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03-22-2010, 12:55 AM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Kernville
Posts: 24
M.O.C. #10198
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6volt vs, 12volt
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.
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03-22-2010, 01:02 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Livermore
Posts: 5,146
M.O.C. #1920
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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.
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Ron and Terrie Ames - MOC #1920/KF0NTA
2021Montana 3230CK Super Solar Legacy Package
2021 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn, BIM Charging
4x4, SRW, LB, Crew Cab, Pullrite 3900 Hitch
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03-22-2010, 04:37 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Kville
Posts: 2,865
M.O.C. #7871
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Two six volt batterys are better than two 12 volt batterys.
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03-22-2010, 04:51 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Indian Land
Posts: 1,142
M.O.C. #9808
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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.
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03-22-2010, 04:59 AM
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#5
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Friendship, Maine
Posts: 483
M.O.C. #6338
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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
__________________
2012 Big Sky 3400, now an SOB 5th wheel
2007 Montana 3075 previously
2015 GMC 3500 Dually
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03-22-2010, 05:48 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Gardnerville
Posts: 749
M.O.C. #2165
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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
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03-22-2010, 06:32 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: K.C.
Posts: 11,731
M.O.C. #5980
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Got my 6 volts at Sam's, I have two, love them.
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03-22-2010, 06:59 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Santa Fe Springs
Posts: 4,189
M.O.C. #639
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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
__________________
Pulling a 2004, 2980 RL an oldie but goodie.
Tow vehicle is a 2009 RED RAM 3500 DRW.
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03-22-2010, 07:52 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Murrieta
Posts: 5,816
M.O.C. #9257
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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.
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03-22-2010, 08:19 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: corning
Posts: 694
M.O.C. #6635
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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!
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03-22-2010, 12:50 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Apache Junction
Posts: 1,732
M.O.C. #7487
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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.
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03-22-2010, 03:56 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Benson
Posts: 3,121
M.O.C. #1658
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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
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03-22-2010, 04:15 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Santa Fe Springs
Posts: 4,189
M.O.C. #639
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Quote:
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
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I agree with you 8.1al, a electrican friend of mine said all batteries are made the same and eventually last the same too.
__________________
Pulling a 2004, 2980 RL an oldie but goodie.
Tow vehicle is a 2009 RED RAM 3500 DRW.
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03-23-2010, 08:57 AM
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#14
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Friendship, Maine
Posts: 483
M.O.C. #6338
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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
__________________
2012 Big Sky 3400, now an SOB 5th wheel
2007 Montana 3075 previously
2015 GMC 3500 Dually
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03-23-2010, 11:21 AM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Indian Land
Posts: 1,142
M.O.C. #9808
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Quote:
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
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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.
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03-23-2010, 03:20 PM
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#16
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Friendship, Maine
Posts: 483
M.O.C. #6338
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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
__________________
2012 Big Sky 3400, now an SOB 5th wheel
2007 Montana 3075 previously
2015 GMC 3500 Dually
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03-30-2010, 09:35 PM
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#17
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Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 37
M.O.C. #7530
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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.
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