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Old 11-14-2019, 01:12 PM   #41
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If you have a 12v batt and a 6 volt batt of the same dimensions is there an advantage to using 6 volt
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Old 11-14-2019, 01:55 PM   #42
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I believe it is the weight that matters. if the weights are the same the capacity should be the same.
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Old 11-14-2019, 02:56 PM   #43
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Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
I believe the lead plates in the 6 volt battery are thicker, thus heavier.
...thus fewer of them in a given size box.
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Old 11-14-2019, 05:49 PM   #44
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Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
I believe the lead plates in the 6 volt battery are thicker, thus heavier.
Again, no, the plates in good deep-cycle batteries are thick, regardless of voltage. If you compare the dual-purpose 12 V junk at your nearest big-box store with the a good 6 V battery, there will be a difference in the plates, but not due to the voltage. A red Ferrari is faster than a blue Hyundai, but not because it's red.
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Old 11-14-2019, 05:50 PM   #45
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I believe it is the weight that matters. if the weights are the same the capacity should be the same.
For the same construction (so, the same or comparable product lines from the same manufacturer), yes.
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Old 11-14-2019, 10:29 PM   #46
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Brian, what battery set up do you have and why?
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Old 11-14-2019, 10:57 PM   #47
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Originally Posted by j3cub View Post
Brian, what battery set up do you have and why?
I have three RVs, only one in current use. All have the setups they came with from the factory
  1. a single 12-volt battery in a small trailer (when I replaced this battery, I didn't want the cost, weight, or bulk of a larger setup)
  2. two parallel 12-volt batteries in a large trailer (this still works, so I haven't improved it... and there are undesirable details in this installation, aside from the parallel configuration)
  3. series 6-volt batteries in a large motorhome (this is the logical configuration for the manufacturer to put in this RV, and I haven't had a good reason to change it)
Each of these RVs has a different brand and size of battery or batteries; none are particularly premium (the motorhome has the same Interstates as an Escape). All of them work. I haven't systematically tested the performance of any of them.
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Old 11-15-2019, 11:03 AM   #48
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Thanks so much Brian. I didn't think about how you can have a 6 volt system and have a smaller battery. If I did 6 volt again I would get smaller ones. Mine are just to heavy for me to handle.
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Old 11-15-2019, 12:12 PM   #49
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Originally Posted by j3cub View Post
I didn't think about how you can have a 6 volt system and have a smaller battery. If I did 6 volt again I would get smaller ones. Mine are just to heavy for me to handle.
Two 6 volt batteries are each half the weight of one huge 12 volt battery of the same total capacity, and lifting those boxes of lead is why multiple batteries are used; however, there isn't much choice in 6 volt battery size.

You can get much bigger than the "GC2" size typically used in RVs, but unfortunately you can't readily get smaller sizes in 6 volts. There is is generally an industry assumption that roughly 30 kg (66 lb) is reasonable to handle, so that's the common size... in 6V, 8V, and 12V. There are much smaller batteries, but for things like small cars and motorcycles which just don't need much battery in total.
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Old 11-15-2019, 09:40 PM   #50
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To handle GC2/T105 golf cart batteries, you absolutely must have the battery handle/strap they sell specifically for these. its cheap, $6 or 7 or something.
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Old 11-16-2019, 12:04 AM   #51
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re: 6vs12 V ... given two batteries of the same external size, the 6V battery has 3 cells, while the 12V battery has 6 cells. the 2 dividers in the 3 cell battery take less volume than the 5 dividers in the 6 cell battery, hence the actual plate volume/mass is higher on the 6V

re /big/ lead acid batteries, heh, check out electric fork lift batteries. they come in 2V (1 cell), 4V (2 cell), 6V (3 cell). they are at least twice as tall as a golf cart battery, and you pretty much need a hoist to load them. example: 2V 2450 amp-hour (100 hour rate), 280 lbs, 17" long x 10" wide x 24" high... you'd need 6 of those for a 12V system like an RV.

ok, thats silly, lets back down some...

6V, 600AH (100 hour rate), 15 x 10 x 24" high, 220 lbs. about $600 each, so $1200 for a 12V system.
rated for 2000 80% discharge cycles, which, at 12V, is a useful 5700 watt*hours.
https://www.trojanbattery.com/pdf/da..._06_610_DS.pdf

undoubtably, more suitable for a home off-grid solar system, which indeed is their primary application. a 48VDC home solar system might use 24 of the 2V batteries, which would cost $14000, and provide 96KWH of usable storage, with a life cycle of 2000 80% discharge cycles (or 4500 40% discharge cycles, 27KWH).
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Old 11-16-2019, 03:40 AM   #52
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Hello All,
What a wonderful thread about a subject likely we could all use a semester of college credits. I think that the weak link in our all collective trailers is our battery storage capacity. Some have placed a square mile of solar panels on their roofs or in a portable installation. The difference being that those with huge panels and $$$ get their batteries charged by 10:00 AM and those with smaller units get their batteries charged by 2:00 PM. for me …. I don't care. I need power for nights … want my furnace to run and lights on to read or watch TV (don't have one ... whatever). I think the capacity of your battery bank is the weak link.
When I ordered my trailer in 2015 I went with the 'herd' because I was such a total newbe … got two 6 volt batteries. My gut told me to order two 12 volt batteries instead of two 6 volt batteries. My thinking was that if two 6 volt wasn't enough to supply my needs, then an additional 12 volt wouldn't be as big of a weight gain as having 2 extra 6 volt batteries. Now on a 17 the batteries are on the bumper …. I'm all ready carrying 2 - 6 volt batteries plus an 60 lb. electric bike..... would an 45 lb. extra battery be too much ? Could be ...more study needed.

Then comes along Lithium batteries … lighter but more $$$$ and much more capacity but more $$$. Key = what works for your needs? Failure = lack of understanding of your needs. Likely the human component is the easiest to adjust.

This battery thread is wonderful. I SO appreciate 'alanmalk' and your ability to explain complex subjects into "layman" terms … Thank you! More please!!!!

Tom
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Old 11-16-2019, 01:34 PM   #53
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Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
re: 6vs12 V ... given two batteries of the same external size, the 6V battery has 3 cells, while the 12V battery has 6 cells. the 2 dividers in the 3 cell battery take less volume than the 5 dividers in the 6 cell battery, hence the actual plate volume/mass is higher on the 6V
The cell divider walls are a trivial thickness. Many details of construction will be more relevant to performance and longevity than that.
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Old 11-16-2019, 06:53 PM   #54
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Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
To handle GC2/T105 golf cart batteries, you absolutely must have the battery handle/strap they sell specifically for these. its cheap, $6 or 7 or something.
That is definitely true ! I was lucky the RV store I purchased from in town gave me one to keep ! There was no way lifting those batteries out of the front box without that strap and it took the 2 of us at that for the 6 volts ! Pat
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Old 11-17-2019, 09:48 AM   #55
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Great thread!

I'm used to batteries (car, tractor, outboard motor boat, etc), and the discussion here makes me think I've never dealt with "batteries like these 'uns!"

How much do the stock ETI 6V batteries (that are on the bumper of my new 17B) weigh, anyway? (info not available in ETI literature)
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Old 11-17-2019, 09:55 AM   #56
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Great thread!

I'm used to batteries (car, tractor, outboard motor boat, etc), and the discussion here makes me think I've never dealt with "batteries like these 'uns!"

How much do the stock ETI 6V batteries (that are on the bumper of my new 17B) weigh, anyway? (info not available in ETI literature)
According to the Interstate website, 62 pounds each.
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Old 11-17-2019, 10:01 AM   #57
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According to the Interstate website, 62 pounds each.
Thanks! A bit more than a bag of grain - that is pretty heavy! Think I'll get one of those straps.
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Old 11-17-2019, 10:54 AM   #58
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Thanks! A bit more than a bag of grain - that is pretty heavy! Think I'll get one of those straps.
Definetly didn’t realize We needed until replacing our batteries . Too heavy and hold on to. Pat
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Old 11-17-2019, 11:04 AM   #59
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Two pragmatic observations that don't have much to do with 6v vs. 12v.

1. Tongue weight. If the 6v battery weighs 62 lbs and the 12v battery weighs just under 50 lbs, then 2 6v batteries are going to come in at 125 lbs and 2-3 12v batteries at 100-150 lbs., so in terms of tongue weight, it's pretty much a push, and neither is a cause for concern on an Escape 19. As a matter of fact, given how neutral the balance on the 19 is, and that the fresh water tank is behind the axle, a little more weight forward from an additional battery may be a good thing.

2. Black tank capacity. At some point--with additional batteries, solar or a generator--the limiting factor on how long you can boondock will cease to be your electrical system and is going to be the capacity of your waste tanks. Earlier in this thread a poster identified his electrical system as the limiting constraint for him. It's worth remembering that if you take care the current constraint, that doesn't mean you can stay out there forever, it just means that you have a new limiting constraint.
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Old 11-18-2019, 11:11 AM   #60
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Seneca, my escape is a 19 and you are right on about tongue weight. When I have 2 bikes on back, the waste tanks empty, the water tank full, the trailer tongue feels light when driving. I do not have a weight distribution hitch. I am now more accepting of the two black holes on the front of my trailer!!! AKA 6 volt batteries.
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