Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Adding a second 12v battery

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Adding a second 12v battery

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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10641
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Topic: Adding a second 12v battery

Posted By: stevo220
Subject: Adding a second 12v battery
Date Posted: 08 Sep 2017 at 4:45pm

Purchased a used 2015 R pod 178 with a single 12v battery. The battery is practically brand new (2 months old).

If I want to upgrade to two 12 volt batteries do I need to buy 2 brand new batteries at the same time or could I buy another battery of the same brand that matches my existing 2 month old battery and connect the two?

I have read that you should connect two brand new identical batteries. That would mean my existing almost new battery would go to waste and I would be out the cost of 2 more batteries.

What do you think?

Thanks

Replies:

Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 08 Sep 2017 at 6:41pm

If you can find thew same brand and size, 2 months difference will be negligible unless the 1st battery has already been damaged.

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Posted By: maddogmiller
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2017 at 1:50pm

I recently purchased a new RP-178 and decided to install a second battery as well, to allow more dry camping time. I bought a second battery, installed both in an aluminum battery box (rvlockbox.com) and wired the two batteries through a selector switch (blueseasystems.com). This allows me to run one battery at a time, both in parallel, or both turned off, for storage. If you do not run the two batteries in parallel, you do not need to be concerned whether they are the same age. Just run one until it gets low, then switch to the second. Even if you buy two identical batteries at the same time, the chances of them needing replacement at the same time are slim, so you will be faced with the "identical batteries" issue again in the future.

Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2017 at 4:03pm

You could buy a 2nd battery and carry it in the back of the truck. Just don't forget the wrenches. And remember to charge it with a trickle charger at home. You might try just the one battery and see how long it lasts. You could also apply the cost of a 2nd battery to a 2000 watt generator, then you should only need one battery and be able to use the microwave.

Posted By: DavMar
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2017 at 4:17pm

Originally posted by stevo220

Purchased a used 2015 R pod 178 with a single 12v battery. The battery is practically brand new (2 months old).
If I want to upgrade to two 12 volt batteries do I need to buy 2 brand new batteries at the same time or could I buy another battery of the same brand that matches my existing 2 month old battery and connect the two? I have read that you should connect two brand new identical batteries. That would mean my existing almost new battery would go to waste and I would be out the cost of 2 more batteries.

What do you think?

What do I think? Add it and forget about it! LOL

No really as long as they are the same type of battery in parallel since your present battery all will be okay. After charging your batteries will balance out to the one with the lest charging capacity be it your two month old one or the new one.

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Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the
wonder dog.
2017 Rpod 180
2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4
Lexington, NC