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Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Batteries on both sides in the engine compartment?
Batteries on both sides in the engine compartment? [message #351515] Wed, 22 January 2020 09:15 Go to next message
6cuda6 is currently offline  6cuda6   Canada
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Whom amongst us is using batteries on both sides of the engine compartment?

My house battery and engine battery are currently on the right....if i wanted to add more house power it has to go on the left, just not sute if thats the best idea or not.


Rich Mondor, Brockville, ON 77 Hughes 2600
Re: Batteries on both sides in the engine compartment? [message #351520 is a reply to message #351515] Wed, 22 January 2020 14:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Michael Leipold is currently offline  Michael Leipold   United States
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When I bought mine, I had the engine and 1 house battery on the passenger side.
I did not have a buzz box and installed an inverter under the bunk sofa and relocated the house battery to the driver side.
At some point, I relocated and installed 2 house batteries in the back and put the inverter under the now permanent bed.
I am now rethinking moving the batteries back to the front due to weight balancing.
I have 3 AGM batteries and think I will keep them inside the motorhome, I do not see myself going back to lead acid.
I will probably move the inverter under to bunk also.
I think adding the batteries to the driver side would balance the weight over the wheels in the front.
I cannot think of any negative results, other than the additional battery cables needed.


1973 GMC 26' Glacier - Unknown Mileage - Has a new switch pitch transmission with Powerdrive Smile
Re: Batteries on both sides in the engine compartment? [message #351521 is a reply to message #351520] Wed, 22 January 2020 15:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
6cuda6 is currently offline  6cuda6   Canada
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And thats kinda my thought....if i add an inverter and/or solar to.my unit where do i put batteries? They recommend putting the thing no more than 5 feet away from the batteries so the generator compartment is out (generator is there) so the only other logical place is engine compartment with the inverter under the couch.....

Michael Leipold wrote on Wed, 22 January 2020 15:56
When I bought mine, I had the engine and 1 house battery on the passenger side.
I did not have a buzz box and installed an inverter under the bunk sofa and relocated the house battery to the driver side.
At some point, I relocated and installed 2 house batteries in the back and put the inverter under the now permanent bed.
I am now rethinking moving the batteries back to the front due to weight balancing.
I have 3 AGM batteries and think I will keep them inside the motorhome, I do not see myself going back to lead acid.
I will probably move the inverter under to bunk also.
I think adding the batteries to the driver side would balance the weight over the wheels in the front.
I cannot think of any negative results, other than the additional battery cables needed.


Rich Mondor, Brockville, ON 77 Hughes 2600
Re: Batteries on both sides in the engine compartment? [message #351525 is a reply to message #351521] Wed, 22 January 2020 16:23 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Gail   Marks Cruiser is currently offline  Gail Marks Cruiser   Australia
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Location: Gold Coast, Australia
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G'day,

I have posted this before, but for those newer owners who haven't seen our option on solar.
We fitted our GMC with Solar 14 years ago and haven't looked back. The original batteries lasted 9 years, approx 3 years ago, the square wave Trace (xantrex) inverter charger, was replaced with a sine wave Victron inverter charger (has many great features including trickle charging the start battery, power sharing and easy set up with a laptop)

The photos are the right way around, our GMC has been converted to right hand drive.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g5591-solar.html


Mark Bennett Gail & Mark's Cruiser Gold Coast, Australia. Motorhoming Lifestyle.com
Re: Batteries on both sides in the engine compartment? [message #351526 is a reply to message #351515] Wed, 22 January 2020 17:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
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Location: Woodstock, IL
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Cold temporarily reduces battery output, but HEAT is the enemy of batteries. So keep that in mind in the engine compartment. Personally I have one Group 78 with 1050 CA up front and a 4D for house in rear.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
Re: Batteries on both sides in the engine compartment? [message #351527 is a reply to message #351526] Wed, 22 January 2020 17:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
6cuda6 is currently offline  6cuda6   Canada
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I have really limited space in the generator compartment because the coach has an OEM option rear heater which takes up about a 6v battery space leaving me just enough for a small gen starter battery. I would rather not put batteries next to the engine/rad etc but im not sure what the best answer is at the momment honestly.

JohnL455 wrote on Wed, 22 January 2020 18:27
Cold temporarily reduces battery output, but HEAT is the enemy of batteries. So keep that in mind in the engine compartment. Personally I have one Group 78 with 1050 CA up front and a 4D for house in rear.


