Forum Discussion

boeingme's avatar
boeingme
Explorer
Aug 18, 2017

Battery Compartment with Acid Spills

My RV has a compartment with 6 6V house batteries (not a slide out).
It has a watering system which had utilized a one gallon container and a lever for on/off to keep batteries topped off.

Well......

Old batteries looked to be leaking, bought new batteries, swapped them out and reinstalled the existing watering system onto them. Prior to actually swapping, I scraped, put baking soda in, rinsed, primed and painted the area. Put the new batteries in.

Well......

I began to see water seepage along the side of the batteries. Come to the conclusion the system itself was leaking, purchased a flow rite system with the ball syphon devise which sucks water in from a bottle and tops off the batteries. Ideally, I loved the self system. Has anyone else had this issue? Has anyone used the Flow Rite system and hooked it up to their existing water bottle as a drip system? Tell me your experience and thoughts.

Thank you,
  • 2oldman wrote:
    Get rid of the irrigation and acid and go to AGMs. No maintenance.


    X2... it was the best thing that we ever did on our previous coach. I watered those darn batteries for 6 yrs. and enjoyed AGM's for the rest of ownership (1.5 more years).

    We had eight house batteries and they sulfated rusting the trays. Once I went to AGM's, I had the trays painted and everything stayed nice and clean.

    We now have Lithium Ion batteries that are the ultimate in clean. We have 3 batteries that are probably replacing at least 10-12 AGM's. But, they are a commitment price-wise and will last at least 10 yrs. The prices on them are falling everyday.

    Good luck and safe travels,
    MM.
  • Tom/Barb wrote:
    remove the batteries then, Wash, wash and re-wash with lots of baking soda. get rid of the acid.


    This. Baking soda will fizz. WEAR EYE PROTECTION!
  • I've used a self leveling bulb system for well over ten years and not one drop anywhere. Not sure where your leak is coming as the battery level is probably an inch below the battery lip. You say it's siphoning out of one of the caps? Dump em'

    Ps- that looks like a Meridian? Being from Marysville I suspect you bought it through Robinson? Me too..
  • remove the batteries then, Wash, wash and re-wash with lots of baking soda. get rid of the acid.
  • Get rid of the irrigation and acid and go to AGMs. No maintenance.