6 Volt batteries??

[Windzup]

Anybody, anybody?

OK - I swapped out my 12V rv batteries for 2 6v batteries run in parallel. The advantage is they work through a greater range of being charged.

Now I want to do the same for the van - has anybody replaced that monster 12v house battery for a pair, or a quad of 6v 's?

Is there any reason at all why this has not become the norm? Almost everybody I know with an RV has made this switch.

Thanks in advance.

Mike

[Greg In Austin]

more batteries = more connections and more wiring and more terminals and more difficult monitoring = more potential failure points.

Are the 6v batts wet cells ? ...this means more maintenance as well...
...and potentially a shorter life with deeper depth of discharge...

Typically we are not looking for 'power' per say but amp hours. For an EV often designs call for more batts with smaller voltages to end up supplying more 'power'.

I think the real question would be what is the problem that you are trying to solve by going to the 6v batts...??

[jage]

Originally Posted by Windzup

Is there any reason at all why this has not become the norm? Almost everybody I know with an RV has made this switch.

I've heard of travel trailer guys doing this. How many people with RVs do you know, what type and what is their reason for doing this?

I'm wondering if it's like a Class A thing (doubtful), TT thing that got caught up by RVer's, trendy ("it's better" "why?" "*everybody's* doing it"), or an actual advantage, and it what case?

I'm not throwing out my twin 4Ds for anything less than an extra week of power, although there might be merit in replacing them down the road if the 6vs don't get hit as hard by major power sucking like my toaster, although even longer life under the toaster strain might not be worth converting.

[Ford_6L_E350]

Since my van batteries (the starting batteries) are 4 years old and in good shape, and I expect them to last for 3-4 more years I would replace them with identical batteries. The good service from them would give me no reason to want to experiment with something else.

I did have some difficulties with the house (camper) batteries, but that was solved when I installed the solar panel. Again, no reason to experiment with something else. Particularly since it would mean some rewiring to series batteries that are now in parallel.

Mike

[jage]

I believe you would replace each battery with 6vs in series so fitting and securing would be more of a problem than actual wiring. Positive in, negative out, 2 6vs in series between, repeat for your other battery.

But I'm guessing the OP has gas which means only one starter batt, although that bring up the question also of applicablity/advantage/disadvantage to Diesel.

[SMBReno]

I, too looked into this. When I replaced my underbody 2nd starting battery with a conventional wet cell (Costco), I also added a kit that allows you to top up the fluid level with distilled water. Basically set of floats with tubing, you connect to a bulb and pump until battery tops off. This way don't have to drop auxillary starting battery (pain with factory fasteners) to check/replenish water level. Easy to leave the tubing where you can reach it and plug in to refill.

Just a tip in case you go the 6 volt golf cart battery route.

[Ford_6L_E350]

Originally Posted by jage

I believe you would replace each battery with 6vs in series so fitting and securing would be more of a problem than actual wiring. Positive in, negative out, 2 6vs in series between, repeat for your other battery.

Oh, my thought was to get a 6V the size of an individual 12V battery, replace both 12V batteries with the same size 6V and hook up. With the 6V's you might get thicker, stronger, longer lasting plates. But, is it worth it to do the wiring needed?

I can't believe replacing one 12V battery with 2 x 6V batteries would be of any benefit. You would probably reduce plate volume because of the increase in case material (2 case walls in the middle where none existed).

Mike

[Windzup]

Hey guy,

Thanks for the response.

Why 6V? Hmm, in my layman's terms... A 12V gives up the ghost when it's about 1/2 charged, a 6V will continue to supply power till it is dead.

I've seen folks in the million dollar busses switch to 6V, and TT alike, same reason.

Now - about adding water....gads, maybe I should check my trailer, never added water to those 6V's I don't really think it is necessary with newer batteries - these are not golf cart 6v's.

I'll look into it a bit more and let you all know.

Oh - the solar panel - absolutely!

Mike