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Old 05-17-2015, 10:44 AM   #1
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Battery choices.

Expecting delivery of 21 footer Dec 2015 so have not finalized options yet. Would like to initially get 12 volt battery and perhaps upgrade to dual 6 volt in the future. When I contacted ETI was told the boxes that hold a 12 volt battery can not hold two 6 volt batteries. What options short of ordering 6 volt batteries in build process do I have for retrofit later. Thanks
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Old 05-17-2015, 10:47 AM   #2
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If you think you may upgrade to 2 six volt batteries in the future, why not do that now.
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Old 05-17-2015, 10:54 AM   #3
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Jim just finished the change you're asking about. He'd be a good resource for the information you seek: http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f8...olts-5240.html
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Old 05-17-2015, 10:58 AM   #4
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If you think you may upgrade to 2 six volt batteries in the future, why not do that now.
Trailer may be idle for 2 years until we retire. Not sure if longevity of the batteries will suffer. Also expense, and was told by NAPA that availability of 6 volt batteries when on the road may be a factor.
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Old 05-17-2015, 11:20 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by BREWMASTER View Post
Trailer may be idle for 2 years until we retire. Not sure if longevity of the batteries will suffer. Also expense, and was told by NAPA that availability of 6 volt batteries when on the road may be a factor.
You can almost always find a golf cart dealer wherever you are, and they carry 6 volt batteries so I put no credence in what NAPA told you. Secondly, should you have an unexpected battery failure you can always purchase a 12 volt battery and use it until you get a couple of sixes. Why don't you just explain your concerns to Reace and ask him if he can use the larger battery box and a 12 volt battery to provide for a future conversion to dual sixes. And idle batteries maintained by a smart charger typically don't have longevity problems. What kills batteries is sulphation, which is not as likely if batteries are properly maintained.
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Old 05-17-2015, 11:29 AM   #6
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Have the dual sixes installed during the build and it will save expense and a big hassle later. Loren
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Old 05-17-2015, 11:35 AM   #7
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Battery choices.

The dial 6 volt batteries are nice even if you just go away for the weekend, no power worries. I would have them installed now and save the expense and hassle later.

Cheers
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Old 05-17-2015, 11:50 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by BREWMASTER View Post
When I contacted ETI was told the boxes that hold a 12 volt battery can not hold two 6 volt batteries. What options short of ordering 6 volt batteries in build process do I have for retrofit later. Thanks
Being a life long mariner I never put all my eggs in one basket. I've always had the redundancy of 2 and 3 bank systems.

I ordered my 19 with one 12 volt. Up to that time they'd been welding on two angle cross bars to hold the battery. Because I also was adding my own tongue box I asked them to not weld on the cross bars. They didn't, they bolted it on. The point being that they are somewhat flexible in these things.

I brought my trailer home and added a second 12 volt battery and a multi-positon battery switch. I use one battery at a time and usually have one fully charged in reserve. In the event of a battery failure I'm not stuck without a battery.

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Old 05-17-2015, 12:39 PM   #9
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Trailer may be idle for 2 years until we retire. Not sure if longevity of the batteries will suffer.
This is a worthwhile concern. Lead/Acid batteries do have a finite life even if kept on the proper charge/maintenance schedule. Ask anyone with a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) for their computer. They stay on a well-regulated float supply and still fail at 3 to 4 years. Your battery may of course last longer if higher quality or larger, but it will fail.

I'm ordered my Escape with the minimum 12v battery with the intention of upgrading to a pair of sealed, no-maintenance marine batteries at some point. Yes, I may have to discard the original battery box assuming I purchase a different group size. And as others have pointed out, it will be easier if Escape builds the 6v boxes now but installs a 12 battery. At least in the 21 there is plenty of room for 3 boxes to live side by side.

In an extreme case, that might in fact be Brewmaster's scenario, the absolute minimum battery required would be enough to run the electric emergency trailer brakes required by law. A cheap 12v battery that small could sit in one of the 6v battery boxes and be discarded in 2 years when the trailer is put into active service.



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Old 05-17-2015, 03:32 PM   #10
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If you order the the group 29 battery option, ETI installs the larger battery box which holds dual 6 volts. That is what I did, so just ask for the larger box, regardless of which battery you choose.
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Old 05-17-2015, 05:13 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by alanmalk View Post
This is a worthwhile concern. Lead/Acid batteries do have a finite life even if kept on the proper charge/maintenance schedule. Ask anyone with a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) for their computer. They stay on a well-regulated float supply and still fail at 3 to 4 years. Your battery may of course last longer if higher quality or larger, but it will fail.
Alan
Yes, all batteries eventually fail. But I can say from experience I took a deep cycle battery that an acquaintance was disposing because it was "no good" and using a desulphating charger, brought it back to "life" in about a months time, then used it for approximately 5 years. While desulphation chargers are more expensive, my deep cycle batteries tend to last between 7 and 10 years in Florida, and heat causes batteries to fail prematurely, not cold. So when I previously stated "properly maintained," I meant by a smart charger that has desulphation capabilities. Most batteries die before their time due to improper maintenance caused by sulphur build up on the plates which shorts out the battery's cells.
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Old 05-17-2015, 09:26 PM   #12
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Good Morning Carl - -
Which desulphation charger do you use ?
They seem to have a very large range in price. What should look for in these chargers ?
Do you know of an "educational page" on these chargers ?

Thank You Cark for your thoughts.

uw
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Old 05-17-2015, 09:37 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
If you order the the group 29 battery option, ETI installs the larger battery box which holds dual 6 volts. That is what I did, so just ask for the larger box, regardless of which battery you choose.
Good tip; showed my 21 to a couple today and the topic of non-listed options came up more than once. Pays to tune in. Have to say it again....for us, where we live/camp the Group 29 12V is more than adequate after 100+ nights so far. Never goes below 3/4 charge even with a week of clouds/rain.
Edit: we do have the 160W solar panel.
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