I have a pair of 6v CG batteries that I use to power the rolling home. Sam's Club, Ever-Ready's (220Ah). They will reach 3 full seasons about mid-season this year. They work flawlessly, and seem again this year, to be fine (I disconnect them with a full charge and store them in the basement of the stationary home for the winter every year).I want to add a second pair of batteries, to take better advantage of my solar array, and to be able to run the microwave a bit more. Sam's has a newer version of the same battery, which will give me 240Ah additional capacity. I also have a several year old 12v gel-cell that came out of my parents old 5'er. It's got a full charge, but has been used for practically NOTHING for a number of years, 7 or 8 to be exact. All three of the trips that we already have booked for this season will be boon-docking/dry-camping (GS/CW RV Rally in Syracuse, 10 days on Assateague Island, and 5 days at Dover International Speedway). Likely the fourth will as well, at a state park here in NYS. While we don't exclusively dry camp, a large percentage, many years the vast majority of our trips are without hook-ups.So here are my options, as I see them:1) Do nothing until the two existing batteries go bad. With the "smart charger" built into the Rogue controller, that could take a couple more years.2) Add two new batteries to the bank.3) Add the older gel-cell to the bank, then replace the gel-cell and the two GC batteries when something finally fails.4) Buy 4 new GC batteries. (The "cheap' inside of me coils at the thought!!!!)So what do the experts think?Thanks for any guidance / suggestions!

Do not mix batteries of different ages or constructions. The weak,old batttery will drag down the new battery. Keep what you have until your ready to change them. Install 4 at that time.

Don't mix batteries. Wait until getting to Dover, if there is a Sams there since there is no state sales tax. But beware, if there is a Sams there, not all Sams sell GC batteries and some even if they have the lower amp hour version don't stock the higher version. Just from what I have seen out in the West.

I would load test the 12v gel battery to see if it is worth even keeping at this point. May be it will give you an extra day or so of power if brought along and swapped into the system once the 6v's gave up the ghost, might not be worth it's weight to even bring it.You don't say how much solar you have but if you can make it for the 5 day trip without much issue and the 10 day trip is the only real concern, maybe renting/borrowing a Honda 2000 for that trip to help your recharging efforts might be the ticket this year.I'm in agreement that not buying additional until you can replace buy all four together is the right answer for the benefit of your system over the long haul. One other option is if you have a camping friend that wants to upgrade to a bit more battery capacity, give them a deal on your used 6v batteries and then go out and buy your 4 new ones together.Enjoy your trips, sound like great times.

Hi Fire,Do nothing with the battery bank.Don't bother to bring them "home" next winter. Just leave the Rogue doing its job.Do beef up the charging path from the tow vehicle, if you have not already done so.

CincyGus wrote:I would load test the 12v gel battery to see if it is worth even keeping at this point. May be it will give you an extra day or so of power if brought along and swapped into the system once the 6v's gave up the ghost, might not be worth it's weight to even bring it.You don't say how much solar you have but if you can make it for the 5 day trip without much issue and the 10 day trip is the only real concern, maybe renting/borrowing a Honda 2000 for that trip to help your recharging efforts might be the ticket this year.I'm in agreement that not buying additional until you can replace buy all four together is the right answer for the benefit of your system over the long haul. One other option is if you have a camping friend that wants to upgrade to a bit more battery capacity, give them a deal on your used 6v batteries and then go out and buy your 4 new ones together.Enjoy your trips, sound like great times.Think that I'm gonna get the gel-cell load tested... it may be junk, it's so old...As for how much solar, it's in my signature block - 300W. I own a Yamaha 2400, just don't like to start it unless I absolutely have to....I HAVE a friend who wants the two 6v, but on his new TT, the battery (single) is "sunk" between a-frame at the hitch, and if he raises it to the top of the a-frame for a double battery box, it blocks his ability to get the propane cylinders in and out of their molded nose compartment. Still working on a solution for that, as he really needs twin 6v for nighttime use of a CPAP!As for buying in DE, what a GREAT idea! Not only will we be in DE for the race, but we travel through DE to get to Assateague, plus wife also usually wants to go to the factory outlets in Rehoboth Beach while we are in Assateague. Now I will have something to shop for!

