How to Install Dual RV Batteries

Duel RV batteries

Although installing a duel RV battery is not a difficult process to carry out, there are some precautions that must be taken to avoid disaster. To install duel RV batteries, you must connect the two battery posts together; positive with positive and negative with negative. The wires used to connect the two batteries should end up being of the same length or longer than what was previously installed.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Crescent wrench
• Wiring for automotive battery
• 2 deep discharge Marine/RV batteries
• Charger wire

Instructions

1. Disconnect the old battery. Unscrew the negative battery clamp.

2. Unscrew the positive clamp.

3. Remove the battery. (Use it for something else as it is not advisable to line up an old and new battery---see Tips & Warnings.)

4. Place the new battery in the designated base.

5. Connect the two positive posts together with charger wire and secure the clamps.

6. Connect the two negative posts together with charger wire and secure the clamps.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the batteries are of the same age. One should never think of creating a duel battery connection consisting of an old and new battery. Instead, both batteries should be purchased at the same time and installed together. The disadvantages of installing an old battery next to a new one is that the old one will draw juice from the new one, forming what is known as a "current loop" and thus rendering the new battery all but useless. Make sure the charger wire is on the same size (or larger) than what was there before. Make sure you have enough charger wire. Purchase discharge Marine/RV batteries. When purchasing a new battery of an RV, it is best to not use regular automobile batteries. Car batteries are best for igniting small engines that do not possess low discharge currents. Car batteries will not last near as long as the recommended deep-discharge Marine/RV batteries.

• In adding an extra installation tip, the negative battery clamp should be removed first. This also applies when there are two connections. When installing the battery, these are the last two things that must be connected to avoid any mishaps the battery caused by short circuit. Make sure batteries get enough air. After installing the extra battery, it is essential that enough air makes contact with and around the battery area to avoid any hydrogen build-up. Hydrogen is nothing to play with; you do not want it building up in places where it can potentially ignite and put people in danger. Explosions have been known to happen due to hydrogen build-up. If it seems there is not enough ventilation, remove the extra battery and abandon the installation and consult a trained mechanic.

References

• Batteries on Vacation; Poptronics; April 2002; Vol. 3 Issue 4, p52, 1/2p