replacing house batteries!!

[forest55]

I have a class A motorhome and I need to replace the house batteries! I have (now) 4 /12 volt deep cycle batteries ( hooked up in parallel) and I would like to replace them with 4 six volt batteries but I am not sure how to install them anyone with good knowledge - advice would be appreciated I was told that replacing the twelve volts with the six volts will help with more boondocking power any thoughts?? thank you

[wildtoad]

Without getting into great detail, and many on this list are much more knowlegable than I on this, if you want to replace 4 12v batteries with 6 volt I believe you will need 8 of them. It takes two 6v batteries in series to provide the 12 volts needed by your mh.

[Harry B]

No 4 batteries are fine. You connect 2 batteries in series to come up to 12 volts. You do the same for the other 2 remaining 6 volt batteries batteries. Now you coonct the two sets you made in parallel .

If this gives you more reserve amps than you 12 volt set depends on their reserve rating. Reserve capacity for batteries in parallel are added together. Incase of the two batteries in series you only take the capacity of one battery.

So incase of 4 six volt bstteries you only take the reserve rating of 2 of the batteries(usually about 200 amps each.

[Dave78Chief]

From the 12 Volt Side of Life (The 12volt Side of Life (Part 1)):



Dave

[nam.64]

So many batteries to choose from...is there a concensus as to the best 6v deep cycle batteries..
I've seen "Advanced Auto Parts", "Battery Depot", "Sears", "Sams Club", "Walmart" and a couple of other places.
While price matters, the best bang for the buck is what I'm looking for.
Thanks in advance,
Norm
nam.64@cox.net

[Dave78Chief]

Best bang for the buck is sort of relatie to you own personnal desires. You can go cheaper which may have a shorter battery life or go a little more expensive and have a longer battery life.

I suspect most would agree that Trojan T-105 (http://www.trojanbattery.com/pdf/TRJN0175_RECColl.pdf) or Interstate U-2200 (Interstate Batteries) are some of the best wet cell batteries. The Trojan GC2 AGM batteries are would be the next step up (also in the Trojan pdf).

Dave

[msbrown79]

HI,
If we replace 8 6v with 8 12v , how do you add the 12v ah becuase they are parrelel altogether?... 6v you would only add 3 ah because series? AGM trojan 6v

[Dave78Chief]

For 12VDC: You simply multiply the AH of 1 battery times the the number of batteries. If you have eight 12VDC batteries each with a 20/hr rate of 105AH then 8 X 105 = 840AH

For 6VDC: It takes two 6VDC batteries in series to make one 12VDC set. WHen you do that you only double the voltage for that set. The AH stays the same for the battery set. If you have eight 6VDC batteries each with a 20/hr rate of 2255AH then you only have four 12VDC pairs at 225AH /pair. So 4 X 225 = 900AH

It is the high AH rating of the 6VDC batteries (225AH) and the heavy duty construction that makes the 6 VDC deep cycle batteries attractive.

AGM is a little less AH wise per battery but the design is more robust and lasts longer.

Dave

[msbrown79]

THank you for the info. The 12v are 2 inches longer so we have decided to go with 8 lifeline gpl-4ct to replace our 8 agm trojans. Have you had any dealings with on line. We would save tax and 25$ a battery, plus no shipping right now. How would you know if you would get an old battery.

[camper8251]

I purchased some lifelines for my camper. I love them, maint. free, and last a way lot longer. I bought them from Batteries - Golf Cart - Marine - Deep Cycle - Motorcycle - RV - Powerstride. They are located in CA. and offer FREE SHIPPING! Cant beat that! Good luck!