What do all these batteries do? -
medcrest - 12-11-2016
I've got a 98 Newell. There are three battery locations. Two batteries are in the engine compartment, and logically they're the engine start batteries. Four batteries are in a passenger side bay. They are set up in two banks of two, with disconnect switches. These must be coach batteries. Then there are two
more batteries in a smaller passenger side bay, squeezed in between the rear wheel well and the engine compartment. They're the ones I'm confused about. Are they generator start batteries, add-on batteries for the engine? Decorative?
RE: What do all these batteries do? -
HoosierDaddy - 12-11-2016
On my 1993 all six on the driver side are house batts. I am only using the 2 in the rear compartment. I believe they also start the generator.
RE: What do all these batteries do? -
folivier - 12-11-2016
Yes all 6 are connected for the house batteries.
RE: What do all these batteries do? -
Richard - 12-12-2016
The two behind the tag are house batteries, and are wired in parallel with the four in front of the drive wheel.
RE: What do all these batteries do? -
medcrest - 12-12-2016
(12-12-2016, 06:47 AM)Richard Wrote: The two behind the tag are house batteries, and are wired in parallel with the four in front of the drive wheel.
The next question would be, should I disconnect the disconnectable trays and use a four circuit battery tender, one circuit for each of those trays, one for the tray behind the tag and one for the engine batteries? It seems to be asking a lot to expect one tender to handle all six house batteries. I always have a tendency to over engineer things.
RE: What do all these batteries do? -
jcus - 12-12-2016
(12-12-2016, 02:23 PM)medcrest Wrote: (12-12-2016, 06:47 AM)Richard Wrote: The two behind the tag are house batteries, and are wired in parallel with the four in front of the drive wheel.
The next question would be, should I disconnect the disconnectable trays and use a four circuit battery tender, one circuit for each of those trays, one for the tray behind the tag and one for the engine batteries? It seems to be asking a lot to expect one tender to handle all six house batteries. I always have a tendency to over engineer things.
If you are plugged in why do you need a battery tender? Your inverter/charger should take care of all of them.
RE: What do all these batteries do? -
Fulltiming - 12-12-2016
Paul, I am not sure if #500 charges anything other than the house batteries from the inverter/charger unless the merge switch is turned on or not. Mine doesn't.
RE: What do all these batteries do? -
jcus - 12-12-2016
If you use this device all batteries are connected above 13.2 volts [charging] and disconnected when there is no charge.
https://www.amazon.com/Victron-Cyrix-ct-24V-Battery-Combiner/dp/B00ZWLBZME/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1481588381&sr=8-2&keywords=battery+combiner
inverter/charger charges ALL batteries, no need to use merge switch, and no worry about start
batteries running down if you lose shore power.
RE: What do all these batteries do? -
HoosierDaddy - 12-13-2016
My 1993 does not charge engine batts from invertor/charger unless they are merged. While in storage I depend on the charger to charge the house AGM batts and a trickle charger/maintainer hooked to the lead acid engine batts. I never merge unless it is necessary because of a low batt condition.
RE: What do all these batteries do? -
Fulltiming - 12-13-2016
My 1992 is like yours. I use a AMP-L-START to charge the start batteries from the coach batteries when the coach batteries are being charged by the inverter/charger.