Replacing 12V coach batteries with 6V batteries

Magumba · 11-30-2012, 04:33 PM

Hi folks we having a few problems with the 12 volt side of life.
Our Itasca has two DEKA DP24 batteries that are getting old and beat up due largely to our current isolator problem. I think when the time comes I'll change to two 6 volt batteries in series. Does anyone know what size to look for?
Thanks for your help, camp happy this winter we're in the LTVA for the first time.

wardy · 11-30-2012, 04:51 PM

If you can fit the common GC2 golf cart battery they will serve you well. What you have/had are not true deep cycle batteries.

clyon51 · 11-30-2012, 05:08 PM

The "size" you want is a GC2 (6v Golf Cart), these are the dimensions:

L 10 3/8
W 7 1/8
H 10 7/8

Magumba · 11-30-2012, 06:18 PM

Thanks for your help.

1ciderdog · 11-30-2012, 06:46 PM

FIRE UP has a good post on this one
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f101/conv...ce-107718.html

sundancer87 · 11-30-2012, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clyon51

The "size" you want is a GC2 (6v Golf Cart), these are the dimensions:

L 10 3/8
W 7 1/8
H 10 7/8

One little specification overlooked; each six volt true deep cycle battery will weigh a tad over 60 pounds. Something to be aware of regarding your spine and storage space.

Rockwood27 · 11-30-2012, 10:00 PM

I recently replaced the group 24's in my Itasca with two CG-2's. The only mod I had to do was replace the threaded hold-down rods with longer ones. Of course the wiring is a bit different for the series connection.

HTH, Fran

Magumba · 12-01-2012, 10:22 AM

Did you use all thread rod?

KSCRUDE · 12-01-2012, 10:40 AM

I have seen many posts on here about the pros and cons of 6 verses 12 volt. But if you were to buy a true deep cycle 12 volt wouldn't you be just as we'll off. My Newmar came with 2 12 volt interstate house and one 12 Ford brand chassis bats. It seems to hold a charge for a long time while dry camping. Haven't been able to draw them down to low yet and I have tried. I did add 2 ounces of mineral oil to each six cells on all three bats. Had to use a turkey blaster to remove water first as all the bats were still full. Wife thought I was crazy putting mineral oil in new batteries, but some on here swear by it and I hate corrosion and love not having to check the fluid level in the bats very often now. There is some smart people on here, with a vast wealth of knowledge. Learn something new everyday!

clyon51 · 12-01-2012, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSCRUDE

I have seen many posts on here about the pros and cons of 6 verses 12 volt. But if you were to buy a true deep cycle 12 volt wouldn't you be just as we'll off.

The pros and cons become almost non existent as long as both are true deep cycle and have comparable AHs. Otherwise there is little difference. Still at this time the 6v GC batteries are cheaper than 12v and you generally get more AHs per dollar. We can thank the golf cart industry for that. This is the only reason I still opt for them.

KSCRUDE · 12-01-2012, 11:13 AM

I just hate to rewire a battery setup for no reason or gain. Semi trucks used to all use 4 six volt bats wired up to produce twelve volts. Them days are long gone and now they all use 12 volt bats. Some trucks had 24 volt starters and would run two 12 volt supply's through a switch to step it up to 24 volt for the starter only. Them things are long gone also. If I ever change bats in my coach I will not go to six volt bats. If they are so cheap and good Newmar would of already have them in there.

Rockwood27 · 12-01-2012, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magumba

Did you use all thread rod?

Yes I did. I brought the original nuts to the hardware store and bought the same size threaded rod. I live in the middle of nowhere country and specialty items are difficult to source locally. Our county is made up of 1,000 square miles with a population of 48,000. Us Yankees have to do what we have to do to make things work (cheaply!)!

Fran

wa8yxm · 12-01-2012, 03:57 PM

Your Group 24 batteries hold about 75 amp hours each, making 150 amp hours total.. Plus it is most likely a marine/deep cycle, which means that it really does not like to be half full, it likes to be more than half full, and running it down too far, as with any starting battery, Kills it.

The Six volt GC-2 fits in nearly the same footprint, but it is a bit taller, two of them IN SERIES gives 230 amp hours of capacity, AND you can safely use half that, Should you run it even lower there is a fair chance they will recover if promptly recharged (Mine have several times).

Trye, you have to clean and water them from time to time. and they are a bit taller.. but you get over 50% more total capacity and even more usable capacity.. I think you will be very very very happy.

Now I'm going to answer all your questions about "How do I" and such.

There are no six volt batteries in RV's.. Oh, true, you buy six volt and carry six volt and install six volt but once that connection is made (The one from the positive terminal of one to the negative of the other) you now have a very large (Size 8-D as I recall) 12 volt battery.

Think of them in those terms.. How do I charge them? You charge IT

Do they have to be the same.. Would you buy an 8-D that was "half and half?".

And so on.

KSCRUDE · 12-01-2012, 04:16 PM

Just searched for 12 volt golf cart bats and came up with many. For $190 you can get a 155 AH bat. Two of these will be 310 AH. It will be 12 volt for me all the way.

KSCRUDE · 12-01-2012, 04:19 PM

And if one dies out in the boonies, I can through one away and keep on camping! Try that with one six and see how that works out.

clyon51 · 12-01-2012, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSCRUDE

Just searched for 12 volt golf cart bats and came up with many. For $190 you can get a 155 AH bat. Two of these will be 310 AH. It will be 12 volt for me all the way.

Exactly! However you can get two GC2s for $170 and have 235 AH. Like I indicated in an earlier post. Eventually the 12v will come down in price as they become more popular. I will probably never see that as GC2s last 9+ years if well maintained.

Magumba · 12-01-2012, 11:29 PM

Thanks for the lively discussion.
I visited Sam's Club in Yuma AZ today the 6 volt Energizer GC-2 battery cost $81.83, supped up version was $99.96. Not as expensive as I feared.
The 12 volt group 24 is $69.76 group 27 $79.87.

I'm still doing some research. Our Sam's membership expired long ago so I have to weigh the membership cost. If we join we'll spend a bunch of extra money on stuff.

If the 6 volt batteries out live two sets of 12 volt batteries they would be a nice savings. In my 95 Suncruiser I had two group 27 batteries. The group 24's would not have been my choice but they are what the dealer installed when we bought this motor home three years ago.

Magumba · 12-03-2012, 08:49 PM

I took the plunge today and bought two Interstate GC-2's from Premier Golf Cart in Yuma for roughly $99. It's nice to have new batteries.

FIRE UP · 12-03-2012, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magumba

I took the plunge today and bought two Interstate GC-2's from Premier Golf Cart in Yuma for roughly $99. It's nice to have new batteries.

You say you bought "TWO" Interstate GC batteries in Yuma for only $99.00 total? That's pretty phenomenal. The last time I purchased Interstate U2200, 6V Deep Cycle units, they were on a wazoo sale at "Gamblers" in Quartzsite during the big RV event there and they were $89.00 EACH! If you got them for $99.00 for two, that's a seriously good deal.
Scott

Mr_D · 12-03-2012, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSCRUDE

If I ever change bats in my coach I will not go to six volt bats. If they are so cheap and good Newmar would of already have them in there.

Both our DSDP's have had Interstate U-2200 6 volt deep cycle batteries in them from the factory. My OEM set (delivered June 2002) was replaced in April of this year and they were still pretty good. Headed out for a two week trip and didn't want trouble on the road.
But then the starter went out after we got home!