| Author | Message | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1213 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.243.148.70 Rating: N/A |
In particular, since I have owned a coach...(multiple batteries in a single vehicle), I have done my level best to "take care of them"; watered and cared for every couple of months or so, including topping off each cell, cleaning each post and cable end, (neutralizing with soda, wire brushing, lubricating), cleaning connectors in the same manner, hosing off the trays, treating them with soda....and generally doing my absolute best (don't ask my wife about this) to have a "first class" battery bank (house= 5 Deep Cycle Group 27 in series, 3 start= Group 31 in series...one for Generator... don't remember what it is... but this thread is not about it). I have a two de-sulfators and two 10 watt solar panels (on separate controllers) for each of the two major banks (done that way at recommend of sellers); kept "plugged in" (three way transfer)to PP while "sitting" at home, because the coach sits under a "green house fabric" canopy; ergo, solar panels=iffy on charging. Now the "problem- question- dilemma": Each of the negative posts of the house batteries has "acid buildup" around them, EXCEPT the Chassis ground post battery....(Tums..maybe Rolaids, Titralac?) WHAT could be causing this. The starts are clean, usually (they sit directly below the house bank, so some "overflow" gets on them from time to time). Might also mention that the starts are 2007 dated. This afternoon, I pulled them all and found that one of the house group of five was completely "empty" in each cell. The others were low, but not much. (took two gallons of distilled water for the 5....would say that the four were about a gallon plus..the empty nearly a gallon) Haven't looked at the starts yet...but at the bottom line...they are connected to the house bank from the alternator (Isolator just did not satisfy me so I by-passed it). Charging amps usually read above 12.6...frequently above 13.1. Ask questions.....Talk to me...please!  Thanx in advance. RCB | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 873 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.53.153.91  Rating: N/A |
WAY above my head RC, I have no idea unless your charger may be putting out too many amps. Do you have just a battry tender or a trickle charger? Gomer | ||
| ED Hackenbruch (Shadowman)
Registered Member Username: Shadowman Post Number: 272 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 75.215.37.52 Rating: N/A |
2 things come to mind right off. Check your water levels more often and don't let them get very low. I used to only check mine every 2 months also and found i had to add a lot of water. With this set of batteries i check once a month or even more often if we have been in a lot of hot weather. How low do you allow them to discharge? I don't let mine go below 12.2 volts at the lowest which is 50% discharged. I prefer to not let them go below 12.4 volts. | ||
| Sean Welsh (Sean)
Registered Member Username: Sean Post Number: 1063 Registered: 1-2003 Posted From: 72.171.0.149  Rating: N/A |
Chuck, There may be nothing wrong at all, depending on what you mean by "acid buildup." FWIW, I get white crystalline buildup on, of all places, my "center tap" terminal, and I have AGM batteries, so I can be certain it is not battery acid or even fumes. The crystalline buildup in my case is from corrosion, most likely from electrolysis caused by dissimilar metals in the terminals and mating lugs. This corrosion must be cleaned off periodically to maintain a good connection. The best treatment is to clean the terminals with a wire brush, then coat liberally with dielectric grease before reassembling everything. This will slow down the process and increase the time between cleanings. You may have a different problem, of course. Scroll down to "Corrosion Problems" on this page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead%E2%80%93acid_battery for some other causes, or scroll down to 3.3 on this page: http://jgdarden.com/batteryfaq/carfaq3.htm HTH, -Sean http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com | ||
| Steve "Spanky" Aune (Spanky77707)
Registered Member Username: Spanky77707 Post Number: 20 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 75.233.123.61  Rating: N/A |
I charge @ 2 amps., no problems... takes a while, but no problems...Spanky | ||
| Don Evans (Doninwa)
Registered Member Username: Doninwa Post Number: 263 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 208.81.157.234  Rating: N/A |
