| Author |
Message |
Ross Carlisle (Ross) (216.107.195.106)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 18, 2002 - 9:07 pm: | |
I went to start the bus today after a month of sitting and the 8D's were dead. The battery switch was in the off position. Is it somewhat normal for the start batteries to drain in a month of non use? I'm going to buy two 12V solar battery chargers so that when the bus is sitting I can disconnect the batteries and trickle charge them.
Thanks...Ross |
joe shelton (Littlewind) (67.241.222.41)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 18, 2002 - 9:30 pm: | |
They should not be dead after one month of no use. Go to amplepower.com and get thier primer (free). It will tell you how to kill new batteries & a hole lot more. NAPA 7271 D8 for about $130 is not too bad of a deal (1560 CA/1300 CCA). |
R.C.Bishop (128.123.88.33)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 18, 2002 - 11:12 pm: | |
Ross, I purchased two new Interstate MHD's in March and ordered a solar charger and charge controller from batterystuff.com. about $130 as I recall. I was fearful of having happen what happened to you, so took the plunge for the extra.
Excellent investment for me. Lots of peace of mind. Did this at the recommendation of a friend who has had one for years.
As of today, it is up to snuff and when I checked the batteries with a hydrometer yesterday, they needed very little water. I am told one should do that about once a month or so. Solar is mounted on the roof...very small unit, but appears to be worth every penny.
RCB |
FAST FRED (63.208.87.9)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 19, 2002 - 5:03 am: | |
New Batts usually will only loose 30% of their charge in a month.
Is there any items hooked yp to the batts that does NOT get shut off?
Are the tops of the batts clean enough to eat off?
How old is the batt set?
After recharging , seperate the pair and see if one is kaput , and dragging the other down.
FAST FRED |
Ross Carlisle (Ross) (207.88.96.147)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 19, 2002 - 1:16 pm: | |
R.C.
Which charger did you buy? Did you go with two 12V cargers or the single 24V Solarizer charger? The 24V charger is $179. Still not bad if it works.
Ross |
Ross Carlisle (Ross) (207.88.96.147)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 19, 2002 - 1:19 pm: | |
FF...
The batteries are new, but that doesnt mean one of them is not bad. I'll separate them and check it out. Could be the master disconnect is leaking a little. Does not look like there are any loads attached before the master disconnect.
Ross |
FAST FRED (65.58.190.200)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 19, 2002 - 2:16 pm: | |
On my coach I found out that the fast idle switch if left on will down the set.(Dont ask!)
But the coach should go a month or two , sans disconect.
It might be wise to set the coach up so disconect is NOT needed , 'cept as burgular fooler.
A good $25.00 radio shack digital volt merer will be able to handle 6 to 10A .
You might find things that were kinda disconected still use juice.
The lamps in the bays for example.
RECHARGE the batts seperatly , so you can see what gives.
FAST FRED |
RCBishop (128.123.88.19)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 19, 2002 - 4:13 pm: | |
Invoice shows 10 Watt framed panel 10wf-11-119, 4,5 amp Sunguard Controller SG4 , and I got an xtra 10 feet or so of wire. Total including UPS 145.97. Call 800 362-5397.
They recommended this to keep batteries charged and ready to go during long periods of not being "used"...ie, during the conversion process, but as I recall, they said it would be the ticket for when the coach is being run regularly,as well.
RCB |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior) (64.229.212.67)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 19, 2002 - 11:42 pm: | |
Kids, don't do this with your parents' fresh start batteries!
My coach sat for 5 months, battery switch was pulled, and yes Virginia, it started just fine when I put the switch back on, up here in Canada. Pair of mass transit lowest bid 8D batteries. Not too shabby, eh?
Before you go flaming me about the abuse to the coach, the engine, the running gear, the batteries, and, and, and.... the fuel tank was empty, with a hole in the bottom, parked outside in the snow and I did not have the time or inclination to do anything about it.
It started with the fuel lines extended in plastic piping into a 5 gallon portable fuel tank, primed with the garden sprayer full of diesel.
I am involved with a couple of periodic use coaches. Pull the battery switch and there should be no trouble leaving it for more than a month.
Old charter driver trick in the winter at the ski slopes was to pull the battery switch as soon as it was parked to ensure that whatever amps you arrived with were still there in the morning to try and start with. Of course a few of those little red ether bombs were part of the equation too...
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
DrED (205.188.193.183)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 20, 2002 - 5:38 am: | |
If your coach has a small equalizer wired in with the start batteries for some 12V use like headlights, you will probably need to disconnect that also when you turn off the batts with the disconnect switch. DrEd |
Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (63.164.175.1)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 2:44 pm: | |
Sorry Fred, a 30% self-discharge rate per month for new lead acid starting batteries sounds just a tad high--assuming ALL possibility of phantom load discharge has been eliminated. 5% to 10% per month sounds better.
Which brings up another point. Who knows what evil lurks in the minds of mechanical demons? About the only way to insure your brand new D8's do not go flat is to simply unhook the cables and put a trickle charger on them. Maybe 2 amps per batt.
Plus, as already said, you may have a defective battery--even though it is brand new. Stuff like that happens when we are having fun. I am lucky. My new batts sat in my Crown for 3 months--with the cables attached.
She still started right up. Of course, having said that, now something will go wrong with them like happened to you. Plus these things are sosss heavy. Oh, well. Thanks. Henry |