New Batteries!!! - Page 3

**16ACE27** · 11-07-2018, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cason61

Takes awhile to cool down though. Yeah, you could turn on the Inverter and the propane the night before you are leaving too. And when it comes out of storage, turn the refer switches in the refer back on and if you didn't clean the mold out, you just left the doors open, better close and lock them before you leave.

A residential fridge doesn't use propane, just 120 VAC either from shore power, generator, or an Inverter.

And a standard RV absorption fridge will use either 120 VAC or propane, not both at the same time like the water heater.

dapperdan · 11-08-2018, 02:14 AM

"Nice not dealing with a RV frig any longer!!!"

I totally agree! Residential fridge cools faster and holds a decent temp way better. I won't go back to RV fridge that's for sure.

Dan

Porkchop · 11-08-2018, 02:32 PM

My res frig will cool from ambient temp to zero-38 in a little over an hour.
And an alternator will NOT supply enough current to operate the 1000w invertor. Good batteries are essential.

Bill

petefoss · 11-08-2018, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porkchop

My res frig will cool from ambient temp to zero-38 in a little over an hour.
And an alternator will NOT supply enough current to operate the 1000w invertor. Good batteries are essential.

Bill

Don't agree. I have driven 5 or 6 hours after being plugged in and fridge cold. On arrival the batteries are stll full. I believe the alternator can keep up.

Porthole · 11-08-2018, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petefoss

Don't agree. I have driven 5 or 6 hours after being plugged in and fridge cold. On arrival the batteries are stll full. I believe the alternator can keep up.

You are not pulling a trailer with a light duty pickup, so ............

petefoss · 11-08-2018, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porthole

You are not pulling a trailer with a light duty pickup, so ............

Ah I thought we were talking about an RV!

Porthole · 11-08-2018, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petefoss

Ah I thought we were talking about an RV!

We are, but a RV trailer is different then a RV coach.

Your batteries are not being charged by an under wired, 20' or more charging line that is going through a 7 way connector to another 15' or so of wire before it gets to the batteries.

Porkchop · 11-08-2018, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petefoss

Ah I thought we were talking about an RV!

In case you can't figure it out, look at the heading. DRV Mobile Suites. And I don't care if you disagree. You can not change the laws of physics..

Bill

tinker3030 · 11-19-2018, 05:04 PM

If I replace my 2 batteries, is it better to stay with 12v or go to 6v.

wingnut60 · 11-19-2018, 05:30 PM

Again, you are in the section for DRV fifth wheel trailers, not A/B/C coaches, so we don't know much about your setup.
However, going to 2x6volt batteries will require series wiring; 2x12volt batteries are parallel wired--which do you have already? And, generally, there is a better selection of true deep cycle batteries available in 6volts.

Terry and Jo · 12-04-2018, 08:14 PM

I guess we've been extremely lucky over the years. Our MS 38TKSB3 is a 2010 model and we just replaced the original batteries with new ones this past July, so, we had the original Mighty Bruin batteries for 8 years. Even more amazing is that the only maintenance that I've done over the years was to check and add water about once a year. We replaced the Mighty Bruin's with Trojan batteries.

One thing that probably helped is that we are full-timers and have been hooked up to utilities for almost all that time. The only time we were unhooked was when we were traveling to a new area.

As for the fridge, we replaced the original RV fridge in July of 2012 with a Samsung 18 cu ft French door residential unit. Even though we have a 3000 watt inverter, we've generally just turned off the ice maker when traveling and leaving the doors closed. We generally only travel 6 to 7 hours when moving. While the temps might have dropped some, none of our food has ever suffered.

Terry

oldbird · 12-09-2018, 03:10 PM

Are most of you using just two 6v batteries? I'm not really a boondocker but once in awhile we do so right now I have 4 12v batteries but I need to replace them. I have a upright freezer and residential refrigerator and never had a problem. Just not sure how many 6 volt batteries to buy.

Cummins12V98 · 12-09-2018, 03:40 PM

Personally if you are wired for 4 already I would go with 4 quality 6V.

oldbird · 12-09-2018, 03:54 PM

That's what I was thinking Ron. I did the installation of four batteries over the two that came with it. Not professional but functional, lol.

wingnut60 · 12-09-2018, 03:58 PM

oldbird,
Wiring for 4x6volts will not be same as 4x12volts if you have not already considered that.
Also, amp hours will not be 4x XX but 2x XX.
Joe

oldbird · 12-09-2018, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wingnut60

oldbird,
Wiring for 4x6volts will not be same as 4x12volts if you have not already considered that.
Also, amp hours will not be 4x XX but 2x XX.
Joe

Joe, I have considered this and will have to see if I will have to have some welding wire made up to do the wiring. I would think that 4 6v's will do almost as great of job because my 4 12v's hardly pulled down at all running my Samsung and Sears small upright freezer. My 12volts are old and are run down to almost nothing, not good! This past summer in the UP of Mi a birch tree fell on the rear of the camper and the insurance is covering it. BUT, this DRV dealer I took it too has let the batteries drain down to almost nothing sitting there waiting on insurance company etc. I'm a little upset about this because the batteries are old anyway. I trust and like these guys but come on, plug it in!

wingnut60 · 12-09-2018, 05:32 PM

I think most NAPA stores can make up individual cable lengths/gauges--Amazon sells bulk/made up cables also.
I am sure 4 x 6volts will work just fine, suggest you consider AGMs to get rid of the maintenance aspect of adding water.
I have 4x6volt Lifeline AGM batteries in my solar setup, pricey but good. Trojan has any type battery you could need.

oldbird · 12-09-2018, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wingnut60

I think most NAPA stores can make up individual cable lengths/gauges--Amazon sells bulk/made up cables also.
I am sure 4 x 6volts will work just fine, suggest you consider AGMs to get rid of the maintenance aspect of adding water.
I have 4x6volt Lifeline AGM batteries in my solar setup, pricey but good. Trojan has any type battery you could need.

Yes, AGM's are the way to go for sure. I'll second the Lifeline batteries. That's what I have in there now, they were transfered from my Travel Supreme before buying the DRV. I think they are ten years old now and this draining them down to almost nothing I'm sure will finally kill them. The 5er has been sitting down there about 6 weeks and dummy me didn't check to see if they were plugged in.

wingnut60 · 12-10-2018, 01:23 AM

Hey, if the LL batteries lasted that long, just replace them with LLs again--no need to change the cabling. You really won't get much better life by going to 6volts--besides, you going to keep everything another 10 years?

oldbird · 12-10-2018, 01:32 AM

Ha, my wife is ready to throw in the towel now, lol.

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