Relocating coach battery to increase battery bank size

Hi,

No increase in wire size is required so long as the new distance from the bank to the converter is shorter than the OEM distance.

If upgrading the converter--then the new install would need larger wire to reflect that change.

I would make a sealed box that is vented outside in case of catastrophic failure of the AGM batterys.

Make sure the converter will support AGM chemistry.

On the outside of the sealed box, leave space for a nice sized inverter. It is so lovely to have lots of 120 volt watts to use as needed.

trikepilot wrote:
If the existing wire from the single coach battery to the converter/charger is a particular gauge, then by adding one or more batteries will it need to increase in size?

Good answer from BFL13.

It depends where they are paralleled at. If you add a second bank somewhere at the back and wire it to the converter in the middle of the RV while the converter still has the original house battery in front as is, the converter can recharge both battery sets and you don't have to run wires all the way from one battery set in the back to the other battery in front or change the wires to the front set.

Don't forget the frame is likely the 'wire' for most of the negative paths so you mostly only need to run a positive wire any great distance.

Of course it will take longer for the converter to recharge more batteries. You can get more charging amps too if you want.

Wireing should be as short as possible.. This is why in my 38 foot motor home it is closer to 50 feet from the converter to the batteries (HUGH, yup they ran it long path).

If I were moving the batteries I would likely re-route wires depending on the location of terminal blocks, distribution centers, disconnect solenoids and such.. Sadly, this is an eyes on thing.. I can not advise long distance.

I plan on having a welder build a tray for the batteries or maybe switching to AGM and putting them under the sink in the kitchen. Haven't decided which way to go yet.

If the existing wire from the single coach battery to the converter/charger is a particular gauge, then by adding one or more batteries will it need to increase in size?

Hi,

Make sure to not overload the compartment you plan on putting the batteries in. Driving down the road dragging house batteries as an anchor would not be my idea of fun.

It is the wiring from house batteries to converter (or inverter/charger) that should be short/fat, but yes you still need a battery to start the gen.

Somebody last year had a long thread going on putting more batteries in his Class C, can't remember name right now. (Justme? something like that) We'll find it.

EDIT: Wade through this--some of it might apply where he adds batteries page 13 on
https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26705627/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm