positive battery cables

Moved from Forum Technical Support

I have never seen holes in any battery box I've come across, unless the owner put them it. The manufacturers simply don't do that.

Those battery cables didn't corrode over night. Batteries need care and monitoring. I realize now the damage is done. You need a volt meter to start checking things out. Of course the negative cable should be RV chassis ground. Wire brush all the contacts. I would replace all the main cables if badly corroded. When working with battery cables I wrap red electrial tape on positive leads for future reference.

I would check battery water and for cable corrosion at least once a month. If the explosion box is wet inside remove the battery and clean it out and dry it before replacing the battery. Clean the corrosion off the cables. Take care of your batteries and they will take care of you.

The cables are copper, they don't rust - just like the copper water pipes in houses don't rust. Acid from the batteries will eat them - and fast. I would guess you have some overcharged batteries, that have been spitting acid out the vents.

My Weekend Warrior had the same issue of collecting rain water in the battery boxes. I drilled holes in opposite corners of the box and then did not have an issue.

Chase down your ground wires and the rest will be positive leads. I'm guessing the corrosion is more from a leaky battery than from water in the box. The connections need be scrubbed down in baking soda and damaged ones replaced.

It might not have been the manufacturer, it's often up to a dealer to install batteries. You might call or email Northwood they are pretty good about helping owners out. service@northwoodmail.com or Phone: 541.962.6274

Or if you are not comfortable doing the work yourself and if you're in Yuma there are some mobile RV service companies, but might be a wait list this time of year.

Huznton93 wrote:
I am not sure how to hook all the cabled back on to my battery?

Colored and fused wires generally to the positive. The white wire is usually ground and connects to the negative. However if it is that jumbled you will need to identify each wire.

Picture would help.

The original poster said his batteries were "submerged" in water in that box. If that is so, dirty water may have gotten into his battery through the vent caps ... and battery acid may have leaked out. If that occurred, it is likely the battery is permanently damaged due to loss of acid and contamination. Personally, I would replace it.

Ed_Gee wrote:
The original poster said his batteries were "submerged" in water in that box. If that is so, dirty water may have gotten into his battery through the vent caps ... and battery acid may have leaked out. If that occurred, it is likely the battery is permanently damaged due to loss of acid and contamination. Personally, I would replace it.

Yep, I caught that too and agree, replace the battery along with any wire end connections that can't be thoroughly cleaned.

3oaks wrote:
replace the battery along with any wire end connections that can't be thoroughly cleaned.

Good advice.....maybe.

IF the batteries were not completely submerged, then the batteries themselves likely are still OK. If the electrolyte level is not too low or too high, I'd not worry about the batteries just yet.

The only good way to fix the corroded cable problem is to REPLACE the entire cable that has the corroded end on it.

If you have not discussed this with your dealer yet you SHOULD. They might cover all or some of the cost under warranty.

P.S. I think you should give some thought to HOW all that water got into the box in the first place.