Battery Question
I have an 03 Winnebago Journey 36DL. Getting ready to hit the road this summer. My batteries are 3 years old and are starting to show their age. I have 5 Interstate "high cycling" 31-mhd batteries cur...
Forum Discussion
Good morning, Stardalo;
Please keep in mind that the two battery systems are for different service conditions. The engine starting battery needs to supply a very high current to turn the engine starter, and then it is quickly recharged by the alternator with the now running engine. The coach or house batteries will need to supply a much more modest amount of current, but for a much longer time and they probably will be drained down to a lower level than the starting battery, and they will need to wait until they are able to be recharged. For that application, the "deep cycle" type battery is probably a better choice than the common flooded cell type battery often found used in engine starting service. You can find the two types in both flooded cell and non-spillable electrolyte form (such as the AGM type), and the main difference in the lead acid chemistry batteries will be the thickness of and the alloys used in making the plates and the separators. If you have the choices, getting the batteries designed for those specific services, and maintaining them, and properly charging them, will provide the longest service life in each category. And, whenever possible, use distilled water when bringing the level of a flooded cell back up to the indicated upper level when the battery has been recharged. Then charge it for a little while longer to help mix the distilled water with the existing electrolyte. 15 minutes to one-half hour is fine; no more than an additional hour.
While distilled water is always preferred, if you find that the separators are starting to show above the fluid level in the battery, use the cleanest drinking water you have to get the fluid level back above the separators. Do not let the electrolyte level go down to where the plates are exposed to the oxygen in the air.
While you certainly can recharge just about any lead-acid type battery with the common simple external battery charger, they do seem to be happier with a "smart charger" with the charging algorithm selected for the specific battery type. With the simple battery charger, you just need to monitor how the battery is coming along with the charging process, and turn it off when the battery is back up to full charge, usually as indicated by the more rapid production of gas bubbles in the electrolyte, and/or reaching a specific battery voltage, such as perhaps 13.8 VDC, or 14.2 VDC, or 14.4 VDC for a nominal "12 volt" battery. Check what the maker suggests for a charged battery voltage level. This is a place where having a good 3.5 digit or 4 digit digital voltmeter can be useful.
Enjoy;
Ralph
Latte Land, Washington
Please keep in mind that the two battery systems are for different service conditions. The engine starting battery needs to supply a very high current to turn the engine starter, and then it is quickly recharged by the alternator with the now running engine. The coach or house batteries will need to supply a much more modest amount of current, but for a much longer time and they probably will be drained down to a lower level than the starting battery, and they will need to wait until they are able to be recharged. For that application, the "deep cycle" type battery is probably a better choice than the common flooded cell type battery often found used in engine starting service. You can find the two types in both flooded cell and non-spillable electrolyte form (such as the AGM type), and the main difference in the lead acid chemistry batteries will be the thickness of and the alloys used in making the plates and the separators. If you have the choices, getting the batteries designed for those specific services, and maintaining them, and properly charging them, will provide the longest service life in each category. And, whenever possible, use distilled water when bringing the level of a flooded cell back up to the indicated upper level when the battery has been recharged. Then charge it for a little while longer to help mix the distilled water with the existing electrolyte. 15 minutes to one-half hour is fine; no more than an additional hour.
While distilled water is always preferred, if you find that the separators are starting to show above the fluid level in the battery, use the cleanest drinking water you have to get the fluid level back above the separators. Do not let the electrolyte level go down to where the plates are exposed to the oxygen in the air.
While you certainly can recharge just about any lead-acid type battery with the common simple external battery charger, they do seem to be happier with a "smart charger" with the charging algorithm selected for the specific battery type. With the simple battery charger, you just need to monitor how the battery is coming along with the charging process, and turn it off when the battery is back up to full charge, usually as indicated by the more rapid production of gas bubbles in the electrolyte, and/or reaching a specific battery voltage, such as perhaps 13.8 VDC, or 14.2 VDC, or 14.4 VDC for a nominal "12 volt" battery. Check what the maker suggests for a charged battery voltage level. This is a place where having a good 3.5 digit or 4 digit digital voltmeter can be useful.
Enjoy;
Ralph
Latte Land, Washington
