Forum Discussion

vjswhippet's avatar
vjswhippet
Explorer
May 11, 2019

Batteries?

My sprinter motor home came with a solar panel and 2 batteries. I’ve never seen the charging light come on even on the sunniest days. My husband pulled one of the batteries and tested it and then the second one. Both say they have a short in them. Then realized they are both golf cart batteries. Is this ok ? I thought for trailers, campers, motor homes you used marine batteries!
  • Golf cart batteries are great for RV house loads. I don't know if anyone makes a 12 volt golf cart battery but I've never seen one or heard of one. If you really have 12 volt golf cart batteries you have something extremely rare.
    I strongly suspect they are 6v. It's easy to tell. If there are 3 caps on top they are 6 volt. If there are 6 caps on top they are 12 volt. There are some 8 volt golf cart batteries, these would have 4 caps but shouldn't be used in an RV.
  • vjswhippet wrote:
    where do you get the 17 years old 2oldman ?.
    From your join date.
  • CA Traveler .. I asked him. He says they are 12V he tested them individually
  • where do you get the 17 years old 2oldman ? When I bought it last year they said they had been replaced the year before so I'm assuming around 2 years old.
  • You and DH might find some reading on RV electricity, batteries, charging etc. helpful.
  • Did DH realize the GC batteries are 6V and test correctly? ie Test as 6V or connect in series and test as 12V.

    Marine deep cycle are just slightly better than starting batteries. GC batteries are generally much better for RV house batteries. He'll need a voltmeter to determine if the solar is charging.
  • Many folks use Golf cart batteries wired in series for the "house" loads.