Forum Discussion

billyray50's avatar
billyray50
Explorer
Aug 23, 2014

Adding another 12 volt Battery

Planning a trip in October in upstate new York to be there for the birth of our new grandson and was thinking of adding another battery to my 1998 lance 990 legend to run the propane furnace. Gets chilly up there at night in October. It has outside battery compartment with disconnect switch but only room for one. Have outside access storage door that accesses truck bed in front of wheel well that is almost directly under battery compartment. Also have generator compartment on other side of camper in passage side rear compartment but seems to be no wiring there. Any info, pics, or threads would be appreciated.
Truck Campers
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Aug 23, 2014
    Looks like you have the wrong kind of battery there now.
  • 2oldnslow's avatar
    2oldnslow
    Explorer
    Aug 23, 2014
    Putting the second battery ahead of the wheel well looks like the easiest way to go. Use at least 6AWG wire (4 or 2 would be better) to connect the two batteries. Put a pair of Anderson Powerpole connectors in line so you can disconnect the second battery to off-load the camper.

    Source for Anderson Powerpoles:

    http://www.powerwerx.com/anderson-powerpoles/powerpole-sets/sb120-sb-series-120-amp.html
  • poncho62's avatar
    poncho62
    Explorer
    Aug 23, 2014
    My GMC pickup has a 2nd battery tray under the hood. I put an RV battery there with an isolating solenoid. This keeps that battery and the trailer battery separate from the truck engine battery, but the alternator still charges them when needed
  • billyray50's avatar
    billyray50
    Explorer
    Aug 23, 2014
    Thanks for info. My Dodge cummins has 2 starter batteries under the hood already and it needs to crank up the 5.9 Cummins too.... No room for any more. Yeah the camper battery was in there when i bought it. Previous owner installed it new when i purchased it this past march. Only 6 months old.
  • billyray50's avatar
    billyray50
    Explorer
    Aug 23, 2014
    2oldnslow wrote:
    Putting the second battery ahead of the wheel well looks like the easiest way to go. Use at least 6AWG wire (4 or 2 would be better) to connect the two batteries. Put a pair of Anderson Powerpole connectors in line so you can disconnect the second battery to off-load the camper.

    Source for Anderson Powerpoles:

    http://www.powerwerx.com/anderson-powerpoles/powerpole-sets/sb120-sb-series-120-amp.html
    .

    How would you run the wires to house battery? Should i drill into bottom of battery compartment to run cables to set up in parallel or less invasive way to battery compartment.
  • billtex's avatar
    billtex
    Explorer II
    Aug 24, 2014
    2oldman wrote:
    Looks like you have the wrong kind of battery there now.


    Good catch, looks like a CCA...take that out and get the largest deep cell you can fit in there...that should do you for a night or two running the furnace.
  • 2oldnslow's avatar
    2oldnslow
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2014
    billyray50 wrote:

    How would you run the wires to house battery? Should i drill into bottom of battery compartment to run cables to set up in parallel or less invasive way to battery compartment.


    Drill into the battery box only if you have to, and seal the holes well when finished. Look for a place you can tie into the existing battery cables outside the box if you can. The fuse block in the converter box is a good possibility.

    Don't forget to put an inline fuse near the positive terminal of the second battery.
  • billyray50's avatar
    billyray50
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2014
    Yes it is a deep cycle marine battery. It has done well this past summer dry camping for a few nights. but only ran furnace for 15 minutes one morning once. Thanks for info 2oldnslow.
  • tony_lee's avatar
    tony_lee
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2014
    Nothing really wrong with the battery and you could just get another one the same to put in parallel.

    Sure it isn't a true deep cycle or a legendary golf-cart battery, but for most owners not using their RVs full-time, these sort of batteries probably represent pretty good value for money - especially when they are often not looked after properly and rarely hooked to a quality charger capable of bringing them to close to 100% charged. They can last 3 years if looked after and then replaced cheaply - which is better than getting expensive batteries that may only last the same time if not looked after.

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