I know that my current set of batteries are on their last legs. It would make sense to replace them now rather than wait for the fall so that I can cross to the US with a fresh set. I currently have two 6V, but I would want to go with two 12V so I can get more amp hours for the same amount of carrying capacity and space. There’s no sense getting more than two since I only have a 150W solar panel.
Since I installed the current pair of batteries myself, I know that I can install the 12V set myself, too. I’ll just have to make sure that all the new extra wiring is bundled together in positive and negative bunches and labeled correctly.
The thing is, I know that I don’t want to drop a couple hundred on new batteries without getting a battery monitoring system, too. Andy Baird explains battery monitoring systems well in Eureka, so please follow that link to understand what exactly I am talking about. They are like a fuel gauge for your batteries and can help prolong their life through better use. I remember reading the installation instructions almost four years ago and going HUH?! I reread them recently and they still confuse me. So I’m not confident this is work I can do myself. I am especially nervous about breaking my solar system. So if I decide to bite the bullet and pay someone for installation, I need to find someone I can trust to do it. Can anyone recommend an RV battery expert somewhere in the middle of the United States? 🙂 I actually thought of Camping World, since there is one on both the routes I am considering taking to Virginia, but they don’t sell the battery monitors which does not inspire confidence that they would know how to install one.
I am now eagerly awaiting comments from the peanut gallery! 😀
I thought two sixes were better than two twelve volt batteries
Jim, 2 6V are better (have more amp hours) than 1 12V, but not two.
My two 6V give me about 120 usable amp hours (60% capacity of 190 hours). The other option at the time was a 12V with 108 usable amp hours (60% of 180 hours). If got two of those 12V now, I’d have 2×108, or 216 usable amp hours. I’m not doubling my capacity, but 216 is better than 120!
Now, if I had space, carrying capacity, and money galore, yes, four 6V would be better (give me more amp hours) than my 2 12V.
There’s a Camping World in Council Bluffs, Iowa right off I-29 and I-80.
Yes, that’s the one I’m looking at possibly stopping in! They probably allow overnight parking. And casinocamper.com says that parking is okay at the Harrah’s casino, too. Thanks for that bit of info; multiple overnight options are better than just one!
There is a casino with RV parking at the same exit as Camping World. I don’t know what their policies are. Sorry.
Both 6v and 12v batteries are available in multiple sizes and weights, generally two 6v will be slightly smaller/lighter than two 12v of the same total capacity. 220 to 230 Ah (depending on brand) is the most common 6v size.
Blars, it’s been my experience that the 6V are bigger and heavier than the 12V, especially since you need two of the 6 for one of the 12. There is no way I can put four 6V in my battery compartment; they weight 120lbs a piece! My last 12V weighed about 80lbs; I can easily get two of those in there. My current two 6V are really straining my carrying capacity.
I’m not sure if I’m making my point well or not. A pair of 6V will have more amp hours than a single 12V and two pairs of 6V will have more amp hours than two 12V, but 2 12V will have more amp hours than a single pair of 6V.
Merci pour le lien d’Andy Baird, grès intéressant. Il suggère un moniteur de batterie le Link. Regarde le Trimetric 2020 ou 2025. Ils sont meilleurs et plus facile à installer. Je te réfère au lien de handybobsolar, un gourou en la matière: https://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/the-rv-battery-charging-puzzle-2/. Sous la rubrique Monitors, il parle judtement du produit Trimetric.. Une fois installé, tu n’as qu’à le programmer en fonction des spécifications de tes batteries. Je suis certain que tu es capable de le faire. Bonne route Rae!
Merci beaucoup, Ghislain! Votre confiance en moi m’inspire. 🙂
For my English readers, Ghislain is saying that while Andy recommends Xantrex products, there is another monitor called the Trimetric that is better, cheaper, and easier to install. He links to a great site about solar power. Look under Recording Meters to see what Bob has to say about Trimetric products. Once installed, you just have to program it as per your battery specs. He says he thinks that I can do the installation myself and wishes me safe travels.
Quick research on the Trimetric seems to put it at about $75 less than the Xantrex. I am definitely going to check it out!
Petite correction: il aurait fallu lire “Recording Meters” et non “Monitors” dans mon message précédent.
We bought Trimetric. It’s a popular one. A friend installed ours so I know nothing about that except a little technique he used for cutting the hole in the wall. He taped the wall with painter’s blue tape first then marked the tape and made the cut. It made for sharp edges with little mess.
Linda, when I install my controller, I am hoping it will fit over the solar controller over the fridge because it would be easier to cut into that panel than into the wall (http://travelswithmiranda.uskeba.ca/?attachment_id=11491). I just wish I’d had the foresight to plan this and had the solar controller installed higher up since I would refer to the battery monitor more often.
http://www.mrsharkey.com/solar.htm
Look down at the EMeter (not the Scientology one by the way). A really great device I have used for many years to manage batteries and solar systems. I just found the above link on Google – I have no affiliation 😉