Battery bank

Originally posted by nlrstate Our original battery has died (our fault).  We want to install 2 batteries so we can do more remote camping, having previously been 38+ years tent campers.  What size do we need - 2ea 6v or 2ea 12v?  Any particular brand recommendations?  If we also use propane when possible, how long will dual batteries last? Do we need a cut off switch as I've seen mentioned in some posts?

You will get more storage out of 2ea 6v than 2ea 12v especially if you go with Trojan 145s or equivalent.  We do not have a cut-off switch but solar keeps the pod's batteries charged.  Also, we plug in to house current when at home in the shade.

Also, has anyone invested in the solar panels?  Are they worth it?

  Depends on your camping style.  We have 270 watts of solar power on "Shore Leave" and could camp indefinitely without hooking up to shore power.  this includes running a 12V freezer all the time.  On the other hand if your camping routinely involves campgrounds where there is power, solar would be a waste.

I currently have 2  12v deep cycle group size 24 batteries and expect 3 - 4 days out of each depending on how cold it is, if we get cold nights (in this scenario 35-50 degrees) 3 days/battery.  Warmer nights 4 days/battery.  Would recommend acquiring 6 volt batteries, this is what I plan on doing when mine bite the dust; they are now 6 years old and still work fine but I know their end is coming.

Our original battery has died (our fault).  We want to install 2 batteries so we can do more remote camping, having previously been 38+ years tent campers.  What size do we need - 2ea 6v or 2ea 12v?  Any particular brand recommendations?  If we also use propane when possible, how long will dual batteries last? Do we need a cut off switch as I've seen mentioned in some posts?

Also, has anyone invested in the solar panels?  Are they worth it?

Any help will be appreciated!  We love our 2015 178 - gets us off the ground, out of the rain, and has a bathroom .  But it's small enough to keep the "camping" in our trips - we still mostly cook, eat and sit outside.

Knowledgeable...correction from my last post...

Furpod is also correct. With the batteries connected in parallel, technically there is a slight preference for connecting to one positive terminal and the alternate negative terminal. In normal Rpod use the difference is minimal. The primary point is to connect both batteries together and use both at the same time.