Rich Mondor, Brockville, ON 77 Hughes 2600
Re: Batteries on both sides in the engine compartment? [message #351529 is a reply to message #351515] Wed, 22 January 2020 21:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
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That heater sounds like a nice option. It's probably not as hot where the batts live in a GMC off to the side with a clear shot at the grill. In a car the core support and low hood has them sandwiched pretty tight.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
Re: Batteries on both sides in the engine compartment? [message #351532 is a reply to message #351515] Thu, 23 January 2020 07:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Michael Leipold is currently offline  Michael Leipold   United States
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AGM and the Lithium batteries do not exhaust gases, so they technically can be put inside the coach.
You do lose storage space, but it keeps them away from the engine heat.


1973 GMC 26' Glacier - Unknown Mileage - Has a new switch pitch transmission with Powerdrive Smile
Re: Batteries on both sides in the engine compartment? [message #351534 is a reply to message #351532] Thu, 23 January 2020 08:19 Go to previous message
6cuda6 is currently offline  6cuda6   Canada
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AGM will actually off gas if over heated and that is their downfall....they off gas and you cannot add fluid so you just killed the battery ( we had this problem in the industry i work in and had to go to temp controlled charging via computer controlled voltage regulators). I am sure the insidence is rare in the RV world but just an FYI....

Michael Leipold wrote on Thu, 23 January 2020 08:13
AGM and the Lithium batteries do not exhaust gases, so they technically can be put inside the coach.
You do lose storage space, but it keeps them away from the engine heat.


Rich Mondor, Brockville, ON 77 Hughes 2600
Re: [GMCnet] Batteries on both sides in the engine compartment? [message #351718 is a reply to message #351520] Wed, 22 January 2020 15:07 Go to previous message
johnd01 is currently offline  johnd01   United States
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I do not think your batteries weigh enough to be significant in your weigh
balance. Whether or not you have a person in the right from seat would make
more difference.





On Wed, Jan 22, 2020 at 12:57 PM Michael via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:

> When I bought mine, I had the engine and 1 house battery on the passenger
> side.
> I did not have a buzz box and installed an inverter under the bunk sofa
> and relocated the house battery to the driver side.
> At some point, I relocated and installed 2 house batteries in the back and
> put the inverter under the now permanent bed.
> I am now rethinking moving the batteries back to the front due to weight
> balancing.
> I have 3 AGM batteries and think I will keep them inside the motorhome, I
> do not see myself going back to lead acid.
> I will probably move the inverter under to bunk also.
> I think adding the batteries to the driver side would balance the weight
> over the wheels in the front.
> I cannot think of any negative results, other than the additional battery
> cables needed.
> --
> 1973 GMC 26' Glacier - Unknown Mileage - Has a new switch pitch
> transmission with Powerdrive
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>


--

*John Phillips*
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Johnd01 John Phillips Avion A2600 TZE064V101164 Rancho Cordova, CA (Sacramento)
Re: [GMCnet] Batteries on both sides in the engine compartment? [message #351719 is a reply to message #351520] Wed, 22 January 2020 16:15 Go to previous message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
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Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
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Senior Member
Get the coach weighed and place the batteries appropriately to balance the
loading -- DON'T guess!

I personally prefer having my chassis battery (Gp.27) and two GC2 golf cart
batteries on the front passenger side, but if you have 3 house batteries,
that won't work.

Wherever you put the batteries, keep the jumpers, and the leads to the
inverter SHORT.

JMHO,

Ken H.

On Wed, Jan 22, 2020 at 3:57 PM Michael via Gmclist
wrote:

> When I bought mine, I had the engine and 1 house battery on the passenger
> side.
> I did not have a buzz box and installed an inverter under the bunk sofa
> and relocated the house battery to the driver side.
> At some point, I relocated and installed 2 house batteries in the back and
> put the inverter under the now permanent bed.
> I am now rethinking moving the batteries back to the front due to weight
> balancing.
> I have 3 AGM batteries and think I will keep them inside the motorhome, I
> do not see myself going back to lead acid.
> I will probably move the inverter under to bunk also.
> I think adding the batteries to the driver side would balance the weight
> over the wheels in the front.
> I cannot think of any negative results, other than the additional battery
> cables needed.
> --
> 1973 GMC 26' Glacier - Unknown Mileage - Has a new switch pitch
> transmission with Powerdrive
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
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