Converting 12 volt coach batteries to 6 volt
I have a 2000 Tiffin Zephyr. It has 4 deep cycle 12 volt batteries that power the coach. The batteries need to be replaced. I have heard that using 6 volt batteries is a more efficient and economic...
Forum Discussion
Hi,
To be fair, you went from four 85 amp-hour batteries (when brand new) for a capacity of 340 amp-hours, which may not have been wired in a balanced manner, to four jars that store 464 amp-hours. Of course the new system works better--it is 27% larger in capacity. When you add the Puekert effect in, it is more nearly 33% larger.
If you had gone with four group 29 12 volt jars (115 amp-hours each) the capacity would have been about the same as the four 6 volt jars, and the results would have been again, a dramatic improvement. (wired in a balanced manner).
If we add a 2000 watt inverter to both the scenarios above, the 12 volt configuration would out perform the 6 volt one.
Since my new inverter is 3000 watts, I'm pretty much locked into 12 volt jars--and if/when I replace them I'll possibly go AGM for even better inverter use.
Four of the 12 volt jars are eight years old and still meet my needs.
To be fair, you went from four 85 amp-hour batteries (when brand new) for a capacity of 340 amp-hours, which may not have been wired in a balanced manner, to four jars that store 464 amp-hours. Of course the new system works better--it is 27% larger in capacity. When you add the Puekert effect in, it is more nearly 33% larger.
If you had gone with four group 29 12 volt jars (115 amp-hours each) the capacity would have been about the same as the four 6 volt jars, and the results would have been again, a dramatic improvement. (wired in a balanced manner).
If we add a 2000 watt inverter to both the scenarios above, the 12 volt configuration would out perform the 6 volt one.
Since my new inverter is 3000 watts, I'm pretty much locked into 12 volt jars--and if/when I replace them I'll possibly go AGM for even better inverter use.
Four of the 12 volt jars are eight years old and still meet my needs.
Canadian Rainbirds wrote:
Last year I replaced 4 12V group 24 marine/rv "deep cycle" batteries with 4 6V GCs. The difference has been outstanding. I would never go back.
Same foot print, need more headroom.
