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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: desi arnaz on February 14, 2010, 12:11:21 PM

Title: battery question
Post by: desi arnaz on February 14, 2010, 12:11:21 PM
i need to know if this is the proper config there are 6 12 volt trojans that are wired +to-to+to-  seems like tou would have 72 volts? i havent brought the meter out to test them but i will when i can find it. flocks.shutterfly.com
i tried to load it up on this site but it said it was to big.
Title: Re: battery question
Post by: wildbob24 on February 14, 2010, 12:19:17 PM
Thomas,

Looks like a 12 volt setup to me. 3 pairs of 6 volt batteries wired in series to make 12 volts. The 12 volt pairs are wired in parallel.

Bob
Title: Re: battery question
Post by: PCC on February 14, 2010, 12:20:18 PM
What voltage/s do you need?  12 & 24?
Title: Re: battery question
Post by: Just Dallas on February 14, 2010, 12:20:35 PM
Removed
Title: Re: battery question
Post by: blue_goose on February 14, 2010, 12:20:52 PM
If they were + to - you would have 72 volts.
Jack
Title: Re: battery question
Post by: wildbob24 on February 14, 2010, 12:27:44 PM
PCC,
Since the 4106 is a 12 volt bus, I'm guessing he needs 12 volts.

Jack,
That would be true if these were 12 volt batteries. Since they are 6 volt, he would have 36 volts if wired in series.

Bob

Title: Re: battery question
Post by: PCC on February 14, 2010, 12:30:38 PM
For both 12v & 24v, take three batteries' '+' and connect to the other three batteries' '-'.  These will be the 12 v source.

Then connect the three '-' (opposite the first line above '+'), and take them, in parallel, to frame.

Last, take the last three '+' (opposite the first line above '-'), and they, in parallel, are your 24 v source.


For 12 v only, connect all '-' to the frame and all '=' to the positive/battery feed to the coach.

I thought he said he had 6 12 volt batteries??
Title: Re: battery question
Post by: wildbob24 on February 14, 2010, 12:38:47 PM
PCC,

Thomas did say he had 6 12 volt batteries, but if you'll look at the photo, you'll see that he is mistaken. He, in fact, has 6 6 volt batteries.

Bob
Title: Re: battery question
Post by: PCC on February 14, 2010, 12:55:48 PM
My computer censors those power photos, in fact most pics

For 12v, make three sets of two 6V batteries (in series), by putting three individual connections between the '+ of three, to the '- of the other three.

Then take the three open '- to frame, and last the three '+' to your 12 feed into the coach.

I wish I could see his setup. My 4104 had 8D batteries - imagine a 4106 is the same.
Title: Re: battery question
Post by: desi arnaz on February 14, 2010, 01:17:45 PM
ok i will go out and check the voltage.... i thought i had 12 v batts
Title: Re: battery question
Post by: wildbob24 on February 14, 2010, 01:18:40 PM
PCC,

These batteries are wired like your description. I'm pretty sure these are the house batteries as opposed to the chassis batteries, which would have originally been 8Ds like your 4104 (and perhaps still are).

Bob
Title: Re: battery question
Post by: PCC on February 14, 2010, 01:48:09 PM
Quote from: wildbob24 on February 14, 2010, 01:18:40 PM
These batteries are wired like your description. I'm pretty sure these are the house batteries as opposed to the chassis batteries, which would have originally been 8Ds like your 4104 (and perhaps still are).

Bob

Whew !!!!  Glad I got it right !!! LOL

Hope my decription was helpful. I just know that as I teach the students how to hook 'em up for the different voltages for different applications, (we got our 24v diesel genset started on Thursday), and they were facinated by all the different voltages.
Title: Re: battery question
Post by: desi arnaz on February 14, 2010, 02:57:30 PM
these are the house bats from 2001 3 are bad [tested with hydrometer]
problem is i have 3 good and 4 newer 12volt gel cells.how do i hook them up so they work together? also the starters are brand new 8 D's   the house batts were drawing from the 8d's causing dead batts and the Genni will not stay running and in fact will not start unless i pull the solenoid wire off crank it and put the wire back on. i took the solenoid apart and everything is as new as the Genni has less than 90 hours on her.
Title: Re: battery question
Post by: wildbob24 on February 14, 2010, 05:57:41 PM
Thomas,

You won't want to hook all those batteries together. When creating battery banks, the batteries should all be the same type and age. Assuming your AGMs are suitable for this useage, you should pull all the 6 volt Trojans and install the AGMs, wired in parallel, for your 12 volt house system.

You might want to pick up a copy of January's BCM magazine, in which Sean Welsh has written an informative article on battery selection.

You also might want to put a switch between the house and chassis banks so you can control when they are connected.

Bob
Title: Re: battery question
Post by: desi arnaz on February 14, 2010, 07:50:04 PM
good idea with a switch but how would the house battery charge?
Title: Re: battery question
Post by: JackConrad on February 15, 2010, 04:32:27 AM
Quote from: desi arnaz on February 14, 2010, 07:50:04 PM
good idea with a switch but how would the house battery charge?

Switch connects batteries when engine is running to charge all batteries, disconnects when engine is not running to prevent taking power from the start batteries.  Jack
Title: Re: battery question
Post by: desi arnaz on February 15, 2010, 06:36:31 AM
would it be automatic? and where do i connect it?
Title: Re: battery question
Post by: desi arnaz on February 15, 2010, 06:43:09 AM
will i have enough power with 4 12 volt batts? do i just go + + + + then -  - - -?to the input of the inverter? i also have 320 watts of solar at least that is what the p/o told me.4 panels on the roof. and a 6000 watt propane genni with 90 hours on her.
Title: Re: battery question
Post by: JackConrad on February 15, 2010, 06:44:56 AM
Quote from: desi arnaz on February 15, 2010, 06:36:31 AM
would it be automatic? and where do i connect it?
Could be automatic or manual.  Manual would be something like a heary duty Cole-Hersee switch. Automatic would be an electricallly operated contactor/solenoid and could be wired in several ways including a toggle switch on the dash, controlled by master switch or oil pressure switch or fuel pressure switch.  Jack
Title: Re: battery question
Post by: JackConrad on February 15, 2010, 06:45:56 AM
Quote from: desi arnaz on February 15, 2010, 06:43:09 AM
will i have enough power with 4 12 volt batts? do i just go + + + + then -  - - -?to the input of the inverter? i also have 320 watts of solar at least that is what the p/o told me.4 panels on the roof. and a 6000 watt propane genni with 90 hours on her.

Depends on how many amp hours the batteries are and how much power you will be using. add up the total watts of all everything you plan to run off the inverter and divide by 12 (this will give you amps) then add all the 12 volt loads as well.  Jack