9.6 Bigfoot Dual Batteries

Bigfeets wrote:
I am trying to put 1 or 2 batteries in the basement and really don't want to do the maintenance associated with the wet cells. I have wet cells now and neglect them too much to justify buying the same type. I would like to set and forget them for the most part. Plus I want them to be in the heated basement where they can stay warm. It would be hazardous to keep flooded cells in the basement. I can also run the AGM's down pretty low and not do as much harm. Let's all face it we do push the limits of our batteries in times of need. No one is perfect and I just want to have fun.

As a power budget I would like 300-400 amp hours. I think I can fit a 4D in the stock battery compartment and another one in the basement. They will be about 6 feet apart but we will use 4ga to link them.

Your point of keeping the batteries warm is the primary reason I went to AGM batteries. I tend to use the camper in shoulder seasons ( I don't like crowds) so I can see temps down to 10f and I like the inside of the camper to be 70f even at night. This puts a real stain on a cold battery, half or more of it's capacity can be lost by cold temps and it takes forever to recharge those cold batteries, if ever.

I plan on keeping the batteries in the factory plastic housing but I will cut a couple of holes into the housing to mount a computer fan to circulate warm camper air around the batteries on cold nights/days. I will seal and insulated the exterior battery door. On my 2005 9.6 bigfoot there are two furnace vents that will blow towards the batteries if I keep the cabinet door below the sink open.