Hello Everyone.  New member and finally decided to join after stalking for about a year.

I've got a 2018 176 that I drag around to Harvest Host locations. Let's face it, they hooked me at "Breweries, wineries and distilleries". Because we use HH so much I'm boondocking most of the time and found I was running out of power a lot. I have a Zamp suitcase unit that I hook into the side of the rig but I often don't have enough daylight to charge the battery. Did a bunch of research this winter and decided to upgrade my one 100A Deka deep cycle marine battery to a two unit system wired in parallel.

I had to custom order several cables because of course my cables were all 5/16 and the battery disconnect is 3/8. I used #4AWG between the batteries and leading to the disconnect and kept the original #8 leading to the chassis. What I'm looking for is anything you notice based on my schematic that doesn't make sense for the Pod or gotchas that someone ran into. Thanks in advance!

I am only a 'nominal' electric guy so i will pass that judgment to the 'experts' on this.  From what I see, it looks good.

I also own a pair of 12 volt batteries although I run each separately because they weren't purchased as a set together, they are nearly 4 months different in age.  Oldest is dated 12/2010 the newer is 03/2011 and one time I tried to run the fridge on battery and totally discharged the battery in about 4 hours.  They are both group size 24 deep cycle Interstates.

What I will add here even though you didn't ask is to be careful how much you discharge your batteries.  Maintenance is key to longevity.  Don't run them below 60% S.O.C. or 12.2 volts and maintain electrolyte levels with distilled water only.  We usually boondock as well so our batteries get a good workout every year and here they are 10 years old and still very dependable.

How old is your original battery?  I would be leery of hooking them together if your original is more than a few months older than the one you just purchased.

Originally posted by Camperisfordrinking I'm even old school superstitious enough that I set the batteries on a 2x4 instead of on the concrete of the garage. That's probably an old-wives tale but it only took two seconds to get out a scrap 2x4.

I chuckle when I see or hear of people doing that.  IF your battery is a 1940's build or earlier you MIGHT want to do that IF your battery has a wood case, otherwise it is as you say 'an old wives tale'

My current batteries are 10 years old and spend 5 months every year sitting directly on a concrete floor in a unheated garage.

Originally posted by offgrid More like an old mechanic’s tale. The other battery type that didn’t do so well sitting on concrete was the old glass jar cells which had a tendency to break when not in a protective rack. Plastic cases solved all those problems.

Please enlighten me OG.  Not familiar with that style of battery.  When were they in production and for what purpose did they serve?  I wouldn't think they would have ever been used in the auto industry as any old car I have ridden in rides kinda like a 'rock.'  Even my old '69 Vette was a rough rider.

Simple answer - more amp hours.  I was going to do this mod quite a few years ago as I know how well built the Trojan 6v batteries are with proper maintenance.  We used them in a lot of our golf cart applications on the golf course.  However, Yamaha went to a 48 volt system in their cars over 10 years ago and went to using 6 of the 8 volt batteries.  However the 6 volt is still very popular and readily available today.

I will probably go that route once my 12v Interstate go 'kerplunk' but they continue to give good service, even after 10 years!  I maybe will have to rethink this whole thing, the only negative to the pair of 6 volt batteries is additional weight on the a-frame (tongue).  We usually boondock and normally won't sit still in one spot for more than a week.  While traveling the batteries get charged again by the onboard converter so it's not like we are running out of power. 

When we were in RMNP for 6 days in September night temps were in the 40's and we could get 3 days service per battery before switching to the other.  We try to avoid running below 60% S.O.C. or 12.2 volts for maximum longevity.

Thank you OG.  For years I have been planning on the 6v but I wasn't aware of the antimony alloy used in them.  I don't even know what they use differently in the 12v ! 

I know that the 6v Trojan batteries on our fleet of golf carts was good for only 4 years here in northern Michigan vs. the same batteries in Florida would go for 6 years and would be used 12 months a year vs. in Michigan they would only be used for 7 months.

Since you are the 'go to' guy, what is the recommended draw down on 6 volt batteries?  I have always gone with the 60% S.O.C. or 12.2v on the 12 volt batteries.  Thanks

If I understand this correctly, you are talking difference between dual 12v vs. dual 6v. I just wish for all of us to be certain of which is being spoken of. 

I've had 12v's go much further than 10yrs, yet it's the values of which that means something. My 6's have surpassed anything my 12's have ever done. Just my experience and testing (records).

My apologies.. I meant that towards OG and explaining further.