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Old 03-04-2013, 03:27 PM   #1
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Why Twin 6V?

What advantage do twin 6-volt batteries have over the single 12-vole battery set-up? There must be many or it would't be offered. Can I run more devices at one time? Do I have more power available? Do they recharge faster? Hold their charge longer....? Thanks for letting me know.

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Old 03-04-2013, 03:39 PM   #2
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The RV Doctor: RV Batteries - 6 or 12 - Volts, That Is
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Old 03-04-2013, 03:43 PM   #3
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The 6 volts that are used in most rv applications are originally designed for electric golf carts and due to their heavier and taller plate contstruction are able to draw them down to a lower capacity with out damaging the plates and also provide a larger amp /hr rating or reserve capacity. Two 6 volt wired is series to provide a 12 V source is a much larger capaicty than even two 12 volt batteries and are more suited to the rigors of rv use. Just don't make the mistake that many do and use a small little 14 guage wire between the two batteries. I was very disapointed when we picked up our 19 ft last summer to find that was how it was wired.
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Old 03-04-2013, 04:29 PM   #4
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... Just don't make the mistake that many do and use a small little 14 guage wire between the two batteries. I was very disapointed when we picked up our 19 ft last summer to find that was how it was wired.
Dave, did you provide feedback to Reace regarding your thoughts on the 14 gauge wire, and if so, what was his response?
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Old 03-04-2013, 05:07 PM   #5
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Weird. It was Reace who told me to get a #10 ground wire installed when the tow was wired ( at the time I was planning on a 3-way fridge ).
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Old 03-04-2013, 05:36 PM   #6
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No I didn't talk to Reace I just fixed it my self. The cable between the batterys should be at least a # 2 welding calble in my opinion. I also plan to change the cables from the batterys to the inside of the trailer this spring when I wire my inverter, I will also run welding cable to the electrical centre inside the trailer.
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Old 03-04-2013, 06:00 PM   #7
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What problem could there be with the 14-gauge?

I know two 6Vs is better than one 12V but I am surprised to find that two 6Vs is better than two 12Vs. Same reason as for one, I guess. Never thought about two 12Vs but it is what I would have supposed bigger units use.
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Old 03-04-2013, 06:04 PM   #8
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Dave, why 2 gauge cable? It seems like major overkill, especially on a short run like that. I can't remember for sure, but what is the main fuse rated at, 30-40A? 2 guage wire is rated for 100A.
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Old 03-04-2013, 06:09 PM   #9
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What problem could there be with the 14-gauge?
14 gauge is safe for 15 amp. That's just not enough... It's not a very long run, but I'd be concerned about it getting very hot under sustained load.
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Old 03-04-2013, 06:24 PM   #10
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My twin 6 volt batteries are wired together with 10 gauge straight from the factory which in my mind is plenty for what is running on 12 volt in the trailer. The LED lights draw practically nothing so all that's left is the water pump, (what 4 amps?), the furnace fan, 1.8 amps and the small draw from the fridge when on propane and the carbon monoxide detector. Even if you add a 150 watt inverter running from the 12 volt plug that will only draw around 13 amps. 10 gauge wire is good for 30 amps of continuous draw so unless you have a built in inverter then you should be good to go.

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Old 03-04-2013, 06:30 PM   #11
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Here is another site that discusses 12 volt batteries of all types

The 12volt Side of Life (Part 1)

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Old 03-04-2013, 06:30 PM   #12
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Thanks, Doug. Maybe they figured it didn't matter with such short pieces. I'm not home to post a photo of what we have.
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Old 03-04-2013, 06:35 PM   #13
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I plan to run the 2 guage into the electrical centre area and have a 3000 watt inverter so the big cables will handle that load better, may be a bit of over kill but better to be safe than sorry. But I will say that cable between the two batteries should be large to minimize any voltage drop between the two batteries as to not fool the voltage regulators in solar or smart chargers.
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Old 03-04-2013, 07:17 PM   #14
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I plan to run the 2 guage into the electrical centre area and have a 3000 watt inverter so the big cables will handle that load better, ..........

Dave

Just curious ........ what do you plan to run with 3000 watt inverter? And, is 2 gauge enough for it at full capacity (250 amps)?

Barry
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Old 03-04-2013, 07:33 PM   #15
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The wire that connects the two 6V batteries should be of the same gauge size that connects the batteries to the convertor.
With a 12V system, a #4/0 AWG wire with a 400A in line fuse is used to connect a 3000W invertor to the batteries. Are four 6V deep cycle batteries being used ?
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Old 03-04-2013, 08:01 PM   #16
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Dave

Just curious ........ what do you plan to run with 3000 watt inverter? And, is 2 gauge enough for it at full capacity (250 amps)?

Barry
Barry, the 3000W inverter is rated at 120V AC, thus a max 30A draw (or at least so I am thinking ). Though, I too am curious as to what might draw that much. The only things I bring that used 120V is a small kettle, and a small heater, but just use gas if not connected to the grid.

edit: Oh yeah, my laptop sometimes, but the 300W inverter handles that.
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Old 03-04-2013, 08:06 PM   #17
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Barry, the 3000W inverter is rated at 120V AC, thus a max 30A draw (or at least so I am thinking ). Though, I too am curious as to what might draw that much. The only things I bring that used 120V is a small kettle, and a small heater, but just use gas if not connected to the grid.

edit: Oh yeah, my laptop sometimes, but the 300W inverter handles that.
Jim

3000 watts divided by 12 volts = 250 amps on the 12 volt side and 3000 divided by 120 volts = 25 amps on the 120 volt side.

At least that's what I've been told!!

Barry
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Old 03-04-2013, 08:35 PM   #18
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Yup... If you plug 3000W of 120V AC appliances into your inverter, it will draw 250 amps at 12 volts from your battery and convert it into 25 amps at 120V. You need some serious wire on the 12V side.

(this is one of the reasons that Europe favours 240V mains -- more power with less amperage).
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Old 03-04-2013, 08:41 PM   #19
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These are ours. If we have to worry about it for solar, then I guess we'd better pay attention. I take it the gauge is on there in fine print somewhere.
Would a lightning strike or surge matter as far as the wire gauge needed? Of course, that's the kind of thing I expect the EMS to take care of.
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Old 03-04-2013, 08:49 PM   #20
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Jim

3000 watts divided by 12 volts = 250 amps on the 12 volt side and 3000 divided by 120 volts = 25 amps on the 120 volt side.

At least that's what I've been told!!

Barry
Yeah, that makes good sense, Barry. I was only looking at the user side of things.
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