Hey RVers,My family and I have a 1990 Coachmen Leprechaun, and we are planning to go fulltime later this year. In the meantime, I am attempting to work out some of the major systems and hopefully get into solar by the end. For the purposes of this question, I am simply trying to install more batteries.As I understand things, I have a shore power cord. Power comes in, and goes through the breaker box direct to AC things, and a converter provides the DC power. The DC power also charges my house battery. Dilemma: The house battery is under the hood, with no room to spare and no room for expansion. The wiring is a rats nest of crazy (to a lay-person like me..functionally its fine), and I honestly just don't want to mess with it.So, I can't add additional house batteries without running a decent length of cable from the front to the rear of the RV where there is actually room for a battery bank. Very lossy, probably really difficult and expensive. On the flip side, the breaker box is in the back, right next to where I'd want the battery bank. So here is the question. Can I build a battery bank and use it as "shore power"? So, Battery Bank -> Inverter -> Shore Power Cable? I've seen others talk about having to turn off the converter, but since my House Battery is not part of the Battery Bank, is this even an issue (other than some electrical inefficiency.) I feel like this won't be a problem since the converter is not charging the Battery Bank?Does it sound like I have a basic concept here? Thanks folks.

Sure you could, but why? In reality there is very little 120V stuff you should consider running off a battery bank. AC, NO, Microwave, maybe.Since your converter is in the rear, dedicate a storage compartment close by to batteries, install and wire them directly to the converter, remove the house battery from under hood. If you want 120VAC for something specific, run a dedicated circuit from inverter to the desired location.

JYetzer wrote:On the flip side, the breaker box is in the back, right next to where I'd want the battery bank. So here is the question. Can I build a battery bank and use it as "shore power"? So, Battery Bank -> Inverter -> Shore Power Cable? Yes but that is usually not worth the trouble, especially if you have a generator.....or plan to get one. What do you want to be able to run that isn't already powered off the batteries ?And how would you charge the extra batteries ?If there is a main DC fuse in that breaker panel, you might be able to tie your new batteries in right there, which would just increase your battery capacity.And I gotta ask this:Are you SURE that your house battery is under the hood of the "truck" ?? I don't have a lot of experience but that doesn't sound right to me.

Check your weight distribution before you put a bunch of lead in the rear.

Hey folks,Thanks for the quick replies.Here is more info:The battery bank will be for use while dry camping/boondocking. Ultimately, I would be charging them with Solar, but probably not immediately.Primary uses of electricity will be lights and charging devices. Occasional rare short use of microwave, maybe. But I still want inverter setup so my normal house outlets will function.Since your converter is in the rear, dedicate a storage compartment close by to batteries, install and wire them directly to the converter, remove the house battery from under hood. If you want 120VAC for something specific, run a dedicated circuit from inverter to the desired location. Removing the house battery seems like it would interfere with basically the entire wiring of the RV? All the lights and everything is connected to that battery? I guess I could test by removing the battery and plugging into shore power and seeing if everything works.And I gotta ask this:Are you SURE that your house battery is under the hood of the "truck" ?? I don't have a lot of experience but that doesn't sound right to me. Yeah. I didn't think anything of it when I got it, but as soon as I started thinking about this puzzle, I was like...this is kind of strange. But sure enough, that's how it is.Weight: I'm really only thinking we will need about 150lbs or less of batteries back there. I really only want to add about 100AH of usable 12v battery.But essentially, you guys are telling me I won't burn up my converter with the setup I've proposed? Your issues are primarily with efficiency or simplicity rather than safety or component failure?

You won't be doing a lot of microwaving with a single battery. Your plan sounds like you'll be using the new setup (one battery) to be charging the existing battery (via inverter->shore cable->converter.)

Adding Batteries Separate From House Battery? | Good Sam Community

JYetzer
Explorer
Mar 29, 2016
Yes, I suppose so. Unless I can remove that battery with no ill effects...I will have to test later.

