Additional battery

[Thevon]

I’m sure this topic has probably been fully discussed, but I can’t figure out much on my phone. I have a 2006 190P Roadtrek and it only has one battery. My question is for those that have added a second battery to that little compartment in front of the rear passenger side tire. What size battery did you put in there and can you find the additional battery cables on the shelf? Is there anything else that has to be added if you install a second battery? I appreciate any help.

[BBQ]

.

When you have multiple batteries,
you should always have them in the same size, same make (if possible), and same age.

[Monica998]

Originally Posted by BBQ

.
When you have multiple batteries,
you should always have them in the same size, same make (if possible), and same age.

Just like what you said, if you change the batteries, you should keep them in the same shape, same size, same age for one supplier at the same time. For the only one battery, it seems much easier, just change one, that's OK.

[Bud]

Originally Posted by Thevon

I’m sure this topic has probably been fully discussed, but I can’t figure out much on my phone. I have a 2006 190P Roadtrek and it only has one battery. My question is for those that have added a second battery to that little compartment in front of the rear passenger side tire. What size battery did you put in there and can you find the additional battery cables on the shelf? Is there anything else that has to be added if you install a second battery? I appreciate any help.

05/04 190 here that only had one battery as you described. The optional second battery was on a slide out. Finding and installing a slide out (good luck) I ruled out and purchased a battery tray.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I shortened a long section in the front to be able to slide the battery into the hole, into the tray. I bolted the tray to the bottom. Conveniently the tray is such that used a strap under the tray to secure the battery. It is Easier to access than the battery behind the wheel with the slide!

My understanding is that Roadtrek ran the battery cable to the other side of the van directly. I found it easier to run the battery cable from the existing battery to the other battery directly. I used 4 gauge jumper cables. One end already had a ready made terminal end, just removed the clamps.

The maximum size is a Group 27 with either location. A group 31 I found was a tiny bit too large. There are some 'group 27' agm batteries that won't fit, too large.

My installation was with 2 new Walmart group 27 deep cycle Marine batteries. It as been 2.4 years and all is well. I have a one stage charger, maybe one of the last Roadtrek installed. I only use a simple battery meter. With Experience I can fairly well predict what the meter will read the next morning based on what it reads with whatever I'm using the night before.

If you decide to run the battery cables from battery to battery, I can let you know the route I used under the van. Then you could improve on it. I did spend time trying to think it out with someone second guessing me.

Bud

[Thevon]

Thanks for the info Bud, since the batteries will be close together, I think I’ll just connect them together.

[cruising7388]

Originally Posted by Thevon

Thanks for the info Bud, since the batteries will be close together, I think I’ll just connect them together.

When batteries are paralleled, to equalize charge and discharge characteristics, it's best to have the power pick off point from one battery with the ground/chassis pick off common to the other battery.


A link I found useful when messing with batteries:

Battery Wiring

[Bud]

Originally Posted by cruising7388

When batteries are paralleled, to equalize charge and discharge characteristics, it's best to have the power pick off point from one battery with the ground/chassis pick off common to the other battery.


A link I found useful when messing with batteries:

Battery Wiring

Thanks cruising, but when trying to get past the first whatever in the website my head starts hurting. Please assist, what should I do. Thanks.

Bud

[booster]

The Roadtrek cabling on the units with one battery is terrible in the 190s of that vintage, and worse with 2 batteries, we had one wired that way. The battery cables ran all the way across to the other side of the van to binding post with #2 cable for each, and then back across the van to the inverter/charger with a single #4 cable. Really dumb setup.


The important thing with batteries in parallel is that each battery sees the same total cable length which is the length of the positive and negative for that battery added together. Shared cables don't count, and that is what cruising 7388's comment helps with. Our Roadtrek had nearly 6 feet of cable length difference from the factory.

[Bud]

Originally Posted by booster

The Roadtrek cabling on the units with one battery is terrible in the 190s of that vintage, and worse with 2 batteries, we had one wired that way. The battery cables ran all the way across to the other side of the van to binding post with #2 cable for each, and then back across the van to the inverter/charger with a single #4 cable. Really dumb setup.

