Converting 12 volt coach batteries to 6 volt

Hi,

To be fair, you went from four 85 amp-hour batteries (when brand new) for a capacity of 340 amp-hours, which may not have been wired in a balanced manner, to four jars that store 464 amp-hours. Of course the new system works better--it is 27% larger in capacity. When you add the Puekert effect in, it is more nearly 33% larger.

If you had gone with four group 29 12 volt jars (115 amp-hours each) the capacity would have been about the same as the four 6 volt jars, and the results would have been again, a dramatic improvement. (wired in a balanced manner).

If we add a 2000 watt inverter to both the scenarios above, the 12 volt configuration would out perform the 6 volt one.

Since my new inverter is 3000 watts, I'm pretty much locked into 12 volt jars--and if/when I replace them I'll possibly go AGM for even better inverter use.

Four of the 12 volt jars are eight years old and still meet my needs.

Canadian Rainbirds wrote:
Last year I replaced 4 12V group 24 marine/rv "deep cycle" batteries with 4 6V GCs. The difference has been outstanding. I would never go back.

Same foot print, need more headroom.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

If treated with care these will last 20 years. Surrette 2 volt. You may find that the rv has to be redesigned to use them. Please be prepared for "sticker shock".

wny_pat wrote:
Inquiring minds want to know about batteries that will last longer that the coach!!! Mine is twenty years old and on its third set.

I'm sure they will, but wondered about the Chrome 12 volt that Tiredkid posted about. I must have got the wrong brand, cause I sure don't expect my AGMs to last longer than my coach.

I have 2 solar set ups in our trailer in the mountains of New Mexico. The original 12v 'marine' battery didn't last a year, when I switched to 2 golf cart 6v batteries from Sam's, they are still going 5 years later despite a bad incident where the solar controller shorted out and the batteries went down to nothing during the winter. They revived and are still working. In the workshop, I replaced 6 2v industrial batteries that were at the end of their life with 4 sam's club 6v's and have been very pleased with the results.

I believe the difference are that golf cart batteries simply have to hold up to being deeply discharged, and the marine batteries have lighter plates. But, I get the logic that the amp hours of SOME 4x12v batteries and 4x6v's will be about the same. On my motorhome, I could only replace the 2 12v's with certain (Chinese) AGM's put on their side, because of the tight clearance in the battery box, and don't want to extend all of the connections to another battery location......yet. My stock RV batteries are spec'd (75 ah each, 150ah both, at 12v) below the wet cell 6v duo (200+ at 12v) in my case, anyway, so I'd switch in a second if I could.

Last year I replaced 4 12V group 24 marine/rv "deep cycle" batteries with 4 6V GCs. The difference has been outstanding. I would never go back.

Same foot print, need more headroom.

Hi,

If treated with care these will last 20 years. Surrette 2 volt. You may find that the rv has to be redesigned to use them. Please be prepared for "sticker shock".

wny_pat wrote:
Inquiring minds want to know about batteries that will last longer that the coach!!! Mine is twenty years old and on its third set.

Yes, it's pretty easy to change over. I prefer the 6 volts over the 12 volts batteries. I switched my Allegro Bus to 6 volt. Just wire them differently than the 12's.

AGM's don't last any longer, generally, than regular batteries. If your 12V were working well just get those.

tiredkid wrote:

topflite51 wrote:

tiredkid wrote:

philandmargo wrote:
I have a 2000 Tiffin Zephyr. It has 4 deep cycle 12 volt batteries that power the coach. The batteries need to be replaced. I have heard that using 6 volt batteries is a more efficient and economic system. Can my system be converted? If so, how would I proceed? Thanks, Phil

Purchase four of these; Chrome Battery 12 Volt 110AH Deep Cycle
same size as a 27 series but they are AGM,these will last longer than the MH and u never fill them etc
cost about $900.you will Need 8 6 volts to do same job and even the cheap acid filled ones will cost you at least $800 plus all the work to convert

Give it a rest tiredkid, the THE OLD WIVES CLUB MEMBERS around here support 6 Volt batteries. No if's, and's or but's about it. :b

not interested in that club.Guy asked if he should stick to 4 good 12,s and same wiring and the correct answer is yes. if it aint broke don't try and fix it. especially with the quality of 12Volts available today of which were not available when you formed the old wives club.

Inquiring minds want to know about batteries that will last longer that the coach!!! Mine is twenty years old and on its third set.

tiredkid wrote:

philandmargo wrote:
I have a 2000 Tiffin Zephyr. It has 4 deep cycle 12 volt batteries that power the coach. The batteries need to be replaced. I have heard that using 6 volt batteries is a more efficient and economic system. Can my system be converted? If so, how would I proceed? Thanks, Phil

Purchase four of these; Chrome Battery 12 Volt 110AH Deep Cycle
same size as a 27 series but they are AGM,these will last longer than the MH and u never fill them etc
cost about $900.you will Need 8 6 volts to do same job and even the cheap acid filled ones will cost you at least $800 plus all the work to convert

Give it a rest tiredkid, the THE OLD WIVES CLUB MEMBERS around here support 6 Volt batteries. No if's, and's or but's about it. :b

philandmargo wrote:
I have a 2000 Tiffin Zephyr. It has 4 deep cycle 12 volt batteries that power the coach. The batteries need to be replaced. I have heard that using 6 volt batteries is a more efficient and economic system. Can my system be converted? If so, how would I proceed? Thanks, Phil

Purchase four of these; Chrome Battery 12 Volt 110AH Deep Cycle
same size as a 27 series but they are AGM,these will last longer than the MH and u never fill them etc
cost about $900.you will Need 8 6 volts to do same job and even the cheap acid filled ones will cost you at least $800 plus all the work to convert