2 Camper Batteries 12V or 6V
Ok I have heard this so many times and now I figured I would get more opinions! I was told by 3 different RV stores/ Shops that putting 2- 6Volt batteries in Series will give me more Amp Hours than ...
Forum Discussion
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Do a float amperage test somtime on a Lifeline and see the amperage difference between 13.4 and 13.6 volts. SURPRISE!
.... that's probably why the Lifeline customer service guy told me over the phone to not have them hooked up long term to no more than a 13.4 volt float level .... cuz above that they begin to "dry out".
Interpreting/extrapolating between his words, his comments told me that intrinsic current flow - after about 13.4 volts - must then begin to shoot upwards on a steeper slope, thus heating things up, thus causing water to slowly but surely vaporize away. Interestingly - as you have noted in other posts - Lifeline changed their tune on their recommended AGM battery float voltages. I used to read it in print at the Lifeline website that one was to use 13.2 volts for floating.
The above (float tune changing by Lifeline) is why I chose Fullriver AGM - who have recommended higher float voltages for their AGMs since day-one. I wanted a 13.5 volt to 13.8 volt recommended float level range that the manufacturer was consistent and open about.
When shopping I didn't know if Lifeline was being too conservative, or if there were indeed some design parameter differences between the two brands that could give rise to different ideal float voltages being required. Note that I said "design parameter differences" ... not construction quality differences .... as IMHO the electro-chemisty versus material shapes/spaces/types used just may be tweekable enough so as to be able to approximately set non-drying float voltage to different levels by design .... having nothing to do with "construction quality or advertising conservativeness".
I'm hoping beyone hope that neither Lifeline nor Fullriver were blowing smoke about float levels, as I'm counting on my Fullrivers not being ruined ("dryed out") by my converter - just as my previous Interstate deep cycle motive AGM batteries were not ruined by my converter.
Of course all applied voltages to any LA battery have different effects at different temperatures. That's why float voltage is specified at a specific temperature ... cuz electro-chemistry behaviors are temperature dependent.