The important thing with batteries in parallel is that each battery sees the same total cable length which is the length of the positive and negative for that battery added together. Shared cables don't count, and that is what cruising 7388's comment helps with. Our Roadtrek had nearly 6 feet of cable length difference from the factory.

booster, my 05/04 has the cable going across the van and stays there with the converter and separate inverter in the same compartment. As I mentioned my understanding is that Roadtrek went directly from the optional battery to that compartment where I did not.

It needs to be really dumbed down for me. What should I do? Thanks.

Bud

[Bud]

Originally Posted by Thevon

Thanks for the info Bud, since the batteries will be close together, I think I’ll just connect them together.

I forgot to mention. The buckle that came with the strap that came with the tray broke. I tried several more with all braking. I used that kind of buckle backpacking 30 years, no problem. I suppose the g forces with bumps is just too much even with the strap as tight as possible. Went to this kind of strap:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Bud

[cruising7388]

Originally Posted by Bud

I have a one stage charger, maybe one of the last Roadtrek installed.

Can you confirm that it's a single stage charger? Is there a model number on it?

[Bud]

Guys, I'm finally starting to get it, the ideal. I did not google enough 2.5 years ago.

cruising, "2 adjacent batteries is a cake walk", understand compared to your circumstance.

Thevon is just starting to add the second battery I assume that he wants to do it the ideal way.

Me? Mine is installed and I'm happy, 'seemingly the batteries too?'. I'm also in a lazy state of mood. So I'm wondering what is in it for me to: If I understand, I have to run a cable from the second battery positive or negative to the other side of the van.

After I estimate over the last 2.4 years 50 boondocks with no shore power down to an average of 55% state of charge, the last trip I did not suspect any lost of amp hours, but it could have been 20% less and I would not have known.

What would you do in a lazy mood state? OK dumb question, you would both 'fix it'. But what would you do if a lazy mood state and you were me? What can I expect to gain?

Bud

[cruising7388]

Originally Posted by Bud

Guys, I'm finally starting to get it, the ideal. I did not google enough 2.5 years ago.

cruising, "2 adjacent batteries is a cake walk", understand compared to your circumstance.

Thevon is just starting to add the second battery I assume that he wants to do it the ideal way.

Me? Mine is installed and I'm happy, 'seemingly the batteries too?'. I'm also in a lazy state of mood. So I'm wondering what is in it for me to: If I understand, I have to run a cable from the second battery positive or negative to the other side of the van.

After I estimate over the last 2.4 years 50 boondocks with no shore power down to an average of 55% state of charge, the last trip I did not suspect any lost of amp hours, but it could have been 20% less and I would not have known.

What would you do in a lazy mood state? OK dumb question, you would both 'fix it'. But what would you do if a lazy mood state and you were me? What can I expect to gain?

Bud

I wouldn't change the battery cable configuration at this point. IMO the single state charger you have is significantly more detrimental to the life of your batteries than disparate cable lengths.

[booster]

Originally Posted by cruising7388

I wouldn't change the battery cable configuration at this point. IMO the single state charger you have is significantly more detrimental to the life of your batteries than disparate cable lengths.

In 04/05 Bud should have a Tripplite "smart" charger om a Roadtrek 190. It isn't a great charger, but better than a constant voltage one of years past. We had one in our 190 and it almost always would leave the batteries short of full, but that is what almost all of the smart chargers do so nothing odd about that.


All Bud would need to do to optimize would be move the negative cable that goes to the frame of the van from the first battery to the second.


I would agree that this is optimizing, and I would wait until a battery change to do it, if I did it at all. To get the most out of the change in cabling, he would also need a much better charger.

[cruising7388]

Originally Posted by booster

In 04/05 Bud should have a Tripplite "smart" charger om a Roadtrek 190. It isn't a great charger, but better than a constant voltage one of years past. We had one in our 190 and it almost always would leave the batteries short of full, but that is what almost all of the smart chargers do so nothing odd about that.