My primary concern is what I had read about having a loop from house battery to inverter to converter to house battery, etc, and the problems that causes. I am just trying to confirm that this is not a problem in the setup I am proposing.
2oldman
Explorer II
Mar 29, 2016
So you will be charging the existing (apparently unused) battery from these two new ones?
JYetzer
Explorer
Mar 29, 2016
2oldman wrote:
You won't be doing a lot of microwaving with a single battery. Your plan sounds like you'll be using the new setup (one battery) to be charging the existing battery (via inverter->shore cable->converter.)

2 100AH batteries, but only planning 50% discharge, so 100AH usable.

Otherwise, yes, that's my thought.
ksg5000
Explorer
Mar 29, 2016
Many older Class C's were sold with one house battery located under the hood. Those owners who wanted to add additional batteries had to do so by putting them in the rear storage compartment - some under the stairs. Very doable you just connect the batteries via wire run under the rig. Just make sure you use proper gauge wire. Also - in my Class C height restriction was an important factor in batteries and I was stuck using type 24 batteries.
2oldman
Explorer II
Mar 29, 2016
You won't be doing a lot of microwaving with a single battery. Your plan sounds like you'll be using the new setup (one battery) to be charging the existing battery (via inverter->shore cable->converter.)
JYetzer
Explorer
Mar 29, 2016
Hey folks,
Thanks for the quick replies.

Here is more info:

The battery bank will be for use while dry camping/boondocking.
Ultimately, I would be charging them with Solar, but probably not immediately.

Primary uses of electricity will be lights and charging devices. Occasional rare short use of microwave, maybe. But I still want inverter setup so my normal house outlets will function.

Since your converter is in the rear, dedicate a storage compartment close by to batteries, install and wire them directly to the converter, remove the house battery from under hood. If you want 120VAC for something specific, run a dedicated circuit from inverter to the desired location.

Removing the house battery seems like it would interfere with basically the entire wiring of the RV? All the lights and everything is connected to that battery? I guess I could test by removing the battery and plugging into shore power and seeing if everything works.

And I gotta ask this:
Are you SURE that your house battery is under the hood of the "truck" ?? I don't have a lot of experience but that doesn't sound right to me.

Yeah. I didn't think anything of it when I got it, but as soon as I started thinking about this puzzle, I was like...this is kind of strange. But sure enough, that's how it is.

Weight: I'm really only thinking we will need about 150lbs or less of batteries back there. I really only want to add about 100AH of usable 12v battery.

But essentially, you guys are telling me I won't burn up my converter with the setup I've proposed? Your issues are primarily with efficiency or simplicity rather than safety or component failure?
Ductape
Explorer
Mar 29, 2016
Check your weight distribution before you put a bunch of lead in the rear.
Sam_Spade
Explorer
Mar 29, 2016
JYetzer wrote:

On the flip side, the breaker box is in the back, right next to where I'd want the battery bank. So here is the question. Can I build a battery bank and use it as "shore power"? So, Battery Bank -> Inverter -> Shore Power Cable?

Yes but that is usually not worth the trouble, especially if you have a generator.....or plan to get one.

What do you want to be able to run that isn't already powered off the batteries ?

And how would you charge the extra batteries ?

If there is a main DC fuse in that breaker panel, you might be able to tie your new batteries in right there, which would just increase your battery capacity.

And I gotta ask this:
Are you SURE that your house battery is under the hood of the "truck" ?? I don't have a lot of experience but that doesn't sound right to me.
donn0128
Explorer II
Mar 29, 2016
Sure you could, but why? In reality there is very little 120V stuff you should consider running off a battery bank. AC, NO, Microwave, maybe.
Since your converter is in the rear, dedicate a storage compartment close by to batteries, install and wire them directly to the converter, remove the house battery from under hood. If you want 120VAC for something specific, run a dedicated circuit from inverter to the desired location.

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