bkirkpatrick
Brea / Orange County, CA
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Joined: 01/03/2004
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2btowed wrote:I hated the origanal battery,charger setup that my 06 Raptor came with,one 12v and a 5a charger,Icould run the genny for 5 hrs and still have NO batts in AM.After watching my friends never run their genny for 4days of dry camping I thought why not me.I installed 6-6v.and installed a Magnum 2500.Man ,how nice,go almost 4days w/o genny,All my 110v have power when inverter on,do not have to run a cord or any,thing.Can program charge all the way to 130a but run it around 90a,seems to do quick charge.The only thing I have changed is I have replaced 2-6vols for a big 12v,after my better half ran everything to low to start the genny.Now have genny on seperate start battery and do not have to worry or watch the rest.The Magnum was pricey but has made camping much easier.Grandkids {and Better half},can run batts till inverter shuts off ,still plenty of juice on seperate batt to crank genny.Also added LEDs this winter from Rigid Ind.so that helps also.If you wanna do it in steps,I'd go batts first with plug in auto charger hooked up,then with Inverter/charger,LEDs,then solar.Ive been waiting for panel prices to drop a little more before going solar,but it is next.... Go big or go home! Nicely done.
 Raptor - Modifications
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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Hi,
Since you have a generator the cheapest route is adding an auto start unit.
If on the other hand you prefer quiet, add enough solar to make a real difference. It is a one time cost.
Regards, Don
Kustom Koach Class C 28'5" 256 watts solar, 875 amp hours in two battery banks 12 volt batteries 2500 watt inverter.
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rehoppe
Denver
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Joined: 01/30/2009
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This is where I got my converter. Was recommended by folks in the 'C' forum. Randy answers the phone, if he doesn't he'll call you back. Very knowledgable and helpful.
Give him a list of the 'toys' you run and he'll give you a pretty good answer as to what you need and he'll ship it to you in a decent time frame.
CLICKY
Hoppe
2011 Dodge 1500 C'boy Caddy
2000 Jayco C 28' Ford chassis w V-10
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HTElectrical
Las Vegas
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Joined: 02/09/2008
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Differences between Hydrocaps and Water Miser caps:
1. Hydrocaps should be removed when equalizing, or they can get extremely hot and may be ruined. Water Misers can stay in place all the time.
2. Hydrocaps re-combine the Oxygen and Hydrogen released by the battery while charging, reducing water loss up to 90%. Water Misers do not re-combine, but water loss is reduced by 50-80% by trapping fine water and acid particles. They also take up a lot less space above the battery. Since Hydrocaps must be removed when the batteries are being heavily charged you do not get the full benefit of recombining.
3. Hydrocaps are more expensive - because they do more. Hydrocaps will not last forever, though - life will vary from 3 years to 8 years, depending on charge rates and how they are treated. If left on during battery equalization, they can be quickly used up and/or ruined.
We do not really recommend Hydrocaps for small systems, such as RV's. They work fine, but they are a bit expensive, and they sit up rather high on the battery and are prone to damage. They are really meant for fixed installations.
2007 Duramax, Cognito 7"-9" Lift, 35" Hankooks
2009 284SA Vortex
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squidnapper
Provo, Utah
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Joined: 08/17/2009
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Ok so I have purchased 4 of the GCS-2 batteries from costco and have them installed. Next step is the charger. I'm looking at the DLS-90/IQ4. Do I need additional monitoring with this charger, like external gauge to tell me where the charge is?
Raptor 3812
2006 Dodge Dually
Raptor 700
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dvg84x
Sparks, NV
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Joined: 04/03/2007
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With my '07 Raptor 3814, I installed 4 105A, 6 volt golf cart batteries from Costco - Johnson Controls = mfg., about $75.00 each, at the time. I wired each pair in series, then wired the pairs together in parallel to provide lots of 12V power, in place of the original 2-12V deep cycles, which I sold to a friend with a "normal" trailer. The extras were put in the cubby beside the generator. I added 1-12V car type battery (not deep cycle) in the same cubby next to a 1-1/2 hp nailing compressor and wired it direct to the generator for starting only. I also added a Sears automotive starter/charger and powered all 5 batteries thru an isolator to assure a "hot" starting battery for the generator, no matter what went on with the 6V batteries. I replaced the POS WFCO 45A converter charger with a 4 stage, 70A converter/charger from Camping World ($ 270.00)and installed an 1800 watt Xantrex inverter from West Marine ($350.00) to power half of my breaker panel. I run it all thru a marine disconnect switch so there's no discharge when stored.
