Another Battery Conversion

After reading all the great suggestions, I finally converted my weak 12v battery to two 6V golf cart batteries. Basics were:

• Remove old battery & battery box
• Fill void with "big gap" spray foam
• Cover 1/8 masonite pegboard with solid foam tool drawer liner
• Modify new battery box for venting
• Modify bathroom waterline access panel with velcro (removing screws)
• Install surrounding blocking for battery box
• Install Blues Sea Systems circuit breaker
• Install quick connectors (red) between battery and trailer wiring

The quick connectors allow me to do a direct connect with my shop battery charger and isolate the trailer wiring. Still have some minor finishing touches and plan to install a remote battery watering system to make it easier to top off the batteries. Our 12V was worthless after one evening of moderate use with the furnace. I'm hoping for at LEAST two nights with furnace use before I have to break out the generator. Our first dry camping weekend is the 4th of July and I'm really looking forward to a long duration test under actual use.

Very nice work. Please tell us what you think about the remote battery filling system. I run the flat, Battery Minder, quick connect through the vent and through the louvered vent cover. This way I can charge my batteries with the TM closed.

[Bill]

As Eric said, VERY nice work. I learned several things from your description and pix. For example, my 2006 TM does not have a "water line access panel" - but it will very soon.

Bill

[ShrimpBurrito]

Nice job. I like how you got rid of the vent hose. Great idea.

I presume you got 2 Trojan T-105s. That's what I have, and you will have no problems using the furnace for 2 nights. We've been in weather where the temps dropped into the teens, and had the thermostat set at ~62 from about 5-10pm, and then at 50 from 10pm-8am. We easily went through 2 nights, and very likely could have gone a 3rd and maybe even a 4th night. I didn't have my Link 10 then, so I don't know exactly how much power we used. Of course, at warmer temps, we use less power.

Dave

Thank you all for your kind words. I actually purchased the golf cart batteries from Costco. They were ~1/2 the price of the Trojans which I really wanted but finances dictated otherwise.

Bill, please be VERY careful if you open an access panel to the bathroom waterlines. I was just about to mount the circuit breaker on the back wall to keep it up out of the way and decided to look/feel behind the wall to see how much clearance I had. It was ZERO!! The tub is right against the wall. I would have been very unhappy to find a couple screws sticking through my shower tub! The right side of the factory installed access panel is right at the point where the tub meets the wall so please be cautious if you decide to open up the wall.

[Bill]

Thanks for the caution, Michael. In my enthusiasm, that's the kind of thing I could easily have done.

Bill

[mjlaupp]

Bill, Be extreemely cautious. Mike has the new tub with the plumbing in the back corner. Is yours the same?
Mike