Battey Questions
It appears that I am going to have to replace the battery on our TT. It is an interstate Deep Cycle. Here are some questions I have about 12VDC power: 1) Would I gain much by adding a second batter...
Forum Discussion
brownieab fairly well nailed it. MOST people don't need a second battery but if you boondock with no hook ups, it is very helpful to have the extra power.
#1 - Yes you would gain some power from adding a second 12 volt battery but you'd still be using basically starting batteries so they're not going to last very long if you deep discharge them frequently.
#2. Two true deep cycle 6 volt batteries are the MOST powerful option you can use and will out last just about ALL other kinds of batteries. I get over 8 years from a set of 6 volt golf cart batteries.
#3 - Starting batteries are designed to start engines, be they boats (as with marint/RV batteries) or trucks (as in your case. Use a starting battery to assist your diesel in starting. If you have a gas engine you don't need two.
#4. I get 8 years from a REASONABLY well cared for Trojan T 105. They are expensive but WELL worth the money. Lower cost 6 volt batteries may give you the same power but generally don't last as long due to cardboard spacers inside the batteries as opposed to plastic used by Trojan. It's these spacers that prevent warpage of the solid lead plates when batteries are deeply discharged.
#5. Yes there is. You didn't mention cost of batteries (I payed $155.00 each for T 105 from Trojan, two years ago) or anything about how to "turn them off" when not in use (simplest way is to simply remove the negative lead to the RV from it's battery post using a thumb screw) :)
Good luck / Skip
#1 - Yes you would gain some power from adding a second 12 volt battery but you'd still be using basically starting batteries so they're not going to last very long if you deep discharge them frequently.
#2. Two true deep cycle 6 volt batteries are the MOST powerful option you can use and will out last just about ALL other kinds of batteries. I get over 8 years from a set of 6 volt golf cart batteries.
#3 - Starting batteries are designed to start engines, be they boats (as with marint/RV batteries) or trucks (as in your case. Use a starting battery to assist your diesel in starting. If you have a gas engine you don't need two.
#4. I get 8 years from a REASONABLY well cared for Trojan T 105. They are expensive but WELL worth the money. Lower cost 6 volt batteries may give you the same power but generally don't last as long due to cardboard spacers inside the batteries as opposed to plastic used by Trojan. It's these spacers that prevent warpage of the solid lead plates when batteries are deeply discharged.
#5. Yes there is. You didn't mention cost of batteries (I payed $155.00 each for T 105 from Trojan, two years ago) or anything about how to "turn them off" when not in use (simplest way is to simply remove the negative lead to the RV from it's battery post using a thumb screw) :)
Good luck / Skip
