6 volt battery question

[Raptorx9]

I have searched the archives and I'm sure I'm just missing it, but what is involved in switching from a 12v battery to 2 6v in series? Do I need any special equipment? Any recommendations on amp hours? Brands?

Thanks!

[westend]

philh wrote:
you will probably want to consider upgrading your battery charger. Common WFCO chargers will not properly charge the 6V batteries

I installed this

Great suggestion. 6V batteries like high charge voltage, they thrive on it. If you use a charger incapable of 14V, your 6V's will start to lose capacity.

[philh]

you will probably want to consider upgrading your battery charger. Common WFCO chargers will not properly charge the 6V batteries

I installed this

[opnspaces]

Even though this has been answered I'm going to answer as well.

I have the 6 volt golf cart batteries from Costco. If you go this route dig through the rack and find two with the most recent dates on them.

Required:

• A short piece of wire to connect the positive post of one battery to the negative post of the second battery. I am using 8 gauge or maybe 6 gauge wire on mine.
• Two crimp on ring terminals for the wire above.
• Some way to hold the batteries down on the trailer.

Optional is some kind of boxes to hold the batteries. I am using two independent boxes from Tweeteys
Link to single boxes

The picture below shows how to wire two 6 volt batteries in series. You can ignore the disconnect f your trailer doesn't have one.

[wanderingbob]

If you use the existing wire all you must add is a " jumper " wire to join a positive to a negative , then you treat it as if it is a 12 volt battery , which it is ! A battery is two or more cells joined pos to neg .

[Boon_Docker]

You're Welcome!

Happy Camping!

[Raptorx9]

Thanks everyone!! Very much appreciate all the good info!!

[CA_Traveler]

GC2s are about 1" taller so make sure you have the vertical space.

[SpeakEasy]

You asked what you need.

You need a short, heavy-duty cable to connect the two GC-2 batteries the way others have described. I found a 15-inch (or so) 000 cable with the appropriate battery-connection tabs already made. I think I found it at Tractor Supply. It was much less expensive than having my local RV shop make one, which they would have been willing to do.

You need a way to encase the 2 batteries. I opted for two separate battery cases, each designed to hold one GC-2 battery. I was able to mount them on the space where I had previously had one 12V case.

I also wanted a way to lock them down to prevent theft. I made an aluminum locking strap that surrounds the entire 2-battery-box setup.


Speak

[gmckenzie]

When hooking up 6V batteries, make sure you understand they connect differently than 12v.

With 2 12V, you connect + to + and - to -. Then + and - to the trailer.

With 2 6v, you connect - from one battery to + on the other battery. Then you hook the + and - from the trailer to the unused posts.

[RoyB]

I recently picked up 4EA 6VDC DURACELLs part number SLIGC110 215AH GC2 GOLF CART Batteries from our local BATTERIES PLUS store... These were being sold at 84.99 each and they took my dud 85AH 12VDC Interstate batteries for CORE FEE...

Google image

This is wired with two Paralleled groups of 2EA 6V Batteries in series... Using my BLUE SEA switching shown bellow I can select GP1, GP2, Both GPs and all off... With both groups selected I should be able to see 430Ah capacity..


Roy's drawing image

I will be using the DURACELL batteries verse the TROJAN batteries being shown here.

I am mounting these in a TORKLIFT 59-inch slide off lid diamond plate battery box. This box came with one 10WATT Solar panel on one end and I will add a second 10WATT Solar Panel on the other end. These will be used to give both battery groups a good trickle charge during hig sun day sitting on my trailer tongue area...



This 59-inch battery box will fit perfect inside the battery rails on my trailer tongue where my 12V Intersate Batteries were being used... The box will extend over both sides of the tongue area...

Been using my three 12VDC Interstates batteries since late 2008 and they lasted until around 2014/2015 and finally stopped holding a charge...


Roy's image

Trailer has been sitting for a few years and I am getting excited now getting back to some off-grid camping once again...

Roy Ken

[Boon_Docker]

No special equip needed. My Napa brand 230ah flooded GC2 batteries are into their 8th year of boondocking and are still going strong.

[2oldman]

It's just a 12v battery in two pieces. Get AGM. Lots less maintenance.

[ktmrfs]

Sams or Costco GC2's seem to be the best value around. Way less cost than Trojan's and friends that have used them are getting many years of life out of them. I get 10 years or so out of a pair of Trojans, so we shall see how the Costco compares over time, but at less than 1/2 the price of a Trojan they so far seem to be a good choice, especially of your not a months/year dry camper.

[PNW_Steve]

It all depends on what your power needs and space available for batteries.

I put two GC-2's in my TT. They are 6v 215a/h and "true" deep cycle batteries.

They are pretty much the best value in FLA. Costco and Sam's Club sell them for under $100.