Adding coach batteries

[Alleyman]

HAVE A 2004 DOLPHIN 5355. WOULD LIKE TO ADD TWO MORE 6 v BATTERIES. Has anyone else done this? Where is best location? Presently under entry steps.
Thanks.

[coulter6]

I added 2 additional 6v batteries to my 2005 Sea Breeze 8321LX. Initially, I just added a battery box to the storage compartment behind the entry door. I left the two original batteries under the stairs and just ran additional wires to the box. I wasn't real happy with the arrangement because of taking up the space in the bin and lack of ventilation.


I decided to move all the batteries to the compartment in front of the door where the inverted and other electronics were located. I found a sliding battery tray that was oriented the correct way and went to work. (Fleming Sales OEM Products) The bin was just big enough to put the tray and the coach battery.


I relocated my solar controller to the area where the inverter was located.


Removed the carpeting and sanded off the old glue, cut vent holes, and painted it with spray truck bedding


Installed tray




Repositioning the wiring.


Finished. It's a breeze to check the water level.


I isolated the electronics area from the battery area by using foam door insulation and some left over scrapes of wood.


Let me know if you have any questions.

Good luck with your project. The additional batteries are well worth the effort.

[Ramblin]

Very nice upgrade, coulter6!

Its worth pointing out that batteries produce hydrogen gas, thus THE VENTILATION YOU SEE IS NOT OPTIONAL, nor is it overkill. You'll notice how much ventilation coulter6 used, it is necessary. I'd have a concern about putting the batteries that close to so many potential spark sources, but you ventilated well and seperated the electronics from the batteries.

Also, coulter6 didn't mention that for 6V batteries, you wire them in series pairs to get to 12v, then wire the 12v pairs in parallel.

[Bill WA6YBD]

I added 4 additional batteries to my coach a little over a year ago. I put them over the LP tank. Not sure how to link to the original post I posted but here is a link. Let me know if the link does not work and I will dig up the original photos. I now have a total of 6 batteries ~660 amps of power. works great!

heres the link:

Adding extra coach batteries

~Bill