Batteries - 6-volt vs 12-volt.

[Skruddgemire]

I was talking with my mechanic while my car was being serviced and he recently switched out his 12-volt system in his RV and replaced it with a 6-volt system and suggested that I build my teardrop using the same.

He has since noticed that the battery life is vastly improved and he can go for 4 days with lights, water pump, and fans where before he could only last 2-2.5 days. Also he's noticed that he has had to in the past, replace his 12-volt batteries every two years (Interstate Deep-Cycle batteries) whereas the 6-volt system has been in for three years now and are still going strong.

Thoughts? Is it more advantageous to go with the 6-volt battery/inverter system? Or should I stick with 12-volts with the tear.

In my case I'm planning to stay in campgrounds with electrical service, but if I were to go to a state park, I'm going to be running a LED Light system (Ikea's Dioder lights) a fan, a LED/DVD Television Combo and a Car Stereo.

Thoughts?

[48Rob]

Here is a good explanation;
http://www.solarrvpanels.com/index.php/ ... r-your-rv/

In the end, it really depends on how much you need to draw for a given time period.
If the draw is small and only for a couple days, you may not need a power reserve that might last for 7 days.

I'm running 2-6 volt batteries, and am very happy.
I just replaced the first set after getting 7 years of service, and expect to get several years more from the second set, as I didn't treat the first set as well as I should have (too deep a discharge, not recharging right away.

Rob

[Dale M.]

Bottom line is all about amphour rates of battery vs weight...

In the end if one 12 volt battery has 25 amphour rate and weighs in at 34 pounds, and two 6 volt batteries (in series) give you 25 amphour rate and weighs in at 34 pounds (or more in total) you may have not really gained anything.... Except two 6 volt batteries will be more expensive than one 12 volt battery (most likely) ...

A little reading here may enlighten you before you jump into new batteries...

http://www.batteryfaq.org/

Also keep in mind that a 12 volt battery is simply 2, 6 volt batteries in a single case ( except for amphour capacity and maybe physical size)....

Dale

[Skruddgemire]

Bottom line is all about amphour rates of battery vs weight...

Actually I'm looking at Amp-hour vs. weight, vs value.

I know they're a little more money at the outset, but if I can get the same amp-hours with the same weight but if the batteries will last me 7 years or more (with good care) as in 48Rob's example versus the 2 that my mechanic is getting with his 12-volt ones...the value would be higher for the 6-volt system because I'm not replacing them as often.

Now I know I really can't compare the two as my mechanic's is a 14-foot commercially built RV running lights, AC, pumps, entertainment systems, laptops, charging cell phones...etc, while a teardrop is running far less draw. But he has noticed that he's gone from having to replace the batteries every other season whereas he's just finished the third with batteries that are still going strong.

So this is why I'm asking if there are any teardroppers out there who have run both and can tell me the pros and cons of each.

Also keep in mind that a 12 volt battery is simply 2, 6 volt batteries in a single case ( except for amphour capacity and maybe physical size)

Actually...try 6, 2-volt batteries. I watch too much "How It's Made" on Netflix and all led acid batteries are a series of 2-volt cells (one anode plate, one cathode plate and electrolyte paste). These are linked to make 6-volt (3 cells), 12-volt (6 cells), and 24-volt (12 cells) batteries. The size doesn't really factor into voltage, just in amp-hour and cranking amps.

Like I said...WAY too much educational TV <grin>