12v vs 6v battery question
I've got to replace my 2 batteries on my TT. We typically camp with power so we don't boondock. We do have a residential fridge, with an inverter, and the batteries to get a little charge from the ...
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I think we need to look at this in a more practical way. As a reminder from my OP, I don't boondock, I use the batteries mainly to keep my Resi fridge while traveling.
Here are a couple of things that apply in most cases.
Realistically most people don't want to fool with checking their batteries to see when it is time to switch from battery to the other. We camp to get out and hike, bike etc, not to mess with batteries. I know some people really get into seeing how they can get the most out of their batteries for boondocking, and if you enjoy that, great, but the majority want simplicity.
I can see the redundancy of running sequential, but redundancy is not critical to most on a camper. On an airplane where if a battery failed I might fall out of the sky, I want redundancy. On my camper if a battery fails, I have to run my slide in with a ratchet, and my ice cream melts. I can probably survive this.
Most of the time a battery gives you some warning that it is going bad, and you lose capacity overtime, not a failure where it just dies, but again if it does just die, I'm not falling from the sky.
Also you need to think about pros/cons, and availability of the 3 types of batteries that have been discussed, and the info I've learned from this post.
1, common 12v "deep cycles" are the easiest to find, and fairly cheap, but don't have great capacity, and don't seem to be as durable over a couple of years.
2. Golf cart 6v batteries are fairly common, probably more common in my area since I'm 5 miles from a city with probably 10,000 golf carts. They tend to last longer capacity wise, and are more durable, and can withstand deeper discharges. Also they were only $5 a battery more than the cheap 12v deep cycles.
3. True deep cycle 12v, harder to find, but built more like a golf cart battery. Sounds like they are more expensive.
Where I live and camp in the southeast, I can't think of many places where I'd be more than 20 miles from a Walmart, or a auto parts store where I could buy a battery in a pinch.
I really appreciate all the info, I went with the 6v golf cart batteries. For me they seem like the best option for my camping style.
Here are a couple of things that apply in most cases.
Realistically most people don't want to fool with checking their batteries to see when it is time to switch from battery to the other. We camp to get out and hike, bike etc, not to mess with batteries. I know some people really get into seeing how they can get the most out of their batteries for boondocking, and if you enjoy that, great, but the majority want simplicity.
I can see the redundancy of running sequential, but redundancy is not critical to most on a camper. On an airplane where if a battery failed I might fall out of the sky, I want redundancy. On my camper if a battery fails, I have to run my slide in with a ratchet, and my ice cream melts. I can probably survive this.
Most of the time a battery gives you some warning that it is going bad, and you lose capacity overtime, not a failure where it just dies, but again if it does just die, I'm not falling from the sky.
Also you need to think about pros/cons, and availability of the 3 types of batteries that have been discussed, and the info I've learned from this post.
1, common 12v "deep cycles" are the easiest to find, and fairly cheap, but don't have great capacity, and don't seem to be as durable over a couple of years.
2. Golf cart 6v batteries are fairly common, probably more common in my area since I'm 5 miles from a city with probably 10,000 golf carts. They tend to last longer capacity wise, and are more durable, and can withstand deeper discharges. Also they were only $5 a battery more than the cheap 12v deep cycles.
3. True deep cycle 12v, harder to find, but built more like a golf cart battery. Sounds like they are more expensive.
Where I live and camp in the southeast, I can't think of many places where I'd be more than 20 miles from a Walmart, or a auto parts store where I could buy a battery in a pinch.
I really appreciate all the info, I went with the 6v golf cart batteries. For me they seem like the best option for my camping style.
