Mixing AGM and Sealed Acid Batteries
We have a 2010 Jayco Seneca HD. The Chassis has two starting batteries and the House has 4 batteries. I am needing to replace all 6 batteries. I really want deep cycle AGM batteries for the House. ...
Forum Discussion
We've had mixed batteries in our Class C for over 10 years. The single engine starting battery is a regular Ford OEM liquid acid starting battery. The two coach batteries are AGM deep cycle batteries.
Whenever the motorhome's engine is running, all three batteries are direct connected together in parallel by a solenoid switch that is activated by the engine ignition key.
Winnebago designed our motorhome's system this way and it has worked just fine as far as treatment of the batteries is concerned. I have installed voltmeter and ammeter guages right on the cab's dash that show me how things are going with all three batteries at all times - whether parked or going down the road.
These meters read just fine at all times when on the road .... EXCEPT when the solenoid switch contacts become corroded after years of use. Just last year I had to install our 3rd solenoid switch because the voltmeters on the dash indicated that the engine battery was getting over 14 volts from the alternator, but the coach batteries were intermittently reading only around 12.8 volts when the engine was running.
I'll bet that this solenoid in many motorhomes is letting owners down and that they don't even realize it other than arriving at non-hookup campsites and noticing that their coach batteries don't seem to be fully charged - or hold a charge long after making camp - because they weren't getting charged well from the alternator. If this situation goes on too long the coach batteries will not have as long a life as they are capable of because they go too many hours under-charged on camping trips or are not fully charged when put into storage after arriving home from camping trips.
Whenever the motorhome's engine is running, all three batteries are direct connected together in parallel by a solenoid switch that is activated by the engine ignition key.
Winnebago designed our motorhome's system this way and it has worked just fine as far as treatment of the batteries is concerned. I have installed voltmeter and ammeter guages right on the cab's dash that show me how things are going with all three batteries at all times - whether parked or going down the road.
These meters read just fine at all times when on the road .... EXCEPT when the solenoid switch contacts become corroded after years of use. Just last year I had to install our 3rd solenoid switch because the voltmeters on the dash indicated that the engine battery was getting over 14 volts from the alternator, but the coach batteries were intermittently reading only around 12.8 volts when the engine was running.
I'll bet that this solenoid in many motorhomes is letting owners down and that they don't even realize it other than arriving at non-hookup campsites and noticing that their coach batteries don't seem to be fully charged - or hold a charge long after making camp - because they weren't getting charged well from the alternator. If this situation goes on too long the coach batteries will not have as long a life as they are capable of because they go too many hours under-charged on camping trips or are not fully charged when put into storage after arriving home from camping trips.
