BLUE SEA BATTERY BOX AND 6 VOLTS INSTALLED

[jackel1959]

Well, I got it done. The Blue Sea Systems battery Box and two new 6 Volt batteries are installed. Everything went smoothly and looks and works great. Below are a couple of photos and a link to a slide-show with a complete description of the install. Thanks to all those who answered my questions and concerns prior to me tackling this job.
Battery Install

Jack


Stock battery box with vent hose to outside vent on front wall of the generator compartment.


This is the new Blue Sea Systems battery box dry fitted into the compartment and vent hole on bottom marked for cutting.


I got my batteries at Les Schwab. They are the same specs as the Trojan T105 but about $60 less each. Works for me .

[Rondo]

Nice job Jack! If I decide to install the same are you available??

[mail2us]

Hey Senior Chief Jack,

I clicked your attachment and it didn't come up??

What is the Blue Sea Sys batter box? Tks. Dennis

[exav8tr]

Jack, that is a fine looking install. Would like to see the slide show but it won't come up for me either. Out of curiosity, due you do a lot of boonkocking or did you just want a better 12 volt system, or both??? Did you, perhaps, install the Iota Smart charger also? We don't boondock and have had to replace our OEM battery after 2 1/2 years and just put in a Wally special out of neccssity. I would like to do this next time but not sure if it is worth the money for us.... Thanks Phil

[1Happycamper]

Jack..Nice job. The slide show worked for me.

Bill

[jackel1959]

Dennis & Judy: The Blue Sea Battery Box System is just the name of the particular battery box I installed. It works great for me because it is sealed and I could adapt the vents from the old box to it. I tried the slide show link this morning and it worked. I will put an additional link below.

Phil: We don't do a lot of boon docking, but did want to upgrade from the single 12 volt that came with the rig. I always said I was going to do this upgrade on the Mountaineer, but never got around to it. The box was right around $100 and the batteries were $211, the labor was free

Here is another link to the photos, if this doesn't work, I can add more photos to my original post. Let me know. Alternate Photo Link If you get to the photos via this link, you can scroll through the photos by selecting them in the upper left portion of your screen. There are descriptions below each photo.

Jack

[exav8tr]

Thanks Jack....

[jackel1959]

quote:Originally posted by Rondo

Nice job Jack! If I decide to install the same are you available??

Rondo,
This could be a Quartzsite project
Jack

[jackel1959]

Phil,
I did not install an "Iota" Smart Charger but we have a Xantrex converter which I think does a better job at maintaining the batteries than other converter/chargers. Here is what the specs say:

Xantrex Three-Stage Battery Charging
"Advanced multi-stage battery chargers, including Xantrex converters, ensure that batteries receive optimum charging, with the delivery of an accurate three-stage charge cycle. Three-stage charging results in batteries charging faster and more effectively than with a regular converter.

This maximizes the amount of time that full AC power is available to the modern, electrically dependent RV, and minimizes generator
runtime.

All Xantrex converters feature a microprocessor-controlled three-stage charging process commonly found in advanced battery chargers.
These three stages are known as the bulk, absorption, and float stages, and follow the ideal charge curves provided by manufacturers of deep-cycle batteries used commonly in large RVs.

The microprocessor controller cycles the converter through these stages, by precisely regulating the voltage and current delivered to the battery.

Cycling through these stages during charging ensures a fast, safe and complete charge, without risk of excessive gassing, over-charging
and battery damage.

The first stage in the charging process - bulk – is a constant current mode that replaces 80% of the battery’s capacity very quickly. The charger applies its maximum output current, or as much as the battery will take, while the battery voltage rises (see Figure 1). When the battery voltage reaches a predetermined level, the absorption voltage, operation switches to the next stage.

The second stage – absorption – is a constant voltage mode and replaces the remaining 20% capacity. The charger voltage is held steady while the current falls as the battery approaches full charge.

In the final stage - float - the charger voltage is lowered and held constant at a safe value of 13.5 volts DC. This prevents the battery from being overcharged, while allowing the charger to supply enough current to maintain the battery at a full state of charge. The float stage makes up for the self-discharge losses of the battery and enables support of additional DC loads on the RV."

[exav8tr]

Sound good to me, thanks for the explanation....

[Exnavydiver]

I got my Blue Sea box yesterday, will wait till the first of the month to get the batteries. I have had the jumper since I got the rig, so all I have to do is cut the old vents out of the old box and install them into the Blue Sea, Thanks for the great pics and instructions... Dave

[Trailer Trash 2]

Great looking battery box I am going to call go2marine tomorrow and ask if my 2 6 volt "US 145" will fit in there box the 145 batteries are bigger than the standard golf cart battery so they tell me, I did get some measurments from Jack but I think mine are bigger I'll have to go to the storage lot and do a measureing, I would hate to order the box and the batteries not fit becaus of there height.

[mail2us]

Jack, thanks for the addtl info. I was able to view the slideshow. My error with a software issue...tks. Nice job.

[Exnavydiver]

Don, the measurements for the 4021 are as follows width 10.75 (inside) 14.25(outside), Length 14.75(inside)18.25(outside), Height 11.50(inside) 13.5(outside). So as long as your batteries are 11.5" or less then they will fit fine... Dave

[Trailer Trash 2]

quote:Originally posted by Exnavydiver

Don, the measurements for the 4021 are as follows width 10.75 (inside) 14.25(outside), Length 14.75(inside)18.25(outside), Height 11.50(inside) 13.5(outside). So as long as your batteries are 11.5" or less then they will fit fine... Dave

Thanks Dave, and Jack for all your help, I just got back from the storage lot and measured the batteries I'm 10.25 long, 7 inches wide, and 11 inches high, and 12 inches high to the top of the battery post. what I need to know is the top of the Blue Sea box is it recessed inside to allow for the post height?

Thanks Don

[Exnavydiver]

yes it is, about an inch or so, as the bottom. The dimensions are from the high point on the bottom to the low points on the lid..

[Trailer Trash 2]

quote:Originally posted by Exnavydiver

yes it is, about an inch or so, as the bottom. The dimensions are from the high point on the bottom to the low points on the lid..

OK, so the batteries will fit then if I understand what you are saying.

[Exnavydiver]

YES

[K&Gs3400RL]

What's the advantage of using six volt batteries?

[scductman]

Two 6v will hold a charge alot longer than one 12v thats why they use them in golf carts.
bobby