"Haven't looked at the starts yet...but at the bottom line...they are connected to the house bank from the alternator" RCB, how are the banks connected? Is there a switch, relay or are they actually connected electrically all the time? What method of charging is used when the bus is plugged in? Even a constant trickle charge can boil off water. Really needs to be a smart charger. Multiple battery banks can suffer from just one cell dying. It can cause overcharging of the rest of the batteries in the bank if you don't catch the bad battery right away. Don 4107 | ||
| George M. Todd (George_todd)
Registered Member Username: George_todd Post Number: 975 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 99.37.31.150 Rating: N/A |
Chuck, Read Don's last two paragraphs again. Then tell us your batteries are connected in parallel. Then tell us your charging VOLTS read 12.6 to 13.1... Then, hook up your isolator again, and learn to like it, (if you don't, you will end up with everything dead while boondocking!) These are serious instructions, intended to be read with humor! G | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1215 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.242.0.128 Rating: N/A |
Well, George... I have read your post & Don's post and know for sure (checked them this afternoon when I put all back together......positive to positive...negative to negative....from one bat to another.....House; Starts....(on different cables altogether).... it must have little to do with "parallel". Isolator is "iffy" as I have previously posted...(in years past as well as recently...it is disconnected). I don't like it....have never ended up with "everything dead" thus far. Generator and solar in travel seem to work well. Would suggest one go back; read what I posted and "offer" comments based on what I posted. Thanx Sean...In gleaned some pretty informative stuff...from the second suggestion...first way over my head, as it were. Bottom line, as I see it...."over charged"....while sitting at home...... Never a problem " on the road". Thanx, all contributors. Could be I'm just "too mature" to deal with all this..... RCB | ||
| larry currier (Larryc)
Registered Member Username: Larryc Post Number: 322 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 207.200.116.13 Rating: N/A |
I'd check the boiled battery for a dead cell. There must be some reason why the alternator is choosing to cook it. | ||
| George M. Todd (George_todd)
Registered Member Username: George_todd Post Number: 976 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 99.37.31.150 Rating: N/A |
Chuck, Just a couple of thoughts: I remember our duscussing possible problems with your isolator at length some time ago. After you gave me several voltage readings, I thought we had determined that the isolator was OK, (both house and chassis batteries charged off the engine, and the chassis batteries didn't discharge when using the house batteries.) Bypassing the isolator will discharge the start batteries along with the house batteries while boondocking..... Batteries connected pos to pos, neg to neg, are electrically connected in PARALLEL. Your whole house battery bank of 12 Volt batteries puts out 12 Volts, with the Amp-hour capacity being the sum of the capacity of all of the batteries. If the batteries were connected in SERIES, pos to neg, pos to neg, you would get 60 Volts (12 X 5,) and your Amp-hour capacity would only be that of ONE battery. I know, you didn't ask me for any of this either, maybe we should complain about the cost per post? G | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1219 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.243.0.149 Rating: N/A |
George...you must know by this time that I, without question, (absolutely) respect and, indeed value, your posts. To be sure, we have "discussed the Isolator thing" previously. Now, the Isolator is not a part of the equation....It sits disconnected to anything.....has for a long time. Having said that, it is my understanding that you are correct..parallel.... I want (expect) 12.6 volts; full charge, if you will. Just good "clean" connections would be fine. (Believe me... I work at it). I have a set of large wires, # 8, AIR, going to each bank...from the alternator....plus one set, same size, from the Inverter....Pos to house...neg to starts. Generator charges house direct (in the present configuration). In other words...all 8 tied together. As I think my original post states, I just do not understand why the corrosion on the posts of the neg house (except the "ground to chassis" and none whatsoever on the start batteries). The system is "back together" as of this afternoon...less the Isolator and all is well. Good charging, good voltage....clean sets. (If one has a Crown, one knows they are subject to the elements, as it were.... open to the road; not protected from underneath...lots of road stuff accumulates). No "real problem" here, just curious....and movin' on in life.... Thanx, G!!!!!!!!!!!! (I'm serious) RCB... now...convince me about the "Isolator".... |