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09-10-2008, 08:14 PM
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#1
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Guest
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Switching out batteries
Is it easy to switch out an additional battery to the existing battery wiring on the TM? I'm learning all this.... and going to invest in another battery so I can run two. I'm not at all "electrical" savy.... that was my husband... an electrician... so I'm electrically challenged. You'll have to spell it out for me, please. Don't have my TM yet... getting it hopefully this week... at least start the process.
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09-10-2008, 09:45 PM
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#2
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Site Sponsor
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Santa Cruz County, CA
Posts: 2,405
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Do you want to add a battery so that you have two, or be able to charge one and then switch it with the one that's on the TM?
What model are you buying?
__________________
'97 2720 & '01 Chevy Silverado 1500 4x4
2011 & 2017 Prii, 10'x18' & 10'x9' Tents
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09-12-2008, 10:37 AM
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#3
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Site Sponsor
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: San Jose, California
Posts: 525
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KenetteK
Is it easy to switch out an additional battery to the existing battery wiring on the TM? I'm learning all this.... and going to invest in another battery so I can run two. I'm not at all "electrical" savy.... that was my husband... an electrician... so I'm electrically challenged. You'll have to spell it out for me, please. Don't have my TM yet... getting it hopefully this week... at least start the process.
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Very simple, get a heavy (10 gauge minimum) wire and run a it from + on battery 1 to + on battery 2 and a wire from the - on battery 1 to the - of battery 2. This will hook them up in parallel so the voltage is 12V and the amp hours will be roughly the sum of the 2. If you inavdertantly hook them up in series (+ to - and - to +) you will end up with 24V.... not good for 12V accessories. However, if you go with 6V golf cart batteries them you want to hook them up in series.
Hope this helps!
note: I transposed series and parallel, it is now fixed in the post thanks for catching that Bill.
__________________
In life outdoors...Take only pictures, leave only footprints.
Larry & Veronica <><
2002 2720 (SOLD)
2016 KZ Spree Connect C250BHS
2003 Chevy Tahoe
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09-12-2008, 01:57 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The mountains of Scottsdale, AZ, and the beaches of Maine
Posts: 10,175
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If you want to hook up two batteries, maybe a picture will help.
Bill
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09-29-2008, 07:36 AM
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#5
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Guest
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Battery
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill
If you want to hook up two batteries, maybe a picture will help.
Bill
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Question, I'm assuming since the batteries are joined that they will equally deplete. Also, when recharging it will be only necessary to hook up one battery on the charger, since the charge will equally disperse to both batteries as long as one or the other battery isn't damage.
Thank you Bill,
Joe
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09-28-2008, 11:58 AM
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#6
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Guest
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Make sure they are identical batteries.
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09-29-2008, 06:05 AM
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#7
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Guest
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1 safety note that I would like to add to the above posts.......wear safety goggles, or better yet, a full face shield anytime you are messing around your batteries.
Chap
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09-29-2008, 01:55 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The mountains of Scottsdale, AZ, and the beaches of Maine
Posts: 10,175
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This is true as long as the batteries are very similar or identical, and about the same age, as LarsDennert pointed out. If you hook up two wildly dissimilar batteries, it is still approximately true, but not entirely. In that case, you won't get the full capacity of both batteries. And if one battery is damaged, all bets are off.
Bill
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09-29-2008, 02:31 PM
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#9
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 2,927
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When you hook up your battery charger, it's best to put the positive lead on one battery and the neg lead on the other battery. It's also best to hook the batteries together with battery cables (at least 4G).
If one battery has a low cell, it will draw down both batteries over time. Check each cell of both batteries with a hydrometer 24 hours after fully charging them. All of the cells should read similarly. If you have one cell that reads lower than the others, it's best not to hook the batteries together. It may be better to use the battery with the low cell first, then use the other battery.
The most important thing is to keep your batteries topped off with distilled water.
__________________
TrailManor Elkmont
640W solar- 230AH LiFeP04 Battery
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