Battery or Batteries - Montana Owners Club

oldgeezor · 12-12-2011, 09:44 AM

As a newbie to the site and the Montana, I am still reading as much as I can about the ins/outs of the unit. I noticed on some posts folks talk about batteries and not just one battery. Is there supposed to be more than 1 battery in the unit? I only have 1, which I have now removed for the winter.

maximo · 12-12-2011, 10:23 AM

When I bought my 3580RL Big Sky it came with one 12 volt battery and at my request the dealer added the second battery at no charge to me. If you are off shore power you can operate the trailer longer off two batteries.

Frank

indy roadrunner · 12-12-2011, 11:12 AM

I think it depends on the type of camping. If you are going to doing a lot of boon docking without shore power then a generator or multiple batteries might be needed. I just have the one battery in my 06 3400 and it is still original equipment. Course most of my camping is at CG with water and electric.
I do have a spare battery I carry mostly for my trolling motor but I could switch out with my camper battery if I had to. I realize I am probably on my last season with the OEM battery anyway.

helmick · 12-12-2011, 11:33 AM

Ours came with two.

HOOK · 12-12-2011, 12:53 PM

We have two.

jmi · 12-12-2011, 01:12 PM

Installed 3 batteries in parallel using a storage container as a box. Vented the container to the existing battery vent. Also installed 5 - 1x2s in the bottom of the container securing them with screws through the bottom of the container. That way the batteries are not sitting in anything that might spill. Used eye screws in the end of the 1x2s, bungi straps for the tie downs. In the box is a battery tender, run an extension cord up through the bottom drain to tender. My Monty has a 12 volt power off switch, I disconnect the power while the tender is running.

Should have took pictures for others, I will when I get to a warmer climate. I expect to spend some time without hookups this winter. Extra batteries came from my boat so I figured I'd keep them cycling through the winter. My dealer was a cheapskate and only provided 1 battery.

8.1al · 12-12-2011, 01:56 PM

As indy roadrunner stated, if you are just going to stay in campgrounds you only need one battery. If you are careful with lights and the furnace doesn't run much you could get by with one battery when staying somewhere overnight with no electric. If you want to do much boondocking you really need at least 2.

**DQDick** · 12-12-2011, 03:13 PM

Just switched from one to two. Added a battery box and tied the vents together using a vacum cleaner hose and a T plumping connector and a couple of hose clamps. Actually ended up adding two new batteries. When I got the new one it made my OEM battery look like a baby. Then I looked at the date on the original and it wasn't punched out so it could be close to three years old. Bought the trailer new this summer, but it was a left over 2010 so I just got another "adult". We do a lot of boondocking while traveling and plan to do some actual boondocking in the near future.

firetrucker · 12-12-2011, 06:50 PM

You could be letting yourself in for some battery problems because they are such different ages. They won't charge the same, their float voltages may be different, and their capacities won't be the same. It's better to have batteries that are the same age, with the same charge/discharge characteristics.

Bob

**Rondo** · 12-12-2011, 07:13 PM

Bob I think Dick said in his thread that he had bought another new one to go with the other one he purchased. That should make things about even now when it comes to charging and etc!

firetrucker · 12-12-2011, 08:34 PM

Oops, just scanned the post and missed that. Thanks for pointing it out.

Bob

**DQDick** · 12-13-2011, 02:48 AM

No problem, but your point is valid. Size and age difference was more than I wanted to risk.

helmick · 12-13-2011, 03:31 AM

When we had one go bad I replaced both,I do the same in my truck.

Art-n-Marge · 12-13-2011, 10:59 AM

Only one battery is required. Our dealer installed the second for "free" which was their policy (which means I paid too much). A typical dual battery system provides more run time than a typical single battery. There are even further ways to improve this by using additional 12v or even converting to multiple 6v batteries connected in serial, then these are connected in parallel as you want longer run times.. Apparently 6v batteries provide even more runtime and better reliability if you can sustain the higher cost and heavier weights.

One of my 12v batteries has since died, so I am back down to a single 12v. When this one goes bye-bye I will purchase two 6v and connect them serially to regain 12v. I may then add two more if I want longer term battery power for more boondocking. Right now, we've not boondocked yet.

mainer · 12-13-2011, 11:57 AM

I see that the thread talks about different sizes of batteries. So would there be a problem with having 2 6v batteries installed in addition to the 12v that came with the rv?

CORattler · 12-13-2011, 04:16 PM

Good thinking! When it comes time, I'll do the same.

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by helmick

When we had one go bad I replaced both,I do the same in my truck.

CORattler · 12-13-2011, 04:23 PM

Excellent question!
Personally, I would use all the same of one type, 6 or 12 volt batteries. Electrically, I believe it would work if wired correctly. Maybe John Kohl will weigh in on this question. He usually has a good grasp on electrical issues.

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by mainer

I see that the thread talks about different sizes of batteries. So would there be a problem with having 2 6v batteries installed in addition to the 12v that came with the rv?

Art-n-Marge · 12-13-2011, 07:05 PM

I read somewhere that whether using 12v or 6v they should be matched. For example, no maintenance with no maintenance, gel with gel. I think this also included not mixing 6v with 12v. I recall this has something to do with problems caused when using multiple batteries with mismatched types or conditions. For example, I started having some serious battery problems, until I found one of the pair of batteries was failing and "dragging the other one down". As soon as I removed the failing battery, the good one perked up and it's doing great. I suppose using batteries with different discharge and recharge rates kinda is what you want to avoid. Can anyone else substantiate this?

Red939 · 12-14-2011, 04:57 AM

We don't dry camp, therefore, one battery works just fine.

mhs4771 · 12-14-2011, 07:13 AM

I think mixing 12 and 6 volt setups, while would work fine (provided everything was wired correctly) I think the problem would come in with the chargeing of them. That's the reasoning of keeping multi-battery all the same size, amp hour ratings, and age. While it should work, I don't think you would get a full charge in all the batteries. I think the first to obtain a full charge would cause the converter/charger to cut back as it would sense a full charge. Now I could be all wet, and if so disregard everything.

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