House Batteries - 6V vs 12V

[tomzleapin]

For monitoring my battery status I use a combination digital volt/amp meter that displays battery voltage and charge/discharge current that I purchased on eBay:

link: Combo volt/amp meter



Here's another meter with more features:

link: Amp/AmpHour/Volt Meter

[Rob]

I have installed the Trojan batteries also. Very happy with them. I have a 2003 24RB and needed to install the current battery holder instead of my original one.
I called Born Free and they sent me the replacement unit.

Rob and Joan Beery
2003 24 RB
Tuolumne, CA

[JeffatJacks]

Picked up my pair of Trojan 125s on Saturday. Man those babies are heavy. Luckily my vendor gave me the strap that they temporarily use to move the batteries around. They fit my existing tray ok but when I pulled the tray out to clean it up and repaint it, it was heavily corroded. I ordered a new tray from Kim at the factory today. I'm hoping I will be able to orient the batteries as shared by Bill (bcope01) in his post.

Also, my Progressive Dynamics 3 stage charger shipped from BestConverter.com today. Maybe this weekend I'll have all my power upgrades complete. Still need to decide on a battery monitor however.

Jeff

[JeffatJacks]

For monitoring my battery status I use a combination digital volt/amp meter that displays battery voltage and charge/discharge current that I purchased on eBay:

link: Combo volt/amp meter



Here's another meter with more features:

link: Amp/AmpHour/Volt Meter

Thanks for posting these links. These look like a more simple and cost effective solution for the near term. Where/how did you mount your shunt. Also, what is the power source for your device?

Thanks,

Jeff

[tomzleapin]

The shunt for the meter that I have installs in the negative feed from the battery. I disconnected the negative cable where it bolts to the chassis. I then bolted one side of the shunt to the chassis and bolted the cable to the shunt. I installed the meter near the converter where there is wiring that goes to the battery. One problem with the meter that I have is that it requires an isolated power source to power the meter. The voltage sense line can be connected directly to the battery but power for the meter must come from a source that does not connect to the battery. I wired up a 12 volt wall-wart to power it. The second meter that I linked to does not require an isolated power source which would make it easier to install.

[JeffatJacks]

Time for a quick update. I installed the Progressive Dynamics PD4655 last Sunday. A big thank you to Bill Hemme and Bruce & Teresa Hinde for the postings in the Modifications section of the forum. It made the upgrade very much a DIY project. I just took my time and went step by step. Kim at the factory sent me a replacement battery tray so my new batteries and tray will get installed this weekend after I do a thorough cleaning of the battery compartment.

Thanks again everyone.

[TomP]

I always figured that 2x12v were a good option because if one goes out/bad for some reason, at least you can function on the other one.

My 2 cents

[Mike Jean Bandfield]

I always figured that 2x12v were a good option because if one goes out/bad for some reason, at least you can function on the other one.

That would be true if the failure resulted from an internal open - but how often does that happen? More often, when a parallel battery fails it takes out it's mate too.

[TomP]

Good point. Fortunately, I've never had my 12v go out on me but I did have 1 of my 6v go out...and I was SOL until I replaced it.