Adding a second battery

[cpaharley2008]

Actually Tmorris, it may be the opposite. all the batteries for the 19 are now on the tongue, either in the optional storage box or mounted outside. This is to keep the required tongue weight.

[Rossue]

Jim, are you having a problem with the single battery staying charged or are you looking for some insurance? We've only been out on two 3 week trips with almost a week of clouds/rain in WA during first week, and at that time the single Group 29 w/solar didn't get below the halfway point on the display. Since then in better weather it never goes below 3/4. Is this perhaps the difference between your 95W vs. 160W panel?

[cpaharley2008]

Yes, I have the smaller 95 watt unit and wanted to increase my capacity. I asked if ETI would install the newer unit at the Rally and they said they could not and the factory is another day away and back for me.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

With solar I'm inclined to have then both attached and charged simultaneously. I felt this was less complicated than installing another solar panel.

I've done that on rare occasions but as others have said, the Group 29 battery does a pretty good job. My typical situation is: leave the battery switch on #1. Usually it's on that battery for days on end. If it's down and recharging isn't possible until the next day then I switch to #2 but once I've done that I monitor usage more closely. So it's a rare situation when I have to charge both batteries at the same time.

Ron

[padlin]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Jim,
Are your batteries vented to the outside, my one is and finding a double battery box with one vent is almost impossible, that is why I was going to piggyback the new into the existing one.

The 2 6v'ers in my trailer are in ETI's double battery box, it also has one vent. Don't know that it'd fit 2 29's though.

[cpaharley2008]

Yes, I should have gone with the 6'ers but did not know about the larger solar, progress makes one feel obsolete. Only one box, vented, may get 2x24's in it, but I'm trying to keep my existing 29.

[thoer]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Yes, I should have gone with the 6'ers but did not know about the larger solar, progress makes one feel obsolete. Only one box, vented, may get 2x24's in it, but I'm trying to keep my existing 29.

Well, you've had this one a long time, maybe time for a trade in?

[BCnomad]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Yes, I have the smaller 95 watt unit and wanted to increase my capacity. I asked if ETI would install the newer unit at the Rally and they said they could not and the factory is another day away and back for me.

I was going to say that I expect to have 8' ladder at the rally, so we could swap out the units. I see from the gp site that the two panels are not even close in physical dimensions, so the swap becomes far more involved....

Ladder will still be at rally, fwiw. Did y'all make a "please bring to the rally ___" thread in the past?

[cpaharley2008]

You can be the first , Bruce..........go for it.

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by thoer

Well, you've had this one a long time, maybe time for a trade in?

Not yet, I'm still on my first propane tank, have to wait until it goes over to the second before thinking about it. You know, spend $30k to save $30.....

[dfandrews]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

You know, spend $30k to save $30.....

Question: Is that why we hire CPA's?

[cpaharley2008]

Yes, we can justify it with numbers and spreadsheets. You know the saying, if you can not dazzle them with brilliance, you baffle them with ,,,,,,,,,,,,

[padlin]

The 95w is 21" wide x 41" long and the 160w is 26" x 58". If they mounted the 95 like the 160 the square aluminum tubes glued to the roof are probably too short. Something would need to be modified.

[cpaharley2008]

I was going to add the 160 watt and still keep my 95 watt, I believe they mount the newer, bigger ones in the rear, my present one is in front of the a/c.

[padlin]

Where is the Jack in relation to the 95w?

[cpaharley2008]

all the way in front of the MaxxFann which is in front of the solar.

[strawbarry]

As batteries age the impedance increases, this resist the charging process. This process is increased by charge and discharge cycles. This internal resistance effects the batteries ability to provide current to the load and to receive an effective charge. Placing batteries of different ages can cause the newer battery(less resistance) to accept(hog) the charging current, and the load current. If the difference is large enough it can overwork the newer battery and shorten it's life span.

A good practice is to match manufactor and type of battery as much as possible. A year old battery matched with a new battery should not be an issue unless it has been subject to a large amount of cycling, or repeated discharging below 50% of its capacity.

[cpaharley2008]

Thanks Barry, that is what I was thinking. Have to check the manufacturer, it maybe Lifeline.

[strawbarry]

Alan,

I assume you mean a sealed lead acid battery, every lead acid battery generated hydrogen gas as it is charged. The higher charging current the more H gas produced. As long as the battery is sealed the gas is contained. The seals around the post are fragile and can be damaged when tightening the connections. When tightening the connections use a backup wrench to minimize the twisting effect.

I prefer my batteries where I can add water when necessary.

Unless your camper is tightly sealed the hydrogen gas that should happen to escape from a battery will dissipate in the use of doors or windows.

The trailer manufacture is erring on the safe side as the amount of water in the battery would be hard pressed to create an explosive atmosphere. Hydrogen generation is more problematic in large banks of batteries which have the ability to create large amounts of hydrogen.

[tractors1]

Originally Posted by strawbarry

As batteries age the impedance increases, this resist the charging process. This process is increased by charge and discharge cycles. This internal resistance effects the batteries ability to provide current to the load and to receive an effective charge. Placing batteries of different ages can cause the newer battery(less resistance) to accept(hog) the charging current, and the load current. If the difference is large enough it can overwork the newer battery and shorten it's life span.

A good practice is to match manufactor and type of battery as much as possible. A year old battery matched with a new battery should not be an issue unless it has been subject to a large amount of cycling, or repeated discharging below 50% of its capacity.

Just wanted to vote a "thumbs up" on this opinion. I worked in medical - rechargeable battery systems, and we always cycled new multiple battery power systems on Maccor equipment to insure the "as shipped" battery impedances matched. Every AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is powered by matched impedance batteries.