Adding a 2nd battery
If I am to park for more than 1 night in one place without hookup or a lot of sun then I'm going to need a 2nd battery.
Unfortunately there is no space to fit it. So the only option I can see is to do this:
Take a battery cable, connected in parallel with the existing battery, out to one of those high amperage connectors (the type people use for connecting demountable winches etc.) that I would mount under the cabover step.
Fit another 12v battery into a portable battery box with a similar battery cable to a mating connector.
I could then leave this 2nd battery plugged in full time, in parallel with the main battery, but move it around inside the camper depending upon where it is least inconvenient at the time, e.g. under the dinette, on top of the couch, etc. and when access is needed remove it altogether.
My reasons and restrictions are as follows:
1) I don't have space for the 2nd battery outside the camper.
2) I don't want a battery that I only plug in occasionally - I can imagine that going flat sitting in the garage while the other one stays charged up from the permanently connected solar.
3) But I want to be able to disconnect it while working in the camper.
4) I am sticking to old fashioned 12v lead acid batteries for the moment - I want something easy to charge from the alternator / solar / battery charger.
5) Over here a generator is not an option - campgrounds don't allow them.
However, some questions, not being an expert on lead acid batteries:
1) I'll use good thick starter-motor cable between the batteries, but it will still be around 5 foot in total (with a connector in between). This will lead to a bit of voltage drop. Is this likely to cause me a real problem? To reiterate the charging voltage will be applied directly to the terminals of the original battery, but then cables will take that from there along to the 2nd battery. I am aware that if the 2nd battery was permanently wired I wouldn't do it as I would want to ensure the voltage was consistent across the batteries.
2) My current camper battery is over a year old. Do I need to buy two identical batteries when I do this rather than just adding a 2nd brand new battery to an older existing one?
Thanks in advance,
Steve.
Unfortunately there is no space to fit it. So the only option I can see is to do this:
Take a battery cable, connected in parallel with the existing battery, out to one of those high amperage connectors (the type people use for connecting demountable winches etc.) that I would mount under the cabover step.
Fit another 12v battery into a portable battery box with a similar battery cable to a mating connector.
I could then leave this 2nd battery plugged in full time, in parallel with the main battery, but move it around inside the camper depending upon where it is least inconvenient at the time, e.g. under the dinette, on top of the couch, etc. and when access is needed remove it altogether.
My reasons and restrictions are as follows:
1) I don't have space for the 2nd battery outside the camper.
2) I don't want a battery that I only plug in occasionally - I can imagine that going flat sitting in the garage while the other one stays charged up from the permanently connected solar.
3) But I want to be able to disconnect it while working in the camper.
4) I am sticking to old fashioned 12v lead acid batteries for the moment - I want something easy to charge from the alternator / solar / battery charger.
5) Over here a generator is not an option - campgrounds don't allow them.
However, some questions, not being an expert on lead acid batteries:
1) I'll use good thick starter-motor cable between the batteries, but it will still be around 5 foot in total (with a connector in between). This will lead to a bit of voltage drop. Is this likely to cause me a real problem? To reiterate the charging voltage will be applied directly to the terminals of the original battery, but then cables will take that from there along to the 2nd battery. I am aware that if the 2nd battery was permanently wired I wouldn't do it as I would want to ensure the voltage was consistent across the batteries.
2) My current camper battery is over a year old. Do I need to buy two identical batteries when I do this rather than just adding a 2nd brand new battery to an older existing one?
Thanks in advance,
Steve.
