The distinctions between 6-volt and 12-volt RV batteries must be understood when choosing batteries for your RV coach.
In a motorhome or travel trailer, your electrical system often comprises both 12-volt lines and alternating current (AC) equipment.
When addressing batteries, we’ll focus on the 12-volt side of things.
You need batteries that can produce a total of 12 volts in order to generate the 12 volts necessary to power your electrical system.
A 12-volt battery or two 6-volt batteries may be used for this.
Here are each’s advantages and disadvantages:
Table of Contents
- Pros and Cons of 12V and 6V Batteries
- Reasons to Use 6-Volt Batteries
- How to Connect Batteries in an RV
- Types of RV Batteries
- Which Is Better, Two 6-volt Batteries Or Two 12-volt Batteries?
- Increasing the Battery Life in Your RV
- Now You Know How 6 Volt And 12 Volt RV Batteries Are Different
- Conclusion
- Related Videos from Youtube about 12V vs 6V RV Battery
Pros and Cons of 12V and 6V Batteries
You should be aware of your upgrading alternatives if you want to replace your outdated batteries.
The issue between 6V and 12V comes up often when people are looking for upgrades.
We’re going to attempt to make a couple of things plain for you today.
12-Volt Battery
Pros:
- A parallel connection of numerous 12V batteries may increase the number of amp-hours available even though 12V batteries typically contain fewer amp-hours (how much storage the battery has).
- Typically, 12V batteries cost a bit less than 6V batteries.
- If required, your electrical system may function with only one battery.
Cons:
- Typically, 12V batteries have lower amp hours than 6V batteries.
- When compared to 6V batteries, 12V RV batteries are typically heavier, and the size of the battery increases if you get a 12V with a higher amp-hour capacity.
- Higher amp-hour 12V batteries may not fit in your battery compartment.
6-Volt Battery
Pros:
- The thicker plates of 6V batteries allow for more frequent charging and discharging.
- Their life spans are longer.
- 6V batteries weigh less because their cells contain half as many plates.
- You may quadruple the voltage in your battery compartment by wiring smaller, lighter batteries in series.
- Larger Ah capacities are normal for 6V batteries.
Cons:
- Typically, 6V batteries cost a bit extra.
- You’ll need twice as many batteries.
- Only major automotive supply shops and big-box retailers like Costco are likely to carry them.
Reasons to Use 6-Volt Batteries
Although 6V batteries are often sold as golf cart batteries, you may use them for your RV.
It makes sense to buy two 6-volt batteries and connect them in a series since the majority of 6-volt batteries have greater amp-hour ratings for each battery.
You get 12 volts as a result, which is plenty for your electrical system.
The 6-volt batteries are lighter and have a longer lifespan than the majority of 12-volt batteries.
Pro-Tip: RVs need deep-cycle batteries – did you know that? For additional information, see our Deep Cycle Battery Complete Guide.
How to Connect Batteries in an RV
Series Connection of 6-Volt Batteries
This entails connecting the positive terminal of the first battery to the negative terminal of the second battery.
After that, connect the first battery’s negative terminal to the coach’s 12-volt wiring and the second battery’s remaining positive connection to the ground.
The voltage of the batteries will double to 12 volts when wired in series, but the amp hours will stay the same as what is shown on each battery.
Parallel Connection of 12 Volt RV Battery Pairs
When connecting batteries in parallel, you must connect the positive terminals of the first and second batteries.
The negative terminals of the first and second batteries are then connected to the coach’s 12-volt wiring and the ground, respectively.
The voltage remains constant, but you receive twice as many amp-hours.
Related Also: How to Tell If RV Battery is Bad?
Types of RV Batteries
After choosing the battery voltage you’ll use, you must choose whether to buy lithium, AGM, gel, or lead-acid flooded batteries.
#1. Lithium batteries for RVs
A more recent kind of lithium-ion battery solution is LiFePO4.
This lithium-iron phosphate-based solution is advantageous for applications like an RV battery bank since it is intrinsically non-combustible and permits a lower energy density.
