12v to 6v review?

After 4 pages of opinions, it is interesting that there does not seem to be any data or studies cited which show proven advantages for 6 volt batteries. The closest was someone mentioning that Trojan considered 6 volt batteries to be more durable.

Thanks to everyone for the continued feedback. We have ample solar and the inverter. I wouldn’t really think of running the microwave, heater or AC or any other high capacity item anyway so not too worried about that. Unless I count running my wife’s coffee frother for 90 seconds as a high item I guess. I will say that last year when we ran out of propane during the night I was making coffee and toast on the picnic table with the Honda Gen was an odd experience for me...

@boon docker - I know, and I apologize for losing my patiece on that one... not that it matters but I certainly TRIED using the search here but entering 6v or “battery’ or 12v in the search got nothing for responses except lithium, truck camper killing my battery, and my personal favourite, “how much solar do I need to run my AC”. I was simply asking for pros/cons from people who actually made the switch from 12 to 6.

Ones again, thanks to all for the feedback. Isn’t the internet a wonderful thing? Lol.

Hi,

In my previous RV I had 2 12 volt batteries. There was no issue at all running the microwave. They were wired in a balanced manner, and were group 29.

The solar on that unit was just 30 watts--and that was enough to fully recharge the battery bank between trips. It cost $1700 for the 30 watts of solar.

RVs that only have space/weight for two batts but still want to run the MW off a 2000w inverter have a problem. Can't do it with two 6s and two normal 12s either really. Hence all the tries with Lifeline AGMs, or other 12v AGMs.

I tried that and the two AGMs couldn't handle it for more than a few years. I was disappointed in that.

So now you can get LFPs, which allow you to run them down to low SOC and still have higher voltage so the inverter alarm does not go off, but they co$t big bucks. It is all about your own scenario with your rig, what you can do with what and whether it is "worth it". (See many posts on how to make coffee! :) )

I made my choice since I have no problem carrying four 6s and that works great, no need to seek alternatives at high co$t.

If you only look at where you can carry your FLAs as your two batt limit, don't forget you can carry AGMs inside at low risk (not no-risk) so that might be the way to get it done at lower co$t by using more AGMs. It is all situational.

mr_andyj wrote:
No reason to even consider NOT using two 6's.
Use two 6's!......

I have some reasons. First, I have read a lot of opinions, guesses and statements, but no facts or testing results to back them up.

Second, I have limited space and so do many other smaller RVs. I was able to remove the sliding tray and just fit 2 Lifeline AGM 12 volt batteries @ 150 AH each. My compartment gives me 1/2" clearance in height, 1/4" clearance in depth and about an 1 inch clearance in width. There are no other batteries and certainly no 6 volt batteries that would fit and have anywhere near the capacity.

6 volt batteries are often substantially larger for the amount of capacity provided.

SabreCanuck wrote:

mr_andyj wrote:
No reason to even consider NOT using two 6's.
Use two 6's!

As stated, you obviously lack research ability as this has been discussed and a search will turn up lots of answers, most all in favor of the 6's.

GC batts (any true deep cycle batt), never, never, never Marine batteries unless you are on a boat using one battery for engine and trolling.

You could get three 4 volt too.

Thank you for your feedback... Interesting how you completely missed answering my question regarding "any real world reviews" and my comments about "I already understand the concept" to respond with spouted data from the 1000's of posts that me and you have both already read. Then took the time to call me out for MY lack of research to a topic that is not only asking for but also named "review" in the subject line.

I truly hope in the future you can see the forest for the trees and that someone somewhere out there gives you a nice big warm bear hug to make you feel better.

I will look into the 4v battery suggestion... LOL.

A post calling you out is not removed, but my post "More sarcasm, just what we need" after you were called out gets deleted.
Go figure.

BFL13 wrote:
I find the Can Tire 230AH 6s are great at a good price, although they have gone up $25 recently. They are East Penn Deka GC15s. I have four and no problems with running the MW etc with a 2000w inverter.

You do have problems with only two 6s, but not with four down to 50% SOC. If you ran the batts down lower than 50% then the inverter alarm would sound even with four 6s.

Can Tire has recently added a 215AH 6, which is at a very good price, looking at 230 vs 215, but I don't know if it is an East Penn. If it is, that would be the better deal with four of those.

Hit the nail on the head on inverter use with GC. I also have four 6V and they run a 800VA load on the inverter down to near 50% as well, but with only two it would shut down around 80%.

I can easily live with the 50% limit. 80%, nope, to much hassle.

SabreCanuck wrote:
Thank you all for the feedback. We have 500 w solar, 2k gennie as backup and a 2k inverter and have dry camped indefinitely in the past. Our plan is to do more boondocking, and to be honest I just NEED to replace the 2-12v but as always thinking of ways to make it “better”. I agree with some here that MOST of these conversations are way more advanced than most users would care about, probably including myself.

I think either way, I’m going to ramp up the number of batteries to 4 and base the rest of the conversation on cost and ease of use.

To be honest, I have only ever touched the 2-12v batteries twice per year (take them out for winter, put them in for summer) and they have lasted 7 years now. But I also have a trimetric battery monitor so keep an eye on them that way I guess.

Given your experience with 12V , and with the dry camping, but seeming to have been satisfied with the 12V in the past, I'd say it is somewhat of a tossup.

Take a look at battery cost, and based on my experience doing lots of boondocking, and trying to rely on solar as much as possible with genny backup, the extra deep discharge capability of the 6V (easily go hundreds of cycles down to 50% SOC and even hundreds down to 25% SOC) we go with Four 6V. But last time I bought batteries cost wasn't much of an issue, and the Trojans are now going on 10 years use with probably 3 months camping/year.
But battery prices have REALLY gone up in the last few years.

mr_andyj wrote:
No reason to even consider NOT using two 6's.
Use two 6's!
.

No reason to not consider two 6V is a VERY VERY MISLEADING AND POOR STATEMENT!

reasons NOT to consider two 6V

1) seldom boondock or dry camp, a single or pair of 12V will be more than adequate and be less expensive in the long run.

2) You want to have high current draw for big inverter loads, e.g. run a microwave, coffee pot etc. or other loads more than about 50A. For these a 6V is NOT a good choice, high internal resistance and no current load sharing with a single bank is an invitation for inverter shutdown at about 80% SOC, while a pair of 12V will really not have much voltage drop, each battery is only supplying 1/2 the current and with more thin plates has much less internal resistance.
Alternate solution is Four GC, but that takes up lots of space, expensive and heavy.
3) Battery compartment won't fit a pair of 6V. There are trailers where 6V are a very very tight fit and the hassle may not be worth the effort.

So YES THERE ARE VERY VALID REASONS WHY A 6V IS NOT THE UNIVERSAL END ALL BE ALL SOLUTION!

STATEMENTS LIKE YOURS ARE WHY PEOPLE MAKE BAD CHOICES ON BATTERIES!

Each battery type has + and - attributes, gain something loose something. Good when you gain what you want but bad when you LOOSE what is important to YOUR specific application.

I find the Can Tire 230AH 6s are great at a good price, although they have gone up $25 recently. They are East Penn Deka GC15s. I have four and no problems with running the MW etc with a 2000w inverter.

You do have problems with only two 6s, but not with four down to 50% SOC. If you ran the batts down lower than 50% then the inverter alarm would sound even with four 6s.

Can Tire has recently added a 215AH 6, which is at a very good price, looking at 230 vs 215, but I don't know if it is an East Penn. If it is, that would be the better deal with four of those.