Class C coach Batteries

[shwmin]

VERY VERY new to owning a motorcoach. Looking forward to getting on the road with our coach. We have a 2000 Gulfstream Class C coach we bought used. I am sure this is a novice question so please bare with me. Our coach has 2 batteries outside in one compartment in series. We also have 1 battery inside the coach under one of the steps which has a off/on lever wired to it. Can someone please explain the purpose of the three battery setup we have? Any help in understanding this would be appreciated. Thanks Again

[tenbear]

Having 2 12v batteries in series would be very unusual in an RV. Recheck the wiring. There would normally be no way to charge 2 12v (24v) in series, and there is normally nothing in an RV that would use 24v.

It is probable that all 3 are wired in parallel if indeed all 3 are 12v batteries.

[rvten]

Dakzuki wrote:

rvten wrote:
The single battery should be fir the engine(chassis battery)
The blades with is to cut power. To prevent battery drain.

The 2 batteries. Are fir the coach. Lights, vent fans , furnace, fridge.

I don't believe so. Looks like the RV has additional batteries added.

Now that he verified he as an engine batt.
OP did not say that first time.

[Its_Hondo]

Here is a pic of my two 6 volt coach batteries wired in series - this provides 12 volts DC -



Here is a pic of my two 12 volt marine batteries that are wired in parallel - this also provides 12 volts DC. They are located in the engine compartment- (the positive lead isn't hooked up to it's post in this pic) -

[Dakzuki]

shwmin wrote:
Thanks so much for the help. All three batteries are 12 volt marine batteries. They were dated from 2010 to be safe I changed them . I also have a battery under the hood. Living in Florida and storing it here I know how heat can destroy batteries before their time..

That means none should be in series. Wiring batteries in series doubles the voltage. They should be in parallel.

[Dakzuki]

rvten wrote:
The single battery should be fir the engine(chassis battery)
The blades with is to cut power. To prevent battery drain.

The 2 batteries. Are fir the coach. Lights, vent fans , furnace, fridge.

I don't believe so. Looks like the RV has additional batteries added.

[OldRadios]

Good that you replaced all three at the same time. Batteries should be the same age/model/size if they are strapped together whether they are 12V in parallel or 6V in series.

[wbwood]

Sounds like the previous owner just added two more batteries for some extended camping. Enjoy!

[shwmin]

Thanks so much for the help. All three batteries are 12 volt marine batteries. They were dated from 2010 to be safe I changed them . I also have a battery under the hood. Living in Florida and storing it here I know how heat can destroy batteries before their time..

[pianotuna]

Hi,

Welcome to the forums.

It sounds as if the previous owner added additional house batteries to boost capacity.

Try to identify whether they are six volts or 12 volts. Do this by counting the number of cell caps you can see. Six will be a 12 volt battery, three will be a 6 volt battery.

The reason for the disconnect switch(es) is to remove parasitic loads when the RV is not in use.

[rvten]

showing Do you also have an engine battery in the front?

[TreeSeeker]

Articles about RV electrical systems:

BATTERIES--AND OTHER ELECTRIC STUFF

The 12v Side of Life

Intro to Dry Camping

Battery Education

[ksg5000]

Many Class C come with 3 batteries. One dedicated to the engine and two dedicated to the coach. The ones dedicated to the coach are often 12 volt batteries (usually type 24 but sometimes larger) wired in parallel.

[DaCrema]

Sometimes an extra house battery is added to store more amp hours. If the previous owner spent a lot of time camping without hookup it would allow him to use electrical appliances longer.
I mention this because the OP said there were three batteries in the "house" part of the RV. The car battery is generally in the engine compartment.

[RoyB]

The two batteries in series are most likely the COSTCO 6VDC GC2 golf cart batteries... These are great batteries with alot of capacity. Being in series you just think of them as ONE LARGE 12VDC battery.

Having around 220AHs battery capacity usually is enough for most short weekend type camping experiences.

Roy Ken