#2. RV Batteries AGM
Absorbed Glass Mat is referred to as AGM.
Between the plates in the cells of these batteries is fiberglass that allows the electrolytes to flow through.
As you won’t need to add distilled water, it is regarded as a “dry” battery and is hence maintenance-free.
#3. RV Gel Batteries
Like AGM batteries, gel batteries need no maintenance.
They do this by transferring electrolytes via a gel that silicate and sulfuric acid have produced.
Even on their sides, these batteries may be positioned.
#4. RV Batteries with Lead-Acid
Distilled water is used as the transfer medium in flooded lead-acid batteries, and it has to be topped up once a month.
They are often the most affordable option for bus batteries.
Which Is Better, Two 6-volt Batteries Or Two 12-volt Batteries?
There is no right or incorrect response to this question; it all depends on the battery’s amp-hour capacity.
Because greater amperage batteries are available, 6V batteries are popular among RVers.
The amp-hour capacity of certain 12V RV batteries is greater than that of two 6V batteries, however.
The Battle Born Batteries Deep Cycle GC3 Battery, for instance, is a 12V battery with 270Ah.
The Trojan 6V 420 amp-hour Deep Cycle Lead-Acid Battery has the most amp-hours of any 6V battery.
Since they are lead acid, you would only be able to access 210Ah of the 420 Ah if you wired two in series to generate 12V.
Therefore, the Deep Cycle GC3 Battery is the ideal option in this situation.
Increasing the Battery Life in Your RV
There are several methods to maintain the health of your batteries so that they continue to function for many years, regardless of whether you decide to switch to 6-volt or 12-volt RV batteries.
Here are a few things to think about.
#1. Storage
You cannot discharge any battery below 50% of the storage (amp-hour) capacity, with the exception of lithium.
You should thus plan on consuming no more than 105 amp hours before recharging your 6-volt series of batteries if they contain 210 amp hours.
#2. Overcharging
When overcharged with a modest current that is five times less than your amp hours, the majority of batteries will be alright.
However, if the current is greater, there is a chance that the battery may overheat and lose its ability to store any charge at all.
#3. Battery Maintenance
If you have lead-acid batteries, be sure you regularly inspect them and replenish them with distilled water.
Other batteries don’t need any upkeep.
#4. Suitable Charger
If your batteries will be left idle for extended periods of time, you may use a tiny solar charger or even a trickle charger to keep them in prime condition.
#5. Battery Size
When choosing between 12-volt or 6-volt batteries, take battery weight into account.
A 6-volt series might be a decent substitute if you need to make your equipment lighter or if you just want to spare your back.
#6. Cable Length and Thickness
The cables that link the terminals on your batteries should have a big gauge (small number), be able to transport the current easily, and not have any heating or corrosion issues.
They need to be long enough to accommodate wiring in parallel or series.
#7. System for Monitoring Batteries
To check your voltage, take into consideration using a battery monitoring device.
Many solar installations feature charging monitors, but if you ever want to see how your batteries are doing, all you need to do is connect a basic battery reader to them.
You can purchase one at an auto parts shop.
Now You Know How 6 Volt And 12 Volt RV Batteries Are Different
Regarding the differences between 6-volt and 12-volt RV batteries, we hope this article was able to answer some of your questions.
In the end, there is no right or wrong response.
Which battery type is ideal will depend on your price range, available space, weight limitations, and personal preferences!
Conclusion
Although the majority of RVs come standard with 12V batteries, there are other types of batteries that may be utilized to power your onboard gadgets.
It’s not unusual for seasoned RVers to swap out the old, inefficient 6V batteries that came with the camper with new, more modern ones.
The 6V batteries must be linked in series to provide the 12V required for your onboard appliances to operate.
These new batteries have the advantage of being mostly maintenance-free and having a far longer lifespan than their 12V predecessors.
Yes, they have a few drawbacks, such as high pricing and the fact that they are hard to locate, but you will discover that their benefits surpass these drawbacks.
The difference between 6-volt and 12-volt RV batteries is so explained.
The 6V batteries are much better in practically every respect, which will be the response.
