Additional Batteries for 35MKO?

[Jim & Trish Chandler]

I currently have two 12V deep cycle batteries in our coach and am interested in adding two more. Have any of you creative folks added an additional battery compartment somewhere or have a suggestion as to where I could add one?

[Jim & Trish Chandler]

I currently have two 12V deep cycle batteries in our coach and am interested in adding two more. Have any of you creative folks added an additional battery compartment somewhere or have a suggestion as to where I could add one?

[Endeavor2BnC]

Have you looked at the generator compartment? That's where most people I know have added them.

[Jim & Trish Chandler]

I have an ONAN 5500 in the generator compartment. Did the folks you know build a seperate compartment in the generator compartment?

[LindaH]

We have 4 AGM batteries that we have in the compartment at the front of the rig (under the bedroom overhang). The compartment that was meant for the batteries is now used to house our 50-amp electrical cord.

Since we don't have the built-in generator, I don't know where PI installs it...if it's in the front compartment, then our solution may not work for you.

[Endeavor2BnC]

The one I saw most closely had built a seperate holder on the drivers side of the generator compartment. He was solar powered and had placed a dc outlet on the left front under the nose near the gen compartment doors. He said it worked fine for him.

I'm actually in the process of giving serious thought to getting rid of the 5500 Onan for storage and battery space. I've yet to use the genset other than running for PMS. I'd also add a couple of solar panels up top.

[rockintom]

Workshop has a third battery and I think he's thinking about another one, making his 4 (group 27).....His is mounted in the curbside genbox. Right now he has his third one in a marine battery case. He doesn't have a genset though. Chris is very creative! Maybe he'll chime in and tell you "where you can put it".

[Workshop]

Not having a generator, I used that space to add a single #27 deep cycle in a plastic battery box. Have three batteries total. Sounds odd and had not planned on it being that way for this long. It's still working so haven't upgraded yet.

When I bought the unit it had been on the dealer lot for about a year, sure the batteries were weak for part of it and dead the rest. The batteries indicated they were 3 years old. Did heavy battery maintenance, which included several deep charges to reduce sulfation and equalized the cells. Been waiting on the batteries to fail, but still going. 6V batteries will replace them when they go. The story on the 'single' battery___designed the space for two, had a new #27 I removed from the prior and installed it until I need more 12v power in the future. Using my Excel allowance on other things. Haven't done a lot of off 120 ac camping so not a priorty at this time. Just like having a second bank if necessary.

To me the generator compartment is the ideal space for the batteries as my main storage doesn't have as much height as newer models. When I setup the shelves and storage in that compartment, I designed the lower shelf with enought height to allow the battery boxes to slip under neath. If I add another battery there, Might be best to have a battery tray of some sort that slides out making it easier to access. You will need to add a switch/selector for the battery banks and I decided to rewire everything dealing with the batteries and installing a 12vdc recepticle in that same area as the switch. As my unit had the 9100 series converter, I also added the Charge Wizard. What a difference from my prior's converter. Page 1, post 6 of '101' shows part of my setup and has a drawing of how I wired the batteries.

Not knowing how much space the gen set takes up, or how easy access to the batteries in the main storage area would be, would need to consider the weight and venting the batteries as well.

Hope something helped

[Jim & Trish Chandler]

Thanks to all who replied! On the road side of the generator, it appears to have room for me to add two 6volt deep cycle batteries if I build a way to stack them. The generator compartment is ventilated to allow cooling. Do you think this will be adequate venting for two batteries? I would like to have a total of (4) Trojen T-105 deep cycle batteries. Two in the regular battery compartment and two in the generator compartment. (am moving toward solar) Thanks for all the responses, please continue the suggestions... This will be one of my Winter projects...

[Steve,N,Jan]

My old 5er,SOB had a extra battery in the generator compartment ,it was in a enclosed box with a vent hose on top leading to the compartment door and a vent tube out the bottom of the box that went through the compartment floor 3 inches to let fumes out as well as pipeong any leakage weel out of harms way .I thought it was a great set up

[HB Phil]

I have 4 ea. 4D size batteries (about 800 Amp Hours) in my front compartment which also houses the inverter and solar controller.

I also have two group 27's in the regular battery compartment that are isolated from the main battery bank.

I chose to go with solar power, about 800 Watts, and a large battery bank in there rather than getting a generator installed. Since I've got electronics in a sealed compartment so I went with the AGM's.

For non-solar charging I have a 100 amp charger/inverter combo and a Yamaha 2400IS.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jim & Trish Chandler:
Thanks to all who replied! On the road side of the generator, it appears to have room for me to add two 6volt deep cycle batteries if I build a way to stack them. The generator compartment is ventilated to allow cooling. Do you think this will be adequate venting for two batteries? I would like to have a total of (4) Trojen T-105 deep cycle batteries. Two in the regular battery compartment and two in the generator compartment. (am moving toward solar) Thanks for all the responses, please continue the suggestions... This will be one of my Winter projects... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>