12v to 6v wiring changes

[RoadEyePie]

Switching from 12v to 6v. I know that the two 12v batteries were wired in parallel and I need to wire the two 6v batteries in series. In the parallel diagram there was a cable running from pos. to pos. terminal and a wire running from neg. to neg. terminal. Other than that there was a pos. and neg. from the generator which I assume I need to connect to either of the 6v battery's pos. and neg. terminal. Should the positive cable be on one battery and the negative on the other battery? Or does it matter?

I know I need to change the wiring so I run a jumper from 1st battery's positive to the 2nd battery's negative. (and drop the pos. to pos. and neg. to neg. cables)

I have two other (red) cables leaving the battery box going to where they need to go. I assume I can connect them to either battery's pos. post. I also have three negative feeds leaving the battery box. What do I need to know to make this switch?

[twinboat]

Run one cable from positive post on one 6 volt battery to negetive post on the other 6 volt battery. YOUR DONE WITH THEM TWO POSTS. Nothing else will ever go on them.

Now you have a empty positive post and a empty negetive post, to get your 12 volts from. Hook up your cables like you have one 12 volt battery.

[AnotherMike]

The diagram below may help.

Mike

[RoadEyePie]

Originally Posted by twinboat

Run one cable from positive post on one 6 volt battery to negetive post on the other 6 volt battery. YOUR DONE WITH THEM TWO POSTS. Nothing else will ever go on them.

Now you have a empty positive post and a empty negetive post, to get your 12 volts from. Hook up your cables like you have one 12 volt battery.

Boy that simplifies everything. Dam why didn't my brain think of that. Bad brain.

Well that kills this thread because there isn't anything anybody else can add to that.

[Dutch Star Don]

One thing you should always do to check your work when you're done changing or repairing batteries. Get a volt meter out and attach it to the negative terminal and positive terminal that will be your final connection points for the RV. Make sure the meter reads 12 volts. This helps to avoid any brain farts.

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

One thing you should always do to check your work when you're done changing or repairing batteries. Get a volt meter out and attach it to the negative terminal and positive terminal that will be your final connection points for the RV. Make sure the meter reads 12 volts. This helps to avoid any brain farts.

X2! Great advice Don!

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by RoadEyePie

Boy that simplifies everything. Dam why didn't my brain think of that. Bad brain.

Well that kills this thread because there isn't anything anybody else can add to that.

Most people that use 6 volt batteries buy four and do the series/parallel arrangement. That doubles your current capacity!

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by twinboat

Run one cable from positive post on one 6 volt battery to negetive post on the other 6 volt battery. YOUR DONE WITH THEM TWO POSTS. Nothing else will ever go on them.

Now you have a empty positive post and a empty negetive post, to get your 12 volts from. Hook up your cables like you have one 12 volt battery.

I have two other (red) cables leaving the battery box going to where they need to go. I assume I can connect them to either battery's pos. post. I also have three negative feeds leaving the battery box. What do I need to know to make this switch?

2 other Red Cables........connect to the Empty Pos Post along with your RV 12VDC Pos Cable
3 Negative Feeds...........connect to the Empty Neg Post along wih your RV 12VDC Neg Cable

[RoadEyePie]

I've read that "if a battery has a rating of 100AH @ 20 Hr rate, it can be discharged over 20 hours with a 5 amp load".

The term "discharged" means what? Discharged down to 80% of capacity, 0% of capacity?

[Winemaker2]

"Well that kills this thread because there isn't anything anybody else can add to that."

One addition I'd make with multi cables connected to one post...
Clean all terminals well.
Best practice is to place largest cable / terminal first and in direct contact with lead contact area around the threaded post.
Then add additional terminals in decreasing cable size without any washers between.
If more than 4 connections best to use a buss bar and limit the # on the posts to 1 or 2.
Lastly apply a protective coating... batty terminal spray, grease, etc
Add rubber terminal boots to Post posts to avoid any chance of shorting out with a dropped tool, etc.

[RoadEyePie]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

Most people that use 6 volt batteries buy four and do the series/parallel arrangement. That doubles your current capacity!

Only got room for 2 in the fifth wheel. Generator takes up a lot of room.

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by RoadEyePie

I've read that "if a battery has a rating of 100AH @ 20 Hr rate, it can be discharged over 20 hours with a 5 amp load".

The term "discharged" means what? Discharged down to 80% of capacity, 0% of capacity?

Discharged means 10.6 volts or 0% capacity.

Don't go lower and recharge soon after.

[RoadEyePie]

Originally Posted by twinboat

Discharged means 10.6 volts or 0% capacity.

Don't go lower and recharge soon after.

I assume that measurement is taken after it sits for a while under little to no demands on it.

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by RoadEyePie

Only got room for 2 in the fifth wheel. Generator takes up a lot of room.

In that case, what is the advantage of going to 6 volt batteries?