Dometic 2597 manual Wiring the New Batteries, Batteries connected

Battery-Powered Systems Installation Guidelines

Installing Additional Battery Boxes

Boxes should be mounted with cabling in mind. The shorter the cables the less voltage drop and the less chance for chafing and rubbing.

Mount Dometic battery boxes with four bolts, either supplied with the box, or Grade 8 fasteners of at least 5/8" diameter. The final strength of the bolting solution on the frame rests with the installer. Washers on both sides with a locking nut (ny-lock, tri-lobe or stover) are suggested. Lock washers are not recommended. Torque 5/8" bolts to 140-155 ft-lbs. Torque 3/4" bolts to 260-280 ft-lbs.

Drill the frame for at least four bolts in the vertical section (web). Most OEMs do not allow drilling in the horizontal sections. Most OEMs also do not allow welding or torching frames. Please be sure that whatever you do meets OEM requirements, so as not to void any warranties.

Wiring the New Batteries

Before installing any batteries, load test each one. One bad battery can ruin the entire bank. And yes, sometimes brand new batteries can be bad.

Batteries can be wired in one of two methods: A dual- bank system (house and starting), and a single-bank system. The dual-bank system provides redundancy, while the single-bank system provides for less total weight, complexity and number of batteries. Use the wiring diagrams at the back of the manual for different wiring configurations (Fig. 3).

Figure 3 – Batteries connected

Conductors between each battery should be of the same size as conductors between each bank. We normally recommend at least 2/0 gauge.

Conductors should be as short as possible and should be routed and clipped securely so as to prevent chafing and rubbing.

Secondary chafe protection (wire loom) is recommended on AT LEAST the positive conductors between banks. It is also recommended that chafe protection be placed in chafe-prone areas on the negative wire.

If you make your own cables, either crimp the end on the cable with the correct tool or solder it on. There are cable ends available with the solder already in the end. Either way, it is suggested that the connection be covered with heavy-duty heat shrink. This helps to prevent corrosives from being wicked up into the copper strands, where they can cause hidden corrosion.

Application of corrosion reducers on the battery connections are not required when using AGM batteries, however, it will not hurt.

Before and during connection of battery terminals, apply a light coating of the supplied dielectric grease (in the small clear packet) to every connection. This will help keep corrosion and voltage drop to a minimum.

Replace the hex or wing nuts on the batteries with the supplied locking hex nuts. These will help keep the connections tight over the long haul. Tight connections will ensure less voltage drop.

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