Question on house batteries

[Engle]

I have a 2006 Allegro Bay 34-XB.
When I purchased it last year, It had only one house battery that was mounted under the entrance steps. It looks like there is room for one more battery.If I added another one, Is there some type of harness that I need to get?
Do I just need two short cables to connect them parallel?
Can I hook up a year old battery along side with a new battery?
I see where some owners have 4 or 6 house batteries.....Where do they put them in a model like mine.

Thanks, Leo

[CLIFFTALL]

Two six volt are the norm for house batteries , that just run the house.

[Selah]

If you only have one battery chances are it is not a deep cycle. Typically a 12 volt deep cycle is more expensive that two 6 volt deep cycle. Check the label, if it refers to Cold Cranking Amps, CCA, then it not deep cycle. If shows the number of Amp Hours then it is deep cycle.
You definitely want deep cycle for the house batteries. If you current battery is not deep cycle then I would suggest getting rid of it and replacing it with two 6 volt golf cart type batteries.
You should not mix old and new batteries in a bank, especially if you do not know how those batteries were treated before.

[bobandshaz]

Good stuff THANKS

[camaraderie]

Of course...the golf cart batteries need to fit your space under the steps. If they won't...don't hesitate to use a couple of TRUE deep cycle 12V batts in parallel to do the job.


Just get the largest size that will fit your space available. If GC batteries WILL fit...try sams and costco for the best deals and don't worry about the label.

[danf7]

I have an Open Road 2008 32BA Fred and just replaced my house batteries with two Interstate. Run them in a series. There is room under the steps for two.
Dan

[adonh]

Originally Posted by Selah

If you only have one battery chances are it is not a deep cycle. Typically a 12 volt deep cycle is more expensive that two 6 volt deep cycle. Check the label, if it refers to Cold Cranking Amps, CCA, then it not deep cycle. If shows the number of Amp Hours then it is deep cycle.
You definitely want deep cycle for the house batteries. If you current battery is not deep cycle then I would suggest getting rid of it and replacing it with two 6 volt golf cart type batteries.
You should not mix old and new batteries in a bank, especially if you do not know how those batteries were treated before.

My 2005 Airstream 39' DP Freightliner has 2 Interstate 4D-XHD house batteries. I have been told they are not deep cycle and as indicated on the link it refers to cold cranking amps and CCA. These are new batteries that replaced the same type battery less than a year ago. They work and hold a charge and recharge from the Xantrex Freedom 458 Invertor/charger.

4DXHD Batteries - Workaholic - Int Comm 6M Free - 1000 CCA

[paz]

Originally Posted by Engle

I have a 2006 Allegro Bay 34-XB.
When I purchased it last year, It had only one house battery that was mounted under the entrance steps. It looks like there is room for one more battery.If I added another one, Is there some type of harness that I need to get?
Do I just need two short cables to connect them parallel?
Can I hook up a year old battery along side with a new battery?
I see where some owners have 4 or 6 house batteries.....Where do they put them in a model like mine.

Thanks, Leo

Tiffin supplies two 6 volt batteries on all their front engine motorhomes. I suspect the previous owner replaced them with one 12 volt battery. As has been suggested, it is probably a marine battery that is not a true deep cycle battery.

You will be better off replacing the existing battery with two 6 volt golf cart batteries. A couple of people have provided diagrams showing how to wire the pair of 6 volt batteries in series. Sam's Club and Costco are good sources for 6 volt GC batteries. The cost us usually under $90 each.

Front engine coaches usually have the house batteries under the steps, and there is usually room for only 2 of them. Coaches with 4, 6 or more batteries are diesel pushers that have a special compartment just for batteries.

I read an article where someone got a couple of racks welded to the MH frame under the slide to add another pair of batteries; but when you do that, you need to be careful to make sure you have heavy enough cables so you don't create too much resistance because of the extra length of those cables.

[tanstaafl]

Originally Posted by paz

Front engine coaches usually have the house batteries under the steps, and there is usually room for only 2 of them. Coaches with 4, 6 or more batteries are diesel pushers.........

My 36LA has 4 batteries that came with the optional residential refrigerator.

[Steve N Sal]

Someone probably replaced your two 6 volt deep cycle battery system for one 12 volt. As mentioned if that's the case be sure it's "deep cycle" to do the job. You mentioned 4 - 6 battery systems. They are mostly found on the Diesel Pusher coaches.

[paz]

Originally Posted by tanstaafl

My 36LA has 4 batteries that came with the optional residential refrigerator.

Guess I should have put the words "as standard equipment" in my statement. Thanks for setting me straight.