When connecting two batteries together on an rv trailer you usually connect the batteries in parallel to draw 12 volts from both of the batteries. The first thing you need to know is that there are two primary ways to successfully connect two or more batteries.
Connecting Batteries In Series Or Parallel Or Both
Rv batteries in series or parallel. Wiring in seriesparallel is for rvs that require a high reserve capacity and must have more than two batteries. The first is via a series and the second is called parallel. The advantage of the series setup is that your power output will become greater the more batteries that you connect. Four 12 volt 2000 mah wired in parallel can provide 12 volt 8000 mah 2000 mah x 4. Two 6 volt 45 ah batteries wired in parallel are capable of providing 6 volt 9 amp hours 45 ah 45 ah. For example you can construct a battery bank using a high amp agm battery for a rv camper or trailer.
But what happens if you wire batteries of different voltages and amp hour capacities together in parallel. The answer to which is better is a simple one. Batteries connected in series stack their voltages in order to run machinery that requires higher voltage amounts. When connecting two 12 volt batteries in parallel the voltage stays the same but the battery bank will provide electricity longer while maintaining a usable voltage. Rv batteries in series and parallel its also possible to create a hybrid bank which has batteries in parallel as well as series. Their relative merits and shortcomings are explained in detail elsewhere in our library.
We get a lot of members of the rv repair club community asking what kind of rv batteries they should use on their rig. Batteries in a series parallel combination many rvs come equipped with two 6 volt deep cycle batteries similar or exactly like those commonly used in golf carts and other electric powered vehicles. Connecting in seriesparallel requires wiring two batteries in series and wiring each pair of batteries in parallel. Once you have the batteries wired properly in parallel you will need to connect the 12 volt power wire from the trailer 7 way connector to the positive wire on the first battery. Theyre often unsure whether they should opt for a single 12 volt battery or a pair of 6 volt rv batteries in series obviously equaling 12 volts. Series will be the negative post of one battery to the positive post of the next battery while with a parallel setup all of the positive terminals will be connected and all of the negative terminals will be connected.
For one when discussing batteries that are connected in either series or parallel it is important to take into consideration the necessary changes that should be made when charging your battery. The critical difference is that series batteries add voltages together at a common current while parallel batteries add currents together at a common voltage. Batteries wired in this way will increase their voltage and amperage. This configuration requires a minimum of four batteries to carry out and will increase both the volts and amps. We have a photo see photo at right that shows how to wire the batteries in parallel.
Gallery of Rv Batteries In Series Or Parallel
