Auxilliary batteries

[RWaldbart]

Hi,

I'd like to supplement my single 12V 'house' battery provided by the manufacturer with some additional batteries. (I've already got a "system" sort of cobbled together by a local battery supply business but it's clear I need to understand what I have and maybe improve it.)

Since I don't know too much about this I'm busy reviewing my 12V info for boats and so forth that I have had limited experience with.

One of the first questions I'm wondering about is 'recharging'. Fortunately, I ordered my 2001 Ford F550 with two alternators. Are the specs regarding output buried somewhere in the owner's manual?

Thanks
Rick Waldbart
2001 F550
Bigfoot 3000

[RWaldbart]

Hi,

I'd like to supplement my single 12V 'house' battery provided by the manufacturer with some additional batteries. (I've already got a "system" sort of cobbled together by a local battery supply business but it's clear I need to understand what I have and maybe improve it.)

Since I don't know too much about this I'm busy reviewing my 12V info for boats and so forth that I have had limited experience with.

One of the first questions I'm wondering about is 'recharging'. Fortunately, I ordered my 2001 Ford F550 with two alternators. Are the specs regarding output buried somewhere in the owner's manual?

Thanks
Rick Waldbart
2001 F550
Bigfoot 3000

[Scooter]

Does your Bigfoot have a built-in generator? If so, you might consider the addition of an inverter/charger.

We sold our Arctic Fox camper but we modified it by combining the battery compartment with an adjacent storage compartment into one big, divided,compartment which housed four 6V golf cart batteries and the Xantrex 2000watt inverter/charger. The AFox came with a Generac 3.4 generator.

[RV Wizard]

Here is a good source of info on batteries:
www.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/12volt/12volt.htm http://www.dcbattery.com/faq.html#1
http://www.usbattery.com/care.htm
http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Bat...ery%20Charging

[RWaldbart]

RV Wizard,

Thanks for the pointers, a good review and reminders.

Scooter, yes, I've got a generator and orignal equipment "charger" along with idiot lights for a power management panel.

I think you're right and the direction I'm heading is 1)do the best I can to make sure I understand what I've got...one 12 V deep cycle as the 'house', on passenger side of unit, connected to the unit's circuit 'theoretically' charged with the house charger along with four 6V batts that sit in a storage compartment on the flat bed. This bank is charged with a lead from the truck battery (have two alternators...110 amp, I understand now). This bank is located on the passenger side of my vehicle and is then led via a small guage wire to the 7 pin receptacle, ugh, on the driver's side. 2)Improve the wiring arrangement by leading the 4 6V directly back to the house bank and increasing the gauge of the wire doing so. 3)Maybe add a boat sort of switch "ONE/TWO/All: sort of thing for gen starts 4) add an inverter/charger with a much more sophisticated panel that will be similar to what I've had on sailboats and shows at least voltage in both banks, amps in from different charging sources and out under different loads. This is information I used to have with at least 10 yr old technology on boats and could be more detailed now.

I'd also like to have made up some cables that allow me to directly "jump" unit batteries directly from truck batteries for those times all fails and you need a little charge to start that generator.

Thanks again, both of you guys
Rick Waldbart