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Disclaimer
The information in this article is not all inclusive of what you will need to know in order to safely modify your RV, travel trailer, 5th wheel or any other item with a 12 Volt electrical system. Similarly, we do not claim nor guarantee that all the information presented in this article is correct, and the information is only provided to share the research and information we learned from personal experience while modifying our 5th wheel. We are not certified electricians or electrical engineers. We are only RV enthusiasts and hobbyists. 12 Volt batteries are dangerous if not handled properly. Failure to follow the correct procedures with your batteries can lead to shock, shorts, mishaps, overload, acid spills, sparks, battery explosions, fire and many other serious incidents. Working with and modifying the wiring and electrical system on your RV is potentially hazardous and can lead to shock, shorts, mishaps and the possibility of fire, injury or other serious consequences if not done correctly. Similarly, modifying or adding batteries or modifying or working on your RV electrical system can lead to damage of your RV’s electrical system and electrical components if not done correctly. If you plan to work on your RV batteries and/or electrical system, you should consult an experienced electrician and/or your local RV dealership’s qualified technicians to make sure that you are following the local electrical codes and proceeding safely with your modifications and not voiding your RV warranty. Similarly, it is important to follow all manufacturers’ instructions for the batteries or electrical items you purchase and intend to use. BigBoyToysOnline, LLC will not accept responsibility for any mistakes, mishaps, injuries or deaths that occur as a result of anyone trying to make modifications to their RV, travel trailer, 5th wheel or any other item based on the information in these articles. This is SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS stuff. Please proceed carefully and safely!
A Few Last Recommendations
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Don’t mix batteries. If you are going to install new or improved batteries, make sure they are all of the same type (AGM, gel or flooded) and make sure that they are all purchased at the same time and are of the same age. Mixing older batteries with newer ones will most likely limit the longevity of the newer batteries and cause them to degrade or fail sooner.
- Use true deep cycle batteries. Don’t get sold on marine batteries as they are not a true deep cycle battery and are constructed to be somewhere in between a starting battery and a deep cycle battery.
- Before you connect your batteries to your RV or inverter, use a digital voltmeter to assure that you have wired your batteries properly to output 12 Volts. The last thing you want to do is pump 24 Volts or more through your RVs 12 Volt electrical system accidently and ruin all of your electronics.
- When installing or working on your batteries make sure you use insulated tools. There is a lot of power stored in a battery. If you accidently touch both battery posts with your wrench or touch the RV chassis, you could get shocked, burned or even short the battery out and cause it to explode.
- When working on your batteries use protective clothing, safety glasses, and rubber gloves to protect yourself from shocks.
Additional Resources:
Books:
Following are some books that you may want to consider reading if you are truly interested in adding additional batteries and working on the electrical system of your RV. Although these books may not be entirely devoted to batteries, they each contain pertinent and relevant information that will add to your knowledge of this topic. Additionally, some of these books may be out of print; however, you can usually find used copies on Amazon or elsewhere.
- Living on 12 Volts with Ample Power by David Smead and Ruth Ishihara. ISBN: 0-945415-02-8
- Wiring 12 Volts for Ample Power by David Smead and Ruth Ishihara. ISBN: 0-945415-03-6
- Independent Energy Guide by Kevin Jeffrey. ISBN: 0-9644112-0-2
- The 12 Volt Bible for Boats by Miner Brotherton. ISBN: 0-7136-6703-6
- RVers’ Guide to Solar Battery Charging by Noel and Barbara Kirkby. ISBN: 0-937948-08-X
Internet Resources:
- The 12volt Side of Life by Mark Nemeth. www.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/12volt/12volt.htm
- Batteries and Other Electric Stuff by Phred Tinseth. www.phrannie.org
