After 4 weeks of dry camping in total last season my unknown age batteries were murdered.
Although AF comes with a nice Progressive Dynamics "INTELI-POWER" converter it's actually a "STUPID-POWER" 9100 series missing a 5 cent Charge Wizard chip the 9200 series has standard. (9100's: For full hook up RV use.) This chip will change the voltage to 14.4v during the bulk charging phase: aka you start the generator in the AM and it can send the full 60A of the converter to the batteries. Without it it's stuck on "slow" 13.X Volts that takes forever to charge and wastes genset fuel. This and a shaded campsite killing solar for a week finished killing the batteries due to under charge and deep discharge. Fortunately they sell a $25.00 adapter with the 5 cent chip in it.
Further upgrades include a "fuel gauge" for the batteries in the form of a Bogart Engineering SC-2030 Solar Controller with temp compensation and TM 2030-RV battery monitor. Figure out how much AM generator time is needed and maybe save fuel by letting solar finish charging.
Golf Cart 6v batteries have "bigger" cells rather than more smaller cells of a 12v battery. They don't have one battery working harder than the other due to cable length differences etc. Last, I can dump the entire 60A converter current through them during the bulk charging stage rather than splitting it 50/50 with two 12v units. The result is they are taller than most 12v batteries. The chosen model is the shortest and I thought would fit with the least pain. Lifeline offers a nearly unmatched 5 year warranty.
I missed the supports for the upper battery tray in the way when measuring to see if the Lifeline GPL-4CT AGM 6v batteries would fit the original battery compartment as well as the hold down bolts. The rest of this post is the 'square peg pounded into a round hole'.
Seriously.
So overview of battery compartment (Did not mount batteries like this.):

Supports in the way:

Cut out with angle grinder: (Cut then grind...)


Battery tray modification (Lift the front of the tray up and it will come out.)



New Bogart Engineering SC-2030 Solar Controller:

Current Shunt:

Finished Battery compartment. I pushed the top battery as far in as possible due to the reduced support I cut out.

Further upgrades include a "fuel gauge" for the batteries in the form of a Bogart Engineering SC-2030 Solar Controller with temp compensation and TM 2030-RV battery monitor. Figure out how much AM generator time is needed and maybe save fuel by letting solar finish charging.
Golf Cart 6v batteries have "bigger" cells rather than more smaller cells of a 12v battery. They don't have one battery working harder than the other due to cable length differences etc. Last, I can dump the entire 60A converter current through them during the bulk charging stage rather than splitting it 50/50 with two 12v units. The result is they are taller than most 12v batteries. The chosen model is the shortest and I thought would fit with the least pain. Lifeline offers a nearly unmatched 5 year warranty.
I missed the supports for the upper battery tray in the way when measuring to see if the Lifeline GPL-4CT AGM 6v batteries would fit the original battery compartment as well as the hold down bolts. The rest of this post is the 'square peg pounded into a round hole'.
Seriously.
So overview of battery compartment (Did not mount batteries like this.):

Supports in the way:

Cut out with angle grinder: (Cut then grind...)


Battery tray modification (Lift the front of the tray up and it will come out.)



New Bogart Engineering SC-2030 Solar Controller:

Current Shunt:

Finished Battery compartment. I pushed the top battery as far in as possible due to the reduced support I cut out.

Last edited: