking about?

HamRad

[skypilot]

Even though AGM may not require it now, who knows what type you might get later (or in an emergency); best to do it right the first time and be done with it.

[OntMont]

It was PadreDW who posted the pictures of his two Trojan T10 golf cart batteries in a "Blue Sea" battery box designed for the purpose.

[ols1932]

quote:Originally posted by MacDR50

I have two AGM batteries I want to add to the trailer system. I will be adding a solar charging system later. My new 3585 has the battery in a plastic box with venting and drain. Has anyone added batteries to this set-up and did you install them with venting and drain to make them consistent with the existing battery? Is a replacement battery box available for multiple batteries?

In 2003, I added a large solar system to our Montana which included two Lifeline D8 AGM batteries. I removed the original wet-cell batteries and did not vent the AGM batteries. There is no problem with them that way.

Orv

[MacDR50]

Thanks all. I agree AGM's do not vent under any but abnormal circumstances such as a serious overcharge or they get overheated by a high charge rate. The small amount of gas they may produce in these instances isn't a worry. I think I will box them though just because they are in a location where careless handling of a conducting item may cause a short. Since I don't intend to mix the battery types I will remove the existing and stay with the two AGM's. Looks like I have a brand new deep cycle battery for the emergency lighting at the stick house.

[Carl n Susan]

F.Y.I. Blue Sea does not sell their battery boxes directly anymore. While they have a nice box, they only hold two batteries at most and are pricey. I found some battery boxes at
http://www.alliedbattery.com/boxes.htm
which come in numerous sizes including one that holds four Trojan T105 Golf Cart 6V batteries (or the Sam's club equivalent). You will have to make your own vent connections (I used a hole saw to cut out the ones from the original boxes (thanks Brad for the idea!!!) and installed them in the new box - both top and bottom). The Allied box (for four batteries) was around $80 and the Blue Sea used to be around $100 (for a box that only held two).

Of course the AGMs don't need to be vented, but the wet cells sure do.

[ols1932]

I forgot to mention in my post that my AGM batteries weigh 150# each and are big enough that I didn't use any kind of box. I laid a piece of 5/8" plywood in the bottom where the batteries are located, then proceeded to set each battery in place and screwed cleats to the plywood to maintain about 2" distance between the batteries as well as cleats in front and ends of each battery.

If they needed ventilation, which they don't because I was permitted to mount my inverter above them in the same location, there is plenty of ventilation around the landing legs and other places in the front end.

Orv

[jpbcny]

I just added 2 GC2 (Golf Cart Batteries) from Sam's Club, I made a vented box from a plastic storage bin. I used some 1 1/4 " PVC fittings siliconed to the top, and bottom of the bin for the venting. The hardest part of the job is the lifting of the batteries into the box in the compartment opening as they weigh 62 lbs. each.

(Sorry for the poor picture quality, it's from my phone camera)

JP

[ols1932]

I forgot to mention in my two previous posts to this thread (and I don't see where anyone else has mention) different types of batteries should not be connected together.

Orv