Charging 6 volt Series Batteries

[RBellah]

I have a 6 volt battery setup in my Alpenlite 5fer. I have Six 6 volt batteries wired in series to provide 12 volt power. I'm wanting to charge my batteries during the winter by using a Battery Tender or something instead of leaving my inverter hooked up to power and running all the time.

My question is this, Do I need a 6 volt or 12 volt charger and how do I hook the thing up to all those batteries?



I know some of you out there probably have knowledge of this and I want to make sure I do the right thing.

 

[fox]

I would try to find a 6 volt tender and charge each individually. It is better this way and you could find a weak battery easier.

Actually with 6 batteries these would be connected in a series-parallel.

 

[Hoefler]

You will need at least 3 maintainers with 12 volt output. I don't know of any that are 6 volt output. But they are designed to maintin a single battery. The on board convertor is designed to charge multiple batteries and probably be more efficient at maintaining and conditioning them.

 

[CKelley1]

one 12 volt tender is all you need but there is a better way, change your inverter to to the new style with a charge wizard. this keeps the batteries in peak shape and will last many times longer and no boiling dry.

 

[MLee]

Like CKelly1 said. Call Progressive Dynamics, and ask which converter would be best for your situation. They have a converter that has the CHARGE WIZARD already installed in it. Mine did not have the wizard and I bought and attached it to the charger. They have a desulfation system in it plus the standby charge maintainer. Check it out, There is others out there but I think that the PD is the way to go.

 

[DavidC]

I have had the charge wizard for quite a few years now and love it. Picked it up from rvupgrades.com. I check the fluid level in the two 6 volt golf cart batteries each month and they usually need a little distilled water. The 5ver is plugged in 24/7.



Dave

 

[Bill Stockard]

Yep, Progressive Dynamics converter with the Charge Wizard is the way to go. One came in my '03 Lance camper from the factory. The camper has been plugged in 24/7 for all those years when isn't being used. I check the battery once every three months, or when I remember to, and it's never low on electrolyte. I usually have to add a little distilled water about every 6 months. I replaced the original battery a couple of years ago, not because it failed, but for preventative reasons. I didn't want it to become weak while on a trip.



Bill

 

[RonD]

I have a 6 volt battery setup in my Alpenlite 5fer. I have Six 6 volt batteries wired in series to provide 12 volt power. I'm wanting to charge my batteries during the winter by using a Battery Tender or something instead of leaving my inverter hooked up to power and running all the time.

My question is this, Do I need a 6 volt or 12 volt charger and how do I hook the thing up to all those batteries?



I know some of you out there probably have knowledge of this and I want to make sure I do the right thing.

Your 6 volt battery setup, is now a 12 volt big battery, if the battery's are fully charged, a single 12 volt battery maintainer will work just fine.

 

[HBarlow]

I agree with the posters who suggested a Progressive Dynamics converter with charge wizard. They are not real expensive but are an outstanding product. I installed one in my HitchHiker fifthwheel about two years ago and it has been plugged in continuously since installed.

 

[Shadrach]

Since I have a travel trailer I only have room for 2 six volts. In the winter I remove the batteries and put them on the bench in my unheated garage. I top up the water, hook up the cable that goes between the 2 batteries ( making it a 12v system again ) and the first of each month I put them on the a conventional battery charger for 24 hours. Doing this and also not draining them down in power when I'm camping has helped them last for years. I got 7 years out of the first set and this pair in on year 5. When it's time to replace them I will modify the tray and use four 6 volts. I have a solar panel so in the warmer weather it keeps them charged. ( It doesn't work when covered with snow )



This is a simple and cheap way of keeping them charged up. The methods described above would be great but I don't have a fancy inverter and besides in the winter I need the plug on the garage wall that the trailer gets plugged into in the summer for my block heater. :-laf Shad

 

[RBellah]

Thanks for all the help! There is a lot of knowledge on the TDR RV Forum... well worth the subscription.



I am looking into Progressive Dynamics

 

[HBarlow]

I have a brand new one in the box identical to the one installed in my trailer two years ago but I don't want to fool with shipping.

 

[BIGNASTY]

/

Your 6 volt battery setup, is now a 12 volt big battery, if the battery's are fully charged, a single 12 volt battery maintainer will work just fine.

I agree I run multi 6V batts and have a 12V tender like above if when you get home and disconnect and hook up your battery tender it looks at it as ONE BIG A** 12V. I have done it this way sense the batt's were new and have no problems. If batt's are down it just takes a LONG time to recharge Battery Tender Plus - Batterytender.com . The way I look at it the last thing I want to do is start screwing around the the electrical system on my TT it works and works fine the way it is. JMO