R-pod Owners Forum Homepage

This site is free to use.
Donations benefit a non-profit Girls Softball organization

Forum Home Forum Home > R-pod Discussion Forums > Introduce Yourself
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: New owner
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedNew owner
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1234>
Author
Message
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
crw8sr View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 12 Oct 2017
Location: Omaha Nebraska
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 328 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: New owner
    Posted: 27 Mar 2019 at 10:31pm
Welcome to Podding!
Chuck & Lyn
Izzy, Morkie. RIP
Zoe Joy & Gracie, Yorkie
2018 R Pod 190   
2019 Traverse

In moments of adversity;when life's a total wreck, I think of those worse off than me and really feel like heck.
Back to Top
GlueGuy View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2663 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Mar 2019 at 10:38pm
Originally posted by Toyanvil

I would look for a battery store in your town and look into 6 volt batteries, they will last a lot longer then 12 volt. You will need two for each 12 volt you replace.
This is not exactly true. A 200 amp-hour 6 volt battery has exactly the same capacity as a 100 amp-hour 12 volt battery.

If you have two of them, they will have twice the capacity. Just as if you had two 12 volt batteries. 

HOWEVER... the 6V GC (AKA "Golf Cart") batteries will be less expensive than the equivalent capacity 12V battery. Also, the 6V GC batteries come in slightly larger sizes (like 240 amp-hour).
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
Back to Top
lostagain View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 06 Sep 2016
Location: Quaker Hill, CT
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2595 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Mar 2019 at 10:42pm
Costco is a good place to find 6v golf cart batteries and the prices are very competitive. 
Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
Back to Top
Toyanvil View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 15 Feb 2019
Location: Bakersfield
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 157 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Mar 2019 at 11:41pm
When it comes time to replace my two 12 volt batteries, I will be installing four 6 volt batteries for longer use. This is why golf carts and large RV's use 6 volt batteries wired in series. Don't believe me, talk to a good battery store.
Back to Top
Jholler View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 13 Jul 2018
Location: Arkansas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 99 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Mar 2019 at 9:05am
6v batteries wired in series will double the voltage, but the amp-hour rating stays the same. The advantage is that golf cart batteries are true deep cycle batteries and usually offer higher amp-hour ratings than hybrid marine batteries, which also will function as a starting battery (which you have no need for). I have two Duracell 6v from Sam's club wired in series which gives me 12v at a little over 200 amp-hours. You REALLY need a battery monitor to keep track of how much power you have, the lights on the wall panel are way too vague and I don't trust them. I got this one, it's cheap and highly rated. https://www.amazon.com/bayite-6-5-100V-Display-Multimeter-Voltmeter/dp/B013PKYILS

While you're on Amazon, the recommendation for the 12v Bible for Boats was a good one. Very easy to read and informative.
2015 rpod 179
2014 Ram ecoDiesel HFE
2009-ish Chihuahua
Back to Top
Jholler View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 13 Jul 2018
Location: Arkansas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 99 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Mar 2019 at 9:07am
Also, if you wire two 12v batteries, do it in parallel, NOT series. THAT will double your capacity but leave the voltage the same.
2015 rpod 179
2014 Ram ecoDiesel HFE
2009-ish Chihuahua
Back to Top
offgrid View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Mar 2019 at 11:19am
You can get good quality deep cycle batteries in either 6 or 12 volt configurations. 

But, its always best to wire batteries in series not parallel. Why? Because if you wire them in series the same current is alwas flowing through both so they are guaranteed to alwyaybe charged and discharged identically. In parallel, one battery (the one with lower internal resistance) will always be cycling more than the other. No two batteries are exactly the same due to manufacturing varaiation, so this will happen.

 If you do need to wire batteries in parallel (say you already have one new 12V battery from the dealer that you want to use) then you can help balance things as much as possible by taking the pos output from one battery and the neg from the other battery. But if you have a choice, go with two 6V batteries in series. 
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
Back to Top
noatakme View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie
Avatar

Joined: 14 Aug 2018
Location: Middletown PA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 18 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Mar 2019 at 11:34am
Originally posted by offgrid

You can get good quality deep cycle batteries in either 6 or 12 volt configurations. 

But, its always best to wire batteries in series not parallel. Why? Because if you wire them in series the same current is alwas flowing through both so they are guaranteed to alwyaybe charged and discharged identically. In parallel, one battery (the one with lower internal resistance) will always be cycling more than the other. No two batteries are exactly the same due to manufacturing varaiation, so this will happen.

 If you do need to wire batteries in parallel (say you already have one new 12V battery from the dealer that you want to use) then you can help balance things as much as possible by taking the pos output from one battery and the neg from the other battery. But if you have a choice, go with two 6V batteries in series. 


I hear a lot about using golf cart batteries. An old timer at the nursing home told me he used 2 6 volt batteries. The old timers usually know best I think. He also told me to cook ground hog in a pressure cooker. I'll have to try both.
Paul
Back to Top
noatakme View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie
Avatar

Joined: 14 Aug 2018
Location: Middletown PA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 18 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Mar 2019 at 11:51am
Originally posted by Jholler

6v batteries wired in series will double the voltage, but the amp-hour rating stays the same. The advantage is that golf cart batteries are true deep cycle batteries and usually offer higher amp-hour ratings than hybrid marine batteries, which also will function as a starting battery (which you have no need for). I have two Duracell 6v from Sam's club wired in series which gives me 12v at a little over 200 amp-hours. You REALLY need a battery monitor to keep track of how much power you have, the lights on the wall panel are way too vague and I don't trust them. I got this one, it's cheap and highly rated. https://www.amazon.com/bayite-6-5-100V-Display-Multimeter-Voltmeter/dp/B013PKYILS

While you're on Amazon, the recommendation for the 12v Bible for Boats was a good one. Very easy to read and informative.


Thanks again. I put it on my amazon list of things to buy.
Paul
Back to Top
noatakme View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie
Avatar

Joined: 14 Aug 2018
Location: Middletown PA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 18 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Mar 2019 at 12:44pm
Is there any concern about having 142 pounds of battery up front? I am looking at interstate bateries at 71 pounds each.

https://www.interstatebatteries.com/products/2400utl?productLine=golf-car&subcategoryKey=&ignorecategoryid=true
Paul
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1234>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.64
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz