Batteries overcharging

Keep us posted!

Thanks all. I have compounding problems... but I suspect the converter is fried. But for now the batteries are toast, won't register a charge on a meter. Tried testing the output of the converter and it's not working at all now. I suspect it went bad and was overchatrging the bateries. So for now I need to get the batteries tested and see if they can be saved and then get the converter looked at/replaced.

to Scott,, alias FIRE UP:
thanks for the info. I am reading these posts w/ great care to try and drill this stuff into my head to remember for when we get our rv.,, when we get it. At this point in time it could be next month or it could be a yr from now,, or several yrs. We are taking care of my 90 yr old mother and can't really get going until she is either in the rest home or 6'under,, pardon the graphics,, but I am just being truthful. I have been with her and aching to get on the road for going on 6 yrs now so im using this time to educate myself as much as I can about all the ins and outs of caring for our rig. I keep telling my husband of just about a yr and a half that he needs to do the same but as yet he just reads about guns and ammo and politics and seems to think we have all the time in the world,, or else he's really good at 'cramming' at the last minute. I love the man but I just don't operate that way... ha! I have owned a couple of rvs in the past but always had a man to do the worrying for me as my first hubby was a superb mechanic who could fix anything (we had carbuerator trouble in Monument Valley of all places and so he took it apart and found a bit of paper in the line where the needle or some such thingy was) I could envision us having to get a tow truck out in the middle of the Navajo Res. to come rescue us...but anyway.... We are kinds on our own now and by the grace of God we will trudge on. On my (our) first rv,, was a 1978 19.5' open road w/ a chevy engine,, 350 i think,, there was no such thing as house batteries, or coach batteries,, just one on the engine and also we had a generator on that cute little rig. Many times i have wished for that rig back. It was perfect for short trips...or long ones,, just not full timing, which is what we hope to do. again thanks for any advice or info or just a heads up to anyone who posts here,, i love reading them!

FIRE UP wrote:
Well Bob,
Let's start out with, what kind of motor home do you have? What kind of and, how many house batteries and, engine do you have? You see, if your rig is a diesel, about 99.9% of them have inverters, NOT CONVERTERS, and, many of them are Inverter/Chargers so, you could be having an issue with that system. Now, if your coach is a gas unit, about 99.9% of them, come with Converters, not Inverters!

So, we need more info on your system before we can give an accurate assessment of a possible solution to your issues.
Scott
P.S. On edit, I didn't know the question has already been asked, sorry.
Scott

In either case, you have a problem with your charging circuit, and whether it's an inverter or a converter, it needs to be replaced.
That's probably what cooked your first set of batteries.

Jim

I had trouble with my batteries when I bought my used coach, turned out the batteries were bad and would overheat/overcharge. Replace with new 6 volt type batteries, no problems after that. My suggestion is to make sure batteries are good.

I would guess that the boiling over is a sign that the batteries are at the end of their life. How old are the batteries. Have they ever been completely discharged. One bad battery or if the batteries are old can boil over. They are being overcharged becasue they can never get fully charged.

You can pull the batteries out and charge them one at a time with a battery charger and if they still boil they are most likely bad. However I would check them with a acid battery tester first. Like this one

JanTx wrote:
so many things to learn and remember,, scares me to death!

JanTx,
Actually, learning about your coach is kind of fun. You simply start with the basics and go as deep into what you want to know as you want. For instance, The "house battery(ies)(if you have more than one)are what powers up about 98% of the inside of your coach. That is, just about everything with the exception of the TV, VCR-DVD player, and, the Microwave. Then, in order to power up those, you need 110VAC power. You'll get that power from one of three sourses. One, shore power, two, generator, or three, an "Inverter" that converts 12VDC battery power to, 110VAC power.

Now, this is where most people simply don't go any further in obtaining knowledge. If folks would simply take the time when they purchase a new coach, or new to them I should say, and learn about how their system works. That is, how are my 12V or, 6V golf cart batteries charged? How are my engine batteries charged? Do both the house and engine batteries charge together?

What you accomplish is, not only learning and knowing how your system(s) work but, also, a good possibility of how to analyze them, if something should be acting up or, not working at all. Most of this stuff is not all that hard on RVs to comprehend. All it takes is a little time and, sometimes some coaching for explanation in case you run up against a stumbling block.
Scott

MENA661 - Will do. Thanks.

BobDarlaCook wrote:
2008 Thor/Four Winds Hurricane. I don't have the inverter info with me, I can get that tonight. It is the factory equipment though if that helps.

Unless you or the previous owner installed one, your unit did not come with a inverter/charger combo unit. More than likely you have a CONVERTER (120V to 12V) unit installed and maybe an optional standalone inverter (12V to 120V with no charging portion). You'll need a voltmeter. If you don't have one, you can pick it up cheap at harbor freight. While your coach is plugged into shore power, disconnect your batteries main negative wire. Check the output of the converter. If it's working properly, it should be somewhere around 13.6V (can be a little higher or lower depending on the model of converter). If it's not, then your converter is shot. Replace it. Report back here with your results.