Question for the Battery Experts | Good Sam Community

time2roll
Nomad
May 19, 2013
No problem as long as you have solar or converter keeping them charged every day when stored. Worst case you are out $180 at Costco over the next year or two. I think the set will last much longer than that. In the mean time you can use all that extra power to enjoy camping the way you want to.
mena661
Explorer
May 20, 2013
X2 smk. Given the SG on my present batts, if I wanted to add more, I wouldn't have a problem with it (mine are 3 years old also). I don't think there will be an issue adding two more batts to your present one's.
Canadian_Rainbi
Explorer
May 20, 2013
Interesting. Two of the regular posters whose opinion I value greatly, smkettner and pianotuna, give different advice. Then Mena661 (another whose opinions I trust) backs up smkettner. Maybe mexwanderer will chip in and tie it up again. :h
HiTech
Explorer
May 20, 2013
The variation in opinions seems to be around the compromise of adding 2 new golf cart batteries to the 2 old ones. You could shorten the life of the new ones. Some think it's worth it for the extra capacity you gain, others say not. It's not really a technical question, it is a risk for the money question.

Personally I would decide based on the condition of the existing batteries. If the specific gravity fully charged is near what it was when new, I'd do it and compromise the life of the new batteries a bit. If the old batteries show signs of getting old (low SG across the board that is uncorrectable, cloudy or smokey electrolyte, won't hold their voltage, won't pass a load test) then I would go for 4 new ones, or use just the 2 until they die.

You really do have the option too of charging different type or health batteries separately and drawing them down together. It is more work but it can get you that added capacity if you only need it occasionally.

Jim
pianotuna
Nomad III
May 20, 2013
Hi,

If you add more, then bank switching would be the "safe" bet. But since you have 300 watts of solar, my best guess is that the six volt twins start every trip bursting full, and the same thing happens pretty much every day during holidays.

There is always the generator, or alternator as a "back stop".

I believe that way back when the solar system was being planned I suggested more battery capacity. At least there is enough solar to adequately recharge a doubled up bank. It is rarely wrong to have too much capacity.

I'm semi full timing and am in the middle of a three day rain. It is cold enough that I'm running the furnace. It is a comfort to me to have lots of battery capacity.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
May 20, 2013
A lot of folks seem to feel that all batteries in a bank must be IDENTICAL.. I am not convinced..

You need to divide your thinking a bit, First, as I just posted to someone else think of each pair of six volt batteries as one 12 volt,, We will call the two pair old and new.. Pair only the two old ones together

{old}-{old}
and the new ones likewise {new}-{New}

You can not put 'em in parallel.

{old}-{old}
{new}-{new}

now problem

now due to differences in age it is a fact that one pair will tend to supply a bit more current, and likewise accept (under charge) a bit more, but the state of charge on both pairs will be identical for all time after the first discharge/charge cycle.

As for the gel cell.. (Are you sure it's a gel and not an AGM)

Gel's do not play nice with other types.. I'd avoid them completly

AGM's (Which are often mistekan for GEL) do play nice with other types, but .... I'd still keep it around as an emergency battry. Charge it with a battery tender or battery minder, put it in a wooden box with handle and a pair of jumper cables and use it for those OH "Black Tank Contents"! situations.
SteveAE
Explorer
May 20, 2013
Not an expert, just an opinion.

If you feel you want, or need, the additional storage capacity, then you should have it.

If you plan to keep your rig for awhile, I suggest that you sell (or give away) your existing batteries and start with four new ones. This way, you know that you won't be replacing older batteries every 3 or 4 years.

Alternatively, if you want to do a science experiment for the benefit of the rest of us, mix the batteries and let us know in a few years how it turns out.

Good luck with your decision and have a great camping season,
Steve
Fire_Instructor
Explorer
May 26, 2013
Well, Folks, I did it, and did it right! Four brand-new Duracell 6v GC batteries installed this morning. New cables from The Pacer Group.

Extended the battery terminal up 1", so that the battery caps could be more easily removed - all three caps on each battery come off as a single unit, not individually. Got 7/8 long "nuts" (used for joining two threaded rods) and this lifted the cables sufficiently for the caps to easily clear!

Everything all connected and tested! I now have 460Ah of capacity, which will run the Margarita maker for HOURS!!!!!
HiTech
Explorer
May 26, 2013
Nice! I envy all those amp hours.

Have you started charging them? What were their starting voltages? Do you have a hydrometer?

Jim

Forum Discussion

Question for the Battery Experts

About Technical Issues

Related Content

Battery Question??

Battery question

Battery Question

Battery Question

Battery/ charging question