Adding a battery for boondocking

[CyberVet65]

OK. I need some simple electronics training.
Two batterys
power lead from positive and negative lead of one battery.
Then link both batterys positive to positive and negative to negative equals ==== 24 VDC?
OR
The link battery positive to negative of other battery and link negative to positive ===== 12VDC with LOTS of amps?
Thanks
Chet

[CyberVet65]

OK. I need some simple electronics training.
Two batterys
power lead from positive and negative lead of one battery.
Then link both batterys positive to positive and negative to negative equals ==== 24 VDC?
OR
The link battery positive to negative of other battery and link negative to positive ===== 12VDC with LOTS of amps?
Thanks
Chet

[Hitchhiker]

Chet,

If you want to hook them up to get 12 volts, they need to connected in parallel. Connect the two positive terminals to each other and then the two negatives to each other. That will get you twice as much amperage with the same amount (12 volts) of voltage available.

Not sure why you'd want to hook them up to get 24 volts with an RV, but if thats' what you're after they'll have to be connected in series.

[CyberVet65]

The camper has a compartment where the gen set was. It is wired to the battery in the unit. It would be a "no brainer" to put a bigger deep cycle in that hole where the gen set was. Then I got lots of amps to keep the lights on late at night!
Chet

[3DMYWAY]

Careful...
If the compartment previously had a bettery, I expect the wires might be the 115 VAC to the converter and other AC stuff, and/or the 12 volt set of wires for the generator starter, which probably has a switch located somewhere in the camper. You could get hurt if you are not carelful here! You would want to find the 12 volt wires, remove the switch since it would be a momentary switch and be worthless, and intall a spst, high current switch (suggest a push pull - Western Auto) and two auto reset breakers, about 40 amps or more each, both cheap about $10 each. Install switch in positive side wiring from new to old battery,and the breakers close to each battery on positive side (hot) wiring between the two batteries. You can get an 80 amp 125 VAC slide switch in a steel box at Lowes for $20-30, which is what I did to add a second battery (did not find the push pull switch source til later which is identical to what is in the Lance) Remove the switch (easy) and throw away the steel box, but keep the switch and install it near battery. Hook up the battery using large diameter wire 4-6 AWG, keeping runs short as possible (the existing wire might be small gauge if (probably) a starting relay for the generator was used. Any questions, send me a message.