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Adding an additional onboard battery to be connected in parallel. Should they be identical?


ATXBreeze

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Thanks everyone! Got my answer to my title qduestion: "Adding an additional onboard battery to be connected in parallel. Should they be identical?" 

 

YES!

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by ATXBreeze
Got my answer :)
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For Max performance the batteries should be the same. Size, voltage, date. If you mix these up with the batteries in parallel the weakest/smallest will control the charger. If the budget allows for 2 new batteries look at a pair of 6v golf cart batteries. Charging 2ea  6v batteries in series acts like one large 12v battery.  Sam's has the HD EGC-2 for $125 EA. 

As things go usually more $$ up front means longer battery life in the RV. Batteries come in 3 basic flavors. Flooded Cell (lead acid), AGM (Absorbed glass mat) and Lithium (LiPo4).  In that order the $$ doubles going from one level to the next level.

Edited by WME
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Yes they should match both 24 or both 27's You will need a good smart charger for best results There are but a few flooded cell batteries manufactures in the US (like 3 or 4) so don't let the name fool your decision. I run a camper all most totally self contained with 2 batteries and a home made portable framed 100 watt solar panel that I can elevate and rotate on the ground.

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2 hours ago, Maineah said:

Yes they should match both 24 or both 27's You will need a good smart charger for best results There are but a few flooded cell batteries manufactures in the US (like 3 or 4) so don't let the name fool your decision. I run a camper all most totally self contained with 2 batteries and a home made portable framed 100 watt solar panel that I can elevate and rotate on the ground.

also beware super good deals. often you will find a whimpy battery in agood case(wally world)  

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Actually have had pretty good luck with Walmart batteries date marks need pretty good look over though! One of the Walmart batteries on my camper is 6 years old just did a load test on the pair for an end of year camping adventure mid month. I do leave my batteries on a smart charger year round that seems to make a difference in longevity instead of all most dead to full charge when needed.

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Yeah me too for the Walmart batteries. Thought they might be discontinuing them a while back because they were almost totally out of stock but that has been replenished. I have never had a Walmart coach battery last less than 5 years. Bought an Autozone  truck battery when Walmart didn't have what I needed and that lasted a whole 4 months. Got my money back and went to Walmart. Also the first time I replaced my truck battery I discovered it was 11 years old. It too was from Walmart

Linda S

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always use the maintainer. these things are not meant to go from dead to full charge

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