Motorhome needs new batteries - 6V vs 12V deep cycles?

[Meaney77]

Ok, decided to go the Costco route because it was available and I demand instant gratification on a Saturday! Went with a pair of the 6v golf cart batteries. Price is $95 now. Got a pair of those, and a new chassis battery as well. Not that fresh batteries are installed, I have identified a new problem - and probably the main reason why this coach had shot batteries....the converter isn’t working. It clicks on for 5 seconds, then shuts itself down. It will wait 45 seconds or so, then repeat. The batteries get no charge, and the 12v power I am seeing in between the converters power on / off cycles is coming from the chassis battery - draining that battery. Took a while to figure out what was happening. I’m gonna check the wiring and connections tonight, but seems like I have a dead converter. A few buddies have installed this converter as a retrofit and say it kicks ass for quick battery recharge and float charge maintenance. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0039T059U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_D03xCbV2G8DW7

Anyone have any experience with replacing an RV converter? Looks pretty easy so long as I can get to the damn thing without unhooking the entire distribution panel and wiring that it’s in front of it

I may be wrong but check your converter, I believe there are 2 30 amp fuses on the unit. If so make sure both fuses are intact 1st before swapping...

 

[boatdoc55]

The PD units are GREAT!! I put several in customers RV's. As said, make sure you get the Charge Wizard pendant and understand how it works. You'll love everything about this system.

 

[Singleton]

The PD units are GREAT!! I put several in customers RV's. As said, make sure you get the Charge Wizard pendant and understand how it works. You'll love everything about this system.

I have the PD without the Charge Wizard. Will be pulling the PD part number this week when I bring my trailer home to see if that can be added based on what I read yesterday. Seems like a great concept since we dry camp a ton and after a cold night, I run the generator in the am to make coffee while the solar gets working.

 

[Bigbore500r]

I may be wrong but check your converter, I believe there are 2 30 amp fuses on the unit. If so make sure both fuses are intact 1st before swapping...

Just checked them, they are both good. Thanks for the heads up

 

[Bigbore500r]

Another issue I uncovered during all of this.....the coach appears to be wired incorrectly from the factory. It is sucking house power off the chassis battery only! The coach batteries are connected, but where those cables end up going is a mystery. They disappear into the floor structure of the RV, and everything I can test that is accessible shows power. But....the coach is getting all of its power of the chassis battery, and there is a positive lead that goes from the coach to the chassis battery also. That lead appears to be the one supplying the coach completely. The other leads that go to the coach batteries appear to give cranking power to the generator only. I moved the lead over from the chassis battery to the coach batteries and it seems like it solved all of those problems, the only thing I’m not sure of is if that had anything to do with the “boost button” function of the switch at the dash. I don’t think it did, I can still hear the solonoid operate when the switch is pushed and that power connection to link the coach batteries to the chassis battery should happen where they solonoid is. The original owner of this sucker must have thought “man...these motorhome batteries don’t last for shit!” Crazy

 

[Dylan]

Progressive dynamics converter is awesome. Make sure you match the charge rate of your current one to the new. Charges better, and you can leave it plugged in full time without boiling the batteries. Also have the Costco 6v. You’re on the right track!


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[Bigbore500r]

Looks like it’s all dialed in now. Batteries hooked up correctly, converter swapped out. Ready to roll....where we camping ?

 

[77charger]

I ran us 2200s they were very good my current batts are Costco and they are hit an miss mine suck compared to my old 2200s. I got 7 years out of my 2200s and they were showing signs of fading but still decent my Costco batts after a year were about equal to the 7 year old batts but after three years they haven't changed just not as strong but better than 12 volts.