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Old 07-27-2010, 07:28 AM   #1
Montana5
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Adding a battery

Our rig is a 300RK pulled with a Ford 250 Diesel. I intend to add a second house battery.
Questions:
1. The existing battery is the 2006 original. Should I buy 2 new ones/
2. Should it be vented? My experience with marine installations suggest no.
3. Will there be any problems with the Ford's alternator or the trailers converter?
Don
 
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Old 07-27-2010, 07:41 AM   #2
H. John Kohl
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I feel dual batteries should be replaced at the same time. An older weaker battery can drag the newer one down. (the weak link theory.)
Most definitely bottom drain and top vented to outside just like the bilges of a boat.
There should be no problem as long as neither are trying to recharge "dead" batteries and draw too much current.
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Old 07-27-2010, 09:26 AM   #3
Art-n-Marge
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Besides all the things H. John Kohl mentions, make sure you connect the batteries so they are "under load" evenly. That is, with both batteries connected in parallel, if the one battery has its positive connected to the rig, then the OTHER battery must have its negative connected to Chassis Ground so that both batteries are used for the electrical load. DO NOT use the same battery for both connections!
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Old 07-27-2010, 11:31 AM   #4
deadeye
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Some good suggestions listed. I went with the GEL batteries and done away with the vent system. As suggested, you should put in two batteries of equal life expectency.....JB
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Old 07-27-2010, 02:55 PM   #5
Jolu
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In addition to all the good points mentioned above I will add the following site for simple wiring methods used when wiring more than one battery together. The methods are different between 6 volt and 12 volt batteries.

Battery Wiring
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Old 07-27-2010, 02:58 PM   #6
noneck
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I did break the rules a bit with mine...all were "nearly new" but have mine connect like this diagram.

See my sig below...yes (2) group 27's and (1) group 24

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