Why have 2 batteries?

[ClydesdaleKevin]

Sent: 5/9/2005

Here's a question for you good folks:

My rig was originally equipped with a dual battery setup, but over the years POs have rewired it to just a single battery.

What is the advantage of a dual battery setup?  Obviously they would have to be wired in parellel to maintain a 12 volt circuit, but were the original setups connected together, or were they independent, with some kind of a relay to switch between the two batteries?

I'm rebuilding the battery tray and hold-downs now, so I was just wondering your opinions...should I try to reestablish a dual battery setup, or just stick with a single?  It appears that most of the original wiring is there, including the other battery terminals and what appear to be relays.

Thanks!

Kev and Patti Smith

[calbrave]

Sent: 5/9/2005

If you're using your rig as just a vehicle or just a home, one battery is fine. If you want to do both, you'll want the two different types of batteries. The vehicle battery provides high amperage for starting, the house battery provides a longer supply of power. I think a lot of people actually go to three batteries: 1 for starting and 2 for providing power for lights/furnace/water pump/etc.

[Cooneytoones]

Sent: 5/9/2005

Ist battery ( Vehicle) high cranking amp starting battery... to run all your 12 v vehicle stuff, wipers, defroster, headlights, turn signal etc.
2nd and 3rd battery (house) Deep Cycle more amp hours the better...for running the 12 volt house system which is separate from the vehicle.
good article on 12 volt subject via link below......
Timmy

bart.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/12volt/12volt.htm

[Daved27c]

Sent: 5/9/2005
Kev;

On our older Winnes we had a two battery system that were both separate and connected.

First is the chassis battery. As was stated this is a high output battery to start your engine.

Next was the coach battery. This should be a "deep cycle" battery.

The chassis battery was used to start the Winne. This was charged by the alternator while running. The coach battery powers all of the interior 12 volt stuff when not plugged in. The older Winnes had a three position switch on the dash that would let you:
1. just charge the chassis battery,
2. charge both batteries, or
3. use your coach battery help the chassis battery start your motor.

I think the idea was that you would start and run the Winne off the chassis battery. Once you got to your destination you could camp using the coach battery to power your lights, pump, etc. If the coach battery went dead, you could still start the beast and recharge the battery(with the alternator). This is all presuming that you are boondocking. On my 72, If you are plugged in the converter powers all of the coach stuff.

On the newer models, the converter also recharges the batteries. As for your question, I have to ask what you are planning to do. If you are going to camp in campgrounds and driveways, then I don't think you need to convert (back) to a 2 battery system.

If you plan on boondocking, or spending alot of time in Wal Mart parking lots then you might want the security of knowing the Ark will start in the morning. Also I am basing this on a Winne set up. The Futura could be totally different.

Dave

[Slantsixness]

Sent: 5/10/2005

Kev,
Futura dual battery setup is the same as on a Winnie..... but you may not have the MOM switch and the relay (winnie copyright)..... look for a mechanical "knife" switch in the battery compartment or a battery cutoff switch on the floor near the drivers seat. Alternatively you could have a battery monitor panel in the dash or on a back wall which functions the same as the MOM switch.

Tom

[ClydesdaleKevin]

Sent: 5/10/2005 4:23 PM

Since the wifey and I decided to go full time, we will more than likely end up boondocking on occasion.  Fun stuff, eh?

Kev and Patti Smith

[denisondc]

Sent: 5/10/2005

When I bought my Winny it came with the original coach battery, emptied of acid and dried out - in case I wanted to get it rebuilt. It was just over twice the size of the battery in a large car, and had handles on each end so two people could carry it.
We boondock infrequently, and usually only for a single night - so we get by with an older-about-to-be-recycled automobile battery.

[ClydesdaleKevin]

Sent: 5/10/2005

I'm using a marine battery with 900 cranking amps for my chassis battery (Its not a small battery, but its not "deep cycle".  It powered my big Mercury 6 cylinder 2 stroke 115hp outboard), because I just bought the damn thing for my boat last year and can't see wasting it...lol.  If I do rewire it for a coach battery will a big marine deep cycle battery work?

Kev

[Slantsixness]

Sent: 5/10/2005

The big marine deep cycle is perfect, Kev.

Those older lead acid deep cycle batteries (that took up most of the battery tray) are obsolete and pretty much useless nowdays. You can even get large capacity NiMh and Lithium-Ion batteries that would work even better than the marine deep cycle batteries (plus pulse charge in about 3 hours from dead!) but they're REALLY expensive.

I originally was going to use NiMh's in mine, but we collectively decided (wife and I) that we wouldn't be boondocking much, so I sold the NiMh's and the solar panels to a freind with a 40Ft sailboat, he's got some wild idea about retiring and sailing from island to island....

They were cool, though....

Tom

[ClydesdaleKevin]

Sent: 5/10/2005

Sounds like my kind of person!...lol.  I had a sailboat, but the wife hates sailing...had to settle for the "land yacht."  Glad we did!  This is going to be great!

Kev

[OldEdBrady]

Sent: 5/10/2005

The Whiny Beggar uses a deep cycle battery.  It's designed for marine, RV, etc. use.  I have no idea how old it is, since it was in the rig when I bought her.  But I've never had a problem with the battery--just connections at the converter (all fixed, of course).