Adding two new 6 volts to existing six volts

[Huntindog]

I am considering adding two new 6 volts to the two year old ones I have. I am aware, and agree that in most cases this is not a good idea as the old batteries will draw from the new ones.

But my usage is somewhat unique. My batteries are always either being charged by the convertor, or being used to power loads in my TT. They never sit at rest.
So in my thinking, I don't believe that the old batteries will harm the new ones. At least not when being charged.. When powering loads, I think the new ones may do a little more work than the old ones and thus shorten their lifespan slightly. But no big harm done if that is the case.

Thoughts?

[Boon_Docker]

.......17 year old boys. I sometimes wonder about the actual age around the sand box. :B

[NinerBikes]

Huntindog wrote:

Ninerbikes wrote:
For some reason, my poor memory remembers you perhaps being a doubter on Ric's Ford truck with Bosch CP4.2 HPFP failure fiasco, which I carefully walked him through to determine cause of failure on his pump, when he got jacked around by FOMOCO, when it is and was a Bosch problem. But boys with trucks will be boys with trucks... bow tie, blue oval or Dodge Bros fanbois, with subcontracted out german design and company fuel injection systems by Robert Bosch.

Your memory needs some help..:)
Ric and I had many heated debates until he had his Ford fiasco. I took no pleasure in it and said so at the time. Ric and I have even spoken on the phone.. In fact the only forum person I have ever done so with. I consider Ric a friend.

That's wonderful... I have spoken to Ric "Burger King" on the phone too... he called me, several times, not just once. Even got an invite to come see him some time if I was ever in the area. I've no need to make public who else I've talked to in person or on the phone here, they know who they are.

I am not green about batteries... Worked for Sears and did more electrical power train tests for alternators, voltage regulators, and installed tons (literally) of Diehard batteries in the 1970's for Sears in the automotive department in a city with a population of 4 million people. It kept me busy and out of trouble. Culled a lot of "dead" batteries from "dead" alternator or fried voltage regulator problems, and made Sears a lot of money while doing it.

Honestly... I know nothing about batteries, or fishing, or trolling, or hunting... don't mind me at all. :W

[NinerBikes]

Putting up simple "life of battery" mix and match post in here this time of year is like throwing the keys to a Dodge Hellcat with a full tank of AV gas into a group of 17 year old boys that just got their drivers licenses.

You hope the boys will behave themselves and not get into trouble, but the results are predictable. Intervention crisis is almost mandatory.

[TomG2]

Huntindog wrote:
snip...... Do you think it has outlived its usfulness and should be shutdown?

This particular thread maybe. It never was intended to educate the OP, just a platform for argument. Sorry that you cannot afford all four new batteries, as that is my solution. That's what I would do. In fact, I would hope that all four batteries were from the same lot and made on the same day.

[Huntindog]

TomG2 wrote:

Huntindog wrote:
...snip
So are you complaining or bragging?

Neither. Just observing. Ordinarily, you know everything about everything, then come on here asking a question that has been answered many times. Some might call that trolling. You can call it whatever you want.

Really?
I do have a lot of knowledge to share because of my years of experience... It predates the internet, back when finding out info was not nearly so easy... Hence a lot of learning was trial and error.
If you really were "observant" you would notice that not all of my posts are giving advice... Quite a few times, when I am not sure of something, I have asked questions... That is the best way to aquire knowledge. You should try it sometime.

As for it has been answered many times... I am sure that would apply to most any subject on this forum. Do you think it has outlived its usfulness and should be shutdown?

[RJsfishin]

If theres something I didn't know about batteries, which theres not, I wouldn't be askin here. I come here for the comedy of it all:) 🙂 🙂
I do come here to help, but then the thread always gets over run by a bunch of batt engineer wannabees:(

[TomG2]

Huntindog wrote:
...snip
So are you complaining or bragging?

Neither. Just observing. Ordinarily, you know everything about everything, then come on here asking a question that has been answered many times. Some might call that trolling. You can call it whatever you want.

[Huntindog]

TomG2 wrote:

Huntindog wrote:
...snip
My mind can always be changed, but the reasoning needs to be sound.

Congratulations, you worked this old subject for four pages.

So are you complaining or bragging?

You seem to be complaining, yet you replied to this thread 4 times, with nothing constructive to say... That makes you a prime reason that this thread grew needlessly.

[westend]

There's a lot of old, mean, cranky, bored, cabin fevered out Rv'ers spending too much time in front of their keyboards right now, with the days and sunlight being short. The only light they are currently seeing is the light from the screen on their laptop... they need to get out more. It will pass as the days get longer, but there's still another 1.5 to 2 months of codgers venting on RVnet around here before things get better... it's an annual occurence.

Hey, I resemble that remark!

FWIW, I have two battery banks of dissimilar batteries, one 3 x AGM and one 2 X 6V. I have three of the best battery master disconnect switches I could buy. They don't get used much. Most of the year, they are all connected to both banks. When the sun shines, the solar controller charges both banks.

[TomG2]

Huntindog wrote:
...snip
My mind can always be changed, but the reasoning needs to be sound.

Congratulations, you worked this old subject for four pages.

[azrving]

NinerBikes wrote:

Huntindog wrote:

NinerBikes wrote:
Or use the search function here, read, and decide for yourself, because this is a lot like a red or blue generator question.

Or it's a good troll by the OP, the information is out there.

OP here.
I have been a member here since 2002 and have well over 4000 posts... This is not a troll.

That said, I am aware of the search function and tried a number of searches with no hits on my question.. Yes I am sure that the info is out there somewhere... I just got tired of trying to find the "right" word(s) to find it.

I am leaning towards doing this. As I said in my OP, my batteries are always either being charged (in which case the old batteries cannot draw from the new ones) or powering loads in my TT. (in which case I and some others think that the old batteries will just act like a slightly smaller battery)
Naturally the new batteries will have their lifespan reduced a little, but on the flip side, the old batteries may last a little longer as they will have it eaiser.

I am in a long boondocking situation now. I had an electrical problem that led me to believe that my present batteries were failing. With nightime temps in the low 20s, I decided not to chance a night with a heater problem and ran into town to get new batteries. That did not fix the problem (which I have now found and fixed) so I now own 4 six volt batteries.. I have often regretted not going with 4 originally as I power a a small deep freeze for extra supplies and it would be nice to have more capacity.
So with the money already spent, my choice is to core two perfectly good batteries or use them.

For some reason, my poor memory remembers you perhaps being a doubter on Ric's Ford truck with Bosch CP4.2 HPFP failure fiasco, which I carefully walked him through to determine cause of failure on his pump, when he got jacked around by FOMOCO, when it is and was a Bosch problem. But boys with trucks will be boys with trucks... bow tie, blue oval or Dodge Bros fanbois, with subcontracted out german design and company fuel injection systems by Robert Bosch.

There's always options for your heat. Like an Oly CAT Wave 6 heater, and a cracked vent and cracked window for ventilation, instead of money on batteries.

Of course, around here, the warriors will b*tch that you can die in your sleep from it from CO poisoning, yet you have a CO alarm in your RV, don't you?

It all really depends on how cheap you are, how much disposable income you have for your RV, value of your time running around solving problems vs RVing, and how technically correct and efficient you want or have to be with money spent.

Just remember, any time you post up around here... every one is an Ex Spurt. Apply common sense and logic to every response, because some of the engineers around here, they are technically always right, but it's not their budget, their money you are working with, it's your money. Life's choices are full of compromises, pick which variables are most important to you and spend accordingly.

From a lifespan point of view, and pure theory... don't mix the old with the new. From a practicality point of view and time spent wasting a few $$$ in lost life of new batteries being dragged down by the old batteries, hook them all up together, and don't ask questions and don't worry about it. Some folks on tight budgets Jury rig their RV's, the EE's around here will have nothing to do with such malarkey. Decide which camp you are in, and unless you want to start another war in here, don't post up your results.

There's a lot of old, mean, cranky, bored, cabin fevered out Rv'ers spending too much time in front of their keyboards right now, with the days and sunlight being short. The only light they are currently seeing is the light from the screen on their laptop... they need to get out more. It will pass as the days get longer, but there's still another 1.5 to 2 months of codgers venting on RVnet around here before things get better... it's an annual occurence.

LMAO 🙂

[Huntindog]

TomG2 wrote:

Huntindog wrote:

Thoughts?

Always funny to see someone ask for input and then proceed to dispute any that is offered. Think he already had his mind made up and just wants to argue on a cold winter day?

What you think is incorrect. I am in camp right now. And though it is cold, my activities take me outside a lot.

My mind can always be changed, but the reasoning needs to be sound.

As I said in my OP, I am a believer that age matched batteries are best... But that is not the situation I am faced with, and is not an option at this time. I either go forward and use all 4, or get 30.00 for old ones as cores and stay with the two new ones.
So far nobody has offered up a compelling reason not to do this. So I am still listening but am leaning towards doing it. I really don't see any negatives, since I already own the batteries.

[Huntindog]

Ninerbikes wrote:
For some reason, my poor memory remembers you perhaps being a doubter on Ric's Ford truck with Bosch CP4.2 HPFP failure fiasco, which I carefully walked him through to determine cause of failure on his pump, when he got jacked around by FOMOCO, when it is and was a Bosch problem. But boys with trucks will be boys with trucks... bow tie, blue oval or Dodge Bros fanbois, with subcontracted out german design and company fuel injection systems by Robert Bosch.

Your memory needs some help..:)
Ric and I had many heated debates until he had his Ford fiasco. I took no pleasure in it and said so at the time. Ric and I have even spoken on the phone.. In fact the only forum person I have ever done so with. I consider Ric a friend.

[NinerBikes]

OP, do a search of "weak sister" in the Tech section.