Wiring for battery and generator - Dutchmen Owners
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Old 10-02-2015, 02:23 AM   #1
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Wiring for battery and generator

Hi everyone,
I purchased a 2009 Grand Junction a few weeks ago, and searched high and low for pertinent information on this model. Dutchmen site does not have information and the manual is only generic material for all of their products. My problem is I want to replace the two 12v batteries with the two 6v interstate batteries from my previous TT. The first battery is wired directly to the Onan generator, and the second one has 2 negatives wires bolted to the frame (?), and the positive has two cable, one is wired to the disconnect switch. and the other is connected to a series of jumper connectors. Anyone know the principle of such wiring, and how to connect 2 serial 6v batteries. Isit possible that the first battery is dedicated the the genny?.
Thanks for any input you can give me.
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Old 10-02-2015, 03:21 AM   #2
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You're going to need both 6v batteries wired in series (-+/-+) to replace 1 of the 12v batteries. Are the 12v bats in the same spot? If not you will need 2 more 6v.
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Old 10-02-2015, 04:01 AM   #3
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It's hard to tell, based on what you've told us so far. It SOUNDS LIKE one battery is indeed, dedicated to start the genny. The other battery is probably your main 12 VDC source for the TT. I would leave the genny battery alone, and use your two 6VDC batteries, wired in series, to replace your TT battery. You have to figure out mounting, housing, and most importantly, the proper way to wire two 6vdc batteries in series to produce a 12vdc source to the TT. There is only one right way, but plenty of disastrous wrong ways!
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Old 10-02-2015, 04:14 AM   #4
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In my previous RV I had two parallel 12v batteries which I replaced with two 6v in series. They were mounted in front of the trailer with one white and one black cable going to the trailer. Wiring was a snap. My problem is the first battery has two wires going to the generator and I don't see any connection to the second battery, which has 2 negative wires bolted to the frame (Why 2?). On the positive wire, one is connected to the disconnect switch and the other, through a series of connectors seems to feed the RV, I see no connection between the 2 batteries. This is why I wonder is they are independent, one for the RV and one for the generator. There are 2 shelves for the batteries and I have no room the replace one 12v for 2 6v. Sorry if my description is not very clear.
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Old 10-02-2015, 05:13 AM   #5
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They are independent. If you have no room to squeeze two 6vdc batteries in the place of, and replacing, the other 12vdc battery, then (without long, heavy-gauge, expensive connecting wires and still needing a place for the second battery) you can't do it.
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Old 10-02-2015, 04:35 PM   #6
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Thank you for your replies. Somewhere in the RV the batteries must be connected somehow via the inverter/converter. I was thinking of replacing one 12vdc with the 2 6vdc installed in the twin battery box, and moving the other 12vdc in the front compartment where the generator is located. Since the generator is in an enclosure and there is a lot of space left in that compartment, I could install the other 12vdc in a ventilated battery box since it would be used solely for the generator. Any counter indications or warning about this?
Thank you very much for your time in reading this.
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Old 10-02-2015, 04:41 PM   #7
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Your plan sounds workable, based on the data this far. I'd like to hear from someone who has this type of rig or setup. Can anybody else chime in?
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Old 10-02-2015, 07:56 PM   #8
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Concern I have is the 12v battery for the generator wouldn't get charged when connected to shore power. If you use the generator quite often that might not be a problem.
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Old 10-02-2015, 09:36 PM   #9
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Thank you DesertRat. I'm not changing the existing configuration. I have replaced one 12vdc with the 2 6vdc in series, and pushed the wires coming from the generator back in the compartment where I will connect a 12vdc. If it charged before, it should continue to. (Hopefully)
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