All Bud would need to do to optimize would be move the negative cable that goes to the frame of the van from the first battery to the second.


I would agree that this is optimizing, and I would wait until a battery change to do it, if I did it at all. To get the most out of the change in cabling, he would also need a much better charger.

See #3 for Bud's description of his charger.

[booster]

Originally Posted by cruising7388

See #3 for Bud's description of his charger.

That is interesting, perhaps it has been changed out?


I just looked at the literature on the Roadtrek site for 2004 (he said he has 2004 chassis 2005 model year, and it says "3 step inverter/charger with 45 amps charging", which are the Tripplite specs.


It would be interesting to see what is really in Bud's van, as all the latest generation Chevies I have heard about have had Tripplites.

[Bud]

booster, cruising, yes a 1 stage charger.

booster, we know Roadtrek does not exactly state weights ........, well inverters too, I think.

The 04 brochure says 3 stage charger along with the 05 brochure, but the 04 owner's manual does not. All 04/05 stuff says a 600 watt inverter. The B was put into service 22 months before I purchased it by a retired trucker and wife. He passed away, wife to assisted living, son selling to me. When I actually looked, it was a Parallex 7345 with a separate Zantrex 400+ inverter which does not even have continuous 400 watts. The Roadtrex 600 watts was apparently surge watts which is what the Zantrex 400 had, 600 watts max. I think that it was original. The inverter was always powered on with an on/off switch from a separate pair of wires to the inverter. The inverter gave up during my last travel, so I replaced it with a cheap one from an auto parts store. When home, I purchased another inverter and added an inline on/off switch.

My memory is slowly giving up. I can hardly recall 2.5 years ago learning about the converter/charger, wiring the second battery and why I did what I did. Oh, now recalling that I don't think Roadtrek ever had any fuse associated with the one original battery, seemed odd. I think that maybe Roadtrek entered a contest to have the worst battery installation of any rv, probably lost though.

Very good of you fellows stepping up to assist Thevon and myself. Since I'm in a lazy mood at the moment and evidently was 2.5 years ago, I'll probably do nothing. So far, all is good and the batteries seem happy. But, changing out the charger in the Parallex is not any big deal, so................. who knows.

Purchased the Roadtrek 190 for the third seat which I removed along with the box/drawer under the seat. After 6 years that application died, so today I would like some more spaciousness like the 05 Pleasureway Lexor had. Rather than change out the charger, maybe another b. Problem is, this one is ready to roll out the driveway after some air in the tires and water sanitized where a new one will be hassle one way or another, and I really do like the Express Van.

Bud

[booster]

Thanks, Bud, very good information for the future and other owners of the early years of the newer Chevies, and even more reason not to bother with rearranging the wiring.

[markopolo]

The Parallex / Xantrex combo could have been a later change by an owner of the RV (I don't know if Bud owned it since new).

The '04's came from the factory floor with a Tripp Lite inverter charger as far a I know. The '04 I owned had the Tripp Lite.

If it works well enough, there's no need to change it now. I think Bud uses a separate float charger.

[Bud]

Originally Posted by markopolo

The Parallex / Xantrex combo could have been a later change by an owner of the RV (I don't know if Bud owned it since new).

The '04's came from the factory floor with a Tripp Lite inverter charger as far a I know. The '04 I owned had the Tripp Lite.

If it works well enough, there's no need to change it now. I think Bud uses a separate float charger.

When I decided to install 2 new batteries, I also decided to take care of the batteries appropriately for the first time in my life, poor beetle battery under the back seat and all the others. So I do use a battery tender when not traveling, distilled water, etc.

The b was put into service in January of 05. I'm sure that it is an 05/04, 99% sure that the converter and zantrex were original, it is logical and it all looked original. I don't like bothering a manufacture (costs money, or someone else is not served) for a curiosity. I could call them with the vin #, and I think there is a good chance that they can explain the why's we're wondering about.

Was your 04 and 05/04, 04/04, 04/03? I did guess earlier that I probably had one of the last 05 with the Parallel, just a guess.

Bud