I replaced my house batteries back in August of 2020. I got 3 1/2 years out of the first set of house batteries (bought motorhome new). We are going on a trip tomorrow so I checked the water level in my batteries and noticed white crud on the battery strap. One of the batteries was swelling and was wet. These batteries are only about 2 1/2 years old. Called the local RV shop and replaced both of the house batteries. When I checked the new batteries, the water barely covered the plates. I always fill the batteries much fuller than these new batteries were filled. I am wondering if I have been overfilling my batteries and that is why I am not getting more time out of them (and the swelling). My first set of batteries swelled as well.I do keep my motorhome pulled in 24/7 so there could be an issue there as well. Any advice to get more time out of my house batteries?Burch

All converter/chargers are not equal. Depending what you have, it may not go to float charge, 13.2volts, when plugged in 24/7. If the charger you have, maintains 13.6, or more, you may be cooking (overcharging batteries).My battery is original, and 10 years old. Always plugged in, other than when removed over Winter. My converter/charger is a Progressive Ind smart charger.Jerry

Battery water level should be at the bottom of the tube/slot or slightly lower but still covering the plates when looking down the filler hole. It should never be actually full. A common plastic battery'watering jug will take care of the level.Sounds like they're being overcharged. Right now, with normal fulltime usage and plugged in, my converter is putting out 13.3 volts.Batteries do of course fail. I had a pair of Interstate Grp 31 batteries that lasted six years, then supposed equivalent Walmart Everstart batteries that lasted all of 14 months, and now a pair of Crown GC2 that are a little over three years old.

Agreed, not overfilled but likely overcharged. Fwiw I typically fill flooded batteries to almost the top of the slot. Not an issue for boiling over if not egregiously overcharged. If your converter isn’t smart enough to trickle/float and/or you have a WFCO converter that actually charges like it should it may be the cause of cooking a battery or 2. Another possibility but not likely is the alternator on the rig “could be” overcharging them. Hard to tell though based on your observation, presumably after a long storage.

After checking to be sure you are not overcharging, you might want to consider AGM batteries next time. They cost more but generally last longer and do not require maintenance.

Did I damage my house batteries? | Good Sam Community

2oldman
Explorer II
Mar 09, 2023
JimK-NY wrote:
you might want to consider AGM batteries next time. They cost more but generally last longer and do not require maintenance.
Yeah, or lithium.
JimK-NY
Explorer II
Mar 09, 2023
After checking to be sure you are not overcharging, you might want to consider AGM batteries next time. They cost more but generally last longer and do not require maintenance.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Mar 09, 2023
Agreed, not overfilled but likely overcharged.
Fwiw I typically fill flooded batteries to almost the top of the slot. Not an issue for boiling over if not egregiously overcharged.
If your converter isn’t smart enough to trickle/float and/or you have a WFCO converter that actually charges like it should it may be the cause of cooking a battery or 2.

Another possibility but not likely is the alternator on the rig “could be” overcharging them.
Hard to tell though based on your observation, presumably after a long storage.
johnhicks
Explorer
Mar 09, 2023
Battery water level should be at the bottom of the tube/slot or slightly lower but still covering the plates when looking down the filler hole. It should never be actually full. A common plastic battery'watering jug will take care of the level.

Sounds like they're being overcharged. Right now, with normal fulltime usage and plugged in, my converter is putting out 13.3 volts.

Batteries do of course fail. I had a pair of Interstate Grp 31 batteries that lasted six years, then supposed equivalent Walmart Everstart batteries that lasted all of 14 months, and now a pair of Crown GC2 that are a little over three years old.
MFL
Nomad II
Mar 09, 2023
All converter/chargers are not equal. Depending what you have, it may not go to float charge, 13.2volts, when plugged in 24/7. If the charger you have, maintains 13.6, or more, you may be cooking (overcharging batteries).

My battery is original, and 10 years old. Always plugged in, other than when removed over Winter. My converter/charger is a Progressive Ind smart charger.

Jerry
way2roll
Navigator II
Mar 09, 2023
Sounds like overcharging.

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