Need Quick Answer to Battery Question! HELP!

[mr__ed]

Hi. I noticed that one of the two 12V batteries in my fiver was getting hot. Obviously defective. I removed the wires going to the negative terminal and secured them together with a screw and nut. So, the battery is effectively out of the circuit. It's too late in the day to buy another battery right away. My question:

Is it safe to use my fiver with only one of the batteries in use? They were originally connected in parallel so I don't think there will be a problem using it like this for a day but I'd like to be sure. I'm currently plugged into AC. Thanks in advance for your quick responses....

[mr__ed]

Thanks gain for your suggestions. I recall boondocking many times with my previous RV (a motorhome) that had only one 12 volt coach battery. Granted I also had a solar panel on the roof but I found that I could do OK between using the generator and that one battery (I never had to run the heater at night since I dry camped only during warmer weather). So that tells me a single battery should suit me fine in my current situation.

[Texas_Bob_140]

The short term answer is that you will be fine with one 12 volt battery going home or travelling from site to site if they have 120 volt hookups.

Now to the long term solution. If you are not camping off the grid, it probably doesn't matter what battery or batteries you are running. You will get a few years out of them and you will have to replace them. I recommend that you replace in pairs although if you are always on the grid, one battery will do.

We have been through several setups. The first setup was to replace the dead battery that came with our first trailer with a 12 volt deep charge battery such as one that might be used on a trolling motor. It was insufficient for camping off the grid in the high country of Colorado. Then I purchased a second one and put it in series. The results were not appreciably better. I then called Trojan Battery Company and talked to an engineer. He said to go to two 6 volt t105 golf cart batteries wired in series. We were able to extend our time off the grid to five days with little performance degradation. We were happy.

I bought a 2006 Cougar 5th wheel in early 2006 from a dealer in Michigan and he upgraded the single 12 volt battery to two 6 volt Interstate batteries. We used them for three years but with little extended time off the grid. They appeared to degrade after about 18 months so we went back to the T105's from Trojan at the three year mark.We have four years on them and they are still going strong. I do
use Interstate batteries in our vehicles.

As several folks have mentioned, there are some newer type batteries out there now. They are more expensive and some like them and some folks don't like them for trailer use.

If you go to the 6 volt in series batteries, you will need two new battery boxes. And I would suggest you get a hydrometer at the auto parts store and check the specific gravity before you head out.

Just one man's opinion - good luck.

[RAS43]

Mr.ed,
Yes, you can safely use only one battery since you have hook-ups whenever you stop. Many new trailers come form the factory with one battery. The only caveat is that if you do boondock sometime be aware that if you need the furnace it may run the battery down overnight.

[Dyno_Bill]

If you buy a normal lead acid battery they arn't really all that costly. One of the few things I really HATE is a dead battery. At 6 years of age when they were designed to last from 3-5 years depending on usage I would just pull into your favorite automotive retailer and buy two, heck have them install them and spend your time worrying about where the snows going to fall first.

[mr__ed]

I haven't considered that a different type of charger may be necessary if I change the battery type. Since I want to keep the original charging system I think it's best to go with another deep cycle lead/acid battery, like the original. I still haven't received a definitive answer to the question: Is there any reason why I can't use just one battery since I'm always plugged into AC power? Obviously, the only time I wouldn't be plugged in to AC is when towing. (I'm running one battery right now without any issues). I plan to replace that one with the new battery even though it's working now. Being 6 years old, it's no doubt due for replacement anyway.

[Dyno_Bill]

So am I correct in thinking the battery question is in fact answered?

[larry_barnhart]

full_mosey wrote:

larry barnhart wrote:

...
If Ed had 2 6 volt batteries and one went bad he would be in big trouble??
...
chevman

Easy. If half of your 12V bank of 2 x 6V in series goes bad you have no 12V. Possible, but not probable. Worst case you buy two new 6Vs.

If this loss of power creates a medical emergency then consider 2 x 12V in parallel where you can limp along on only one battery.

HTH;
John

Your answer is why I would not have 2 6 volt batteries, thanks
chevman

[full_mosey]

larry barnhart wrote:

...
If Ed had 2 6 volt batteries and one went bad he would be in big trouble??
...
chevman

Easy. If half of your 12V bank of 2 x 6V in series goes bad you have no 12V. Possible, but not probable. Worst case you buy two new 6Vs.

If this loss of power creates a medical emergency then consider 2 x 12V in parallel where you can limp along on only one battery.

HTH;
John

[Dyno_Bill]

larry barnhart wrote:
Ok I will ask again as I have done several times without a good answer. If Ed had 2 6 volt batteries and one went bad he would be in big trouble?? I feel he would but it seems nobody on this forum agreed the other times I asked this simple question.
chevman

As I'm sure you are aware most coaches use a 12 volt system. Your question is pertaining to a 6 volt system or a 12 volt system with the batteries hooked in series. There are 2 ways to connect batteries, parallel meaning that both positive posts are connected together and the ground terminals are connected to one another as well. With this method the system is a 12 volt with higher capacity . The other is series where the positive post on battery a is hooked to the negative post of battery b, the positive post of battery b is connected to the electrical system. This system will yield a 24 volt system. So that being said your question can only be answered after you share the method of battery connection and thus the operating voltage of the system.

[larry_barnhart]

Ok I will ask again as I have done several times without a good answer. If Ed had 2 6 volt batteries and one went bad he would be in big trouble?? I feel he would but it seems nobody on this forum agreed the other times I asked this simple question.
chevman

[laknox]

OP, as the others have said, if you're going to replace one, replace both of them, since a weak one will draw down the stronger one. If you do =any= boondocking at all, think about switching to 2x 6v batteries. I got 2 at Sam's Club for $80 each here in AZ and almost doubled my capacity. Adding a 45w solar charger, I extended my dry camping to "tank capacity", meaning that I can stay out until my black tank is full-up and I've =gotta= go. 🙂

Lyle

[colliehauler]

mr. ed wrote:
Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.

Reply to John: I check battery water level frequently and the batteries were just topped off before my trip from Arkansas to Florida.

Reply to Dino Bill: I have given some thought to obtaining a different type of battery in place of the lead/acid type due to vibration concerns. I'll probably go that route.

Another quick question: Since I don't boondock will I be OK with just one battery (no doubt the type suggested by Dino Bill)? I don't see any need for two if one can do the job, but I'd like to get others' input on this.

If you don't boondock one will be just fine.

[mr__ed]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.

Reply to John: I check battery water level frequently and the batteries were just topped off before my trip from Arkansas to Florida.

Reply to Dino Bill: I have given some thought to obtaining a different type of battery in place of the lead/acid type due to vibration concerns. I'll probably go that route.

Another quick question: Since I don't boondock will I be OK with just one battery (no doubt the type suggested by Dino Bill)? I don't see any need for two if one can do the job, but I'd like to get others' input on this.

[JohnD222]

Mr. Ed,

Yes one battery is fine. Yes, all you need do is disconnect one terminal from the defective battery.

Is it possible that the hot one was low on water in one or more cells while your good one had better coverage? Just like running a battery dead, dead, dead, you can get away with re filling with distilled water a cooked battery once, maybe twice, but then forget it. It will let you down in a pinch.

As posted, this one remaining battery alone is probably better energy and cost ($) effective than two unmatched in a set. Next best is toss both and buy one new one, very best may be to buy two new, but that depends on what you have (big slides and big foot energy drawers) and what you do or don't do (boondock, long storage periods). A single larger 12 volt one, or two big six volt true deep cycle batteries in series may be your best bet.