A friend of mine is looking for a source for 12v batteries and recommendations. He has room for two on the tongue of his hauler.I would help him myself, but I've been using four 6v batteries for years and haven't had to shop for 12v in a long time.One thing to note: This is his first RV and his first venture into the twelve volt way of life. He's a bright guy, but since this is his first experience there is a good chance he will inadvertently abuse these batteries and they might not last long before he gets his legs under him. So low price might be good until he takes off the training wheels.

We just did this on 6v batteries, but I can't imagine the answers are much different for 12v.Sounds like Walmart might be a good place for his first 'sacrificial' batteries.

Costco or Walmart is fine. Measure first so you get what fits. G24 or G27. WM has a G29 if he has the space. At WM get the deep cycle trolling not the deep cycle starting.If charging on generator this is a good time to review the charging system.Print this for him:The 12 Volt Side of Life

I use Wallyworld they seem to hold up. I think Trojan is the best but $$$.Why does your friend not want to go with 2 6-volts?

colliehauler wrote:I use Wallyworld they seem to hold up. I think Trojan is the best but $$$.Why does your friend not want to go with 2 6-volts?I told him not to. Four 6v would be fine, but I think 2 would be a bad idea. I've had two of my 6v batteries die on me over the years. The first time when I only had the two 6v I had to panhandle from camp to camp to leech a loaner. Years later when I had four 6v and one died, I still had two good ones to get me through the trip.

dedmiston wrote:I've had two of my 6v batteries die on me over the years. and how did that happen?

Source for 12v batteries | Good Sam Community

azrving
Explorer
Jul 06, 2016
What method was used to attach the terminals to the cables? What amperage is the main fuse? The catastrophe fuse.
2oldman
Explorer II
Jul 06, 2016
dedmiston wrote:
If we had done the same thing with the toaster with two 12v batteries, presumably only one of them would have melted down and we still would have had one useful 12v battery left to complete the trip.
Maybe. If that's the kind of logic used to 'justify' not using 2 6v batteries, I guess it works for you.

Tell your friend to avoid the big inverter for now.
dedmiston
Moderator
Jul 06, 2016
2oldman wrote:
Yah, a toaster is a near overload for just two batteries. Especially at 12v, they can get hot with humongous draws like that.

I ask because it's rare for a battery to just up and fail (except for old age and abuse) as I see here. 2-12v batteries would have experienced the same thing- if they would have run the toaster at all.

Yeah, the toaster definitely qualifies as abuse.

If we had done the same thing with the toaster with two 12v batteries, presumably only one of them would have melted down and we still would have had one useful 12v battery left to complete the trip.
2oldman
Explorer II
Jul 06, 2016
Yah, a toaster is a near overload for just two batteries. Especially at 12v, they can get hot with humongous draws like that.

I ask because it's rare for a battery to just up and fail (except for old age and abuse) as I see here. 2-12v batteries would have experienced the same thing- if they would have run the toaster at all.
dedmiston
Moderator
Jul 06, 2016
2oldman wrote:
dedmiston wrote:
I've had two of my 6v batteries die on me over the years.
and how did that happen?

Why do bad things happen to good people? They just do.

The first one literally had a meltdown. I had just installed a new inverter and my kids were young at the time. My daughter heard me say that we could use the inverter instead of the generator to run 110 devices, so she switched on the inverter and made herself some Pop Tarts in the toaster. This put so much stress on the batteries (and maybe one of the connections was loose and shorted). It literally melted the terminal lug off the battery. The cable and the lug were just dangling there. Freaky.

I don't recall how the other one died. It wasn't as dramatic, but dead is dead.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Jul 06, 2016
dedmiston wrote:
colliehauler wrote:
I use Wallyworld they seem to hold up. I think Trojan is the best but $$$.

Why does your friend not want to go with 2 6-volts?

I told him not to. Four 6v would be fine, but I think 2 would be a bad idea. I've had two of my 6v batteries die on me over the years. The first time when I only had the two 6v I had to panhandle from camp to camp to leech a loaner. Years later when I had four 6v and one died, I still had two good ones to get me through the trip.
My 6V have lasted many many years without issues.

But if he's going to abuse them then perhaps he's not so bright - have him buy the cheapest possible batteries.

Panhandle batteries? That's a new one - I'd replace with new.
2oldman
Explorer II
Jul 06, 2016
dedmiston wrote:
I've had two of my 6v batteries die on me over the years.
and how did that happen?
dedmiston
Moderator
Jul 06, 2016
colliehauler wrote:
I use Wallyworld they seem to hold up. I think Trojan is the best but $$$.

Why does your friend not want to go with 2 6-volts?

I told him not to. Four 6v would be fine, but I think 2 would be a bad idea. I've had two of my 6v batteries die on me over the years. The first time when I only had the two 6v I had to panhandle from camp to camp to leech a loaner. Years later when I had four 6v and one died, I still had two good ones to get me through the trip.
colliehauler
Explorer III
Jul 05, 2016
I use Wallyworld they seem to hold up. I think Trojan is the best but $$$.

Why does your friend not want to go with 2 6-volts?
time2roll
Nomad
Jul 05, 2016
Costco or Walmart is fine. Measure first so you get what fits. G24 or G27. WM has a G29 if he has the space. At WM get the deep cycle trolling not the deep cycle starting.

If charging on generator this is a good time to review the charging system.

Print this for him:
The 12 Volt Side of Life