All this stuff works great, but now, 6 years later, we mostly go to RV parks and plug-in...
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ricatic
Home
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Joined: 06/25/2009
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I have been kicking around the idea of adding more 12v capacity as well. Currently, I am using 2 Interstate RV batteries. They test fine. I have looked at the 6v golf cart batteries more than once. Yesterday, while wandering around at Sam's Club, I noticed a 12v golf cart battery I had not noticed before. Larger in physical size than the 12 volt batteries I am using but not as large as 2 6 volts in series. Anyone have any experience with these battery types? I intend to keep the 2 existing batteries in the system.
We do not dry camp for extended times and carry 2 Honda 2000 generators for battery charging and A/C. I would like to add a quality inverter as well. Not looking for the ultimate setup...just want to watch TV without digging out the generators.
Regards
Ricatic
Debbie and Savannah the Wonderdachsund
2009 Big Horn 3055RL
2011 F350 Lariat SRW CC SB 4WD 6.7 Turbodiesel
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garyhartaz
Scottsdale, AZ
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Joined: 08/30/2010
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I too am curious about the 12v golf car battery. I have looked at the Trojan T-1275 but it clocks in at 80lbs ea. and not sure if I have the room up front to replace both my current 12v standard batteries.
ricatic wrote:I have been kicking around the idea of adding more 12v capacity as well. Currently, I am using 2 Interstate RV batteries. They test fine. I have looked at the 6v golf cart batteries more than once. Yesterday, while wandering around at Sam's Club, I noticed a 12v golf cart battery I had not noticed before. Larger in physical size than the 12 volt batteries I am using but not as large as 2 6 volts in series. Anyone have any experience with these battery types? I intend to keep the 2 existing batteries in the system.
We do not dry camp for extended times and carry 2 Honda 2000 generators for battery charging and A/C. I would like to add a quality inverter as well. Not looking for the ultimate setup...just want to watch TV without digging out the generators.
Regards
What's work? Oh, playing in the sand in the Southwest!
You can find us hanging in our Jayco T 24 ZX or out riding.
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ricatic
Home
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garyhartaz wrote:I too am curious about the 12v golf car battery. I have looked at the Trojan T-1275 but it clocks in at 80lbs ea. and not sure if I have the room up front to replace both my current 12v standard batteries.
ricatic wrote:I have been kicking around the idea of adding more 12v capacity as well. Currently, I am using 2 Interstate RV batteries. They test fine. I have looked at the 6v golf cart batteries more than once. Yesterday, while wandering around at Sam's Club, I noticed a 12v golf cart battery I had not noticed before. Larger in physical size than the 12 volt batteries I am using but not as large as 2 6 volts in series. Anyone have any experience with these battery types? I intend to keep the 2 existing batteries in the system.
We do not dry camp for extended times and carry 2 Honda 2000 generators for battery charging and A/C. I would like to add a quality inverter as well. Not looking for the ultimate setup...just want to watch TV without digging out the generators.
Regards
I was back at Sam's this morning and looked more closely at the 12V golf cart battery. It is a heavy b****.
The rating is 75 minutes at 75 amps load.
I looked at the 6V golf cart batteries and found two different ratings.
One was 105 minutes at 75 amps load
The other was 120 minutes at 75 amp load
To the battery guru's, explain the math to me. The 12V battery is physically just a bit smaller than two 6V batteries side by side. I could see a shorter duration but 30% less capacity????
When you series connect the 6V batteries, how is the rating calculated? Would two 120 minute batteries equal 240 minutes?
I have the room for either combination. The two 6V batteries are actually a few dollars less than the 12V.
Thanks for the upcoming help
Regards
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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Hi,
The minutes don't add when connecting six volt units in series.
The two 12 volts will give 150 minutes @ 75 amps; the two six volts 120 minutes.
For good battery management it is best to only use 1/2 of the available capacity.
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