Boiled one of my batteries over! I have always checked my batteries in the beginning of the season and halfway through it and added water as needed. This spring they didn't take any water and I thought that it was strange as both usually take a couple of ounces. I usually check them again in August and forgot to.Thursday night we left late and hit a WalMart on the way to the CG for the night. I sleep with a cPap and have a converter for it to run on 12v. Friday we got to the CG and plugged in. Saturday morning I noticed the fan in the converter was running non stop. I figured that I had run the batts low on Thursday night and it was recharging them. Then it started to stink like sewer by the converter...which is in the toilet/black water tank area. It was in the 90s and I hadn't put anything in the tank yet, so I chocked it up to that. Then Sunday morning I had a premonition! "Check the batteries... Ding Dong". Sure enough, the one that was a year older had boiled over and was sizzling. I disconnected it and filled it with Distilled water then reconnected it. It still sizzled and took 3/4 of the gallon. My guess is that it was close to empty. So now I am going to replace both batteries. We only dry camp less than 7 times throughout the year and rarely more than one night without shore power in between. I only need 2 batts to be able to use my cPap on those nights. Should I go the 2 6v route or stick with 2 12v's? I have always been a fan of interstate...but welcome your recommendations.

I lost a battery by boiling out the fluids a few years back. My older converter was a single mode charger type and always put out 13.6VDC. This is right on the edge of making the batteries boil out fluids if being connected for extended times. I replaced my converter/charger with a multi-mode smart mode charger and have not had any boil out since. I still check my batteries on a scheduled basis but never see them low on fluids anymore...Roy Ken

if you don't have a smart charging converter/charger GET one, i only rely on my converter/charger when I'm traveling or camping.when in storage i turn the batteries off & use a batteryminder (aka battery tender) to maintain the batteries.

Probably a shorted cell. Watering would not have helped. The battery just failed so don't beat yourself up.

I wish I had a nickel for every battery I have lost to boiling out.

RoyB wrote:I lost a battery by boiling out the fluids a few years back. My older converter was a single mode charger type and always put out 13.6VDC. This is right on the edge of making the batteries boil out fluids if being connected for extended times. I replaced my converter/charger with a multi-mode smart mode charger and have not had any boil out since. I still check my batteries on a scheduled basis but never see them low on fluids anymore...Roy KenAccording to the manufacturer of my converter/charger it is a multimode charger. It is a WFCO 8955 55amp. I have no battery disconnect and was thinking of putting a marine style in. That I could use either battery or both...then using my battery tender during the week when we don't use the Rv.

I can't believe I... | Good Sam Community

mguay
Explorer
Sep 10, 2014
Today I picked up 2 new batteries. Before installing them I checked the charge voltage from the converter and it is 14.8v. I went to WFCO's website and the manual states it should be 13.6 (+/-.2). It does state that it will boost to 14.4. I tried to call them but it is after business hours. What is your thoughts on this?
mguay
Explorer
Sep 08, 2014
Dave H M wrote:
I would be checking the voltage when the new batts get installed. It needs to be monitored to check that it goes to the maintenance mode when the batts are up.

That was my plan!

It was probably time to replace them anyways as they are just over 5yrs old.

What burns me the most is that when I bought the rig it came with a $140 Interstate. 2 weeks later I added the second one and it is a Maxx WalMart cheapo that was $80. Guess which one boiled? The more expensive Interstate!

I just got a quote on a pair of Interstates for $140 each. I looked on WalMart .com and the Maxx is $86. I'm thinking I will go the Walmart route. We are planning on upgrading the 5er in the next year or 2 and am thinking the extra cost isn't worth it.
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Sep 08, 2014
I would be checking the voltage when the new batts get installed. It needs to be monitored to check that it goes to the maintenance mode when the batts are up.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Sep 08, 2014
Probably a bad cell in the battery, not your fault.
bshpilot
Explorer
Sep 08, 2014
if you need to make cables - i HIGHLY recommend these heavy gauge hydraulic crimpers (they often are on say for 39 bucks, or less).

http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/hydraulics/hydraulic-wire-crimping-tool-66150.html
coolmom42
Explorer II
Sep 08, 2014
I highly recommend the setup of 2 Trojan 6V golf cart batteries. Get a battery store to make up the cables/terminals for you. There is lots of info on how to connect them. Get them arranged first so you can see how long the cables need to be.
mguay
Explorer
Sep 08, 2014
RoyB wrote:
I lost a battery by boiling out the fluids a few years back. My older converter was a single mode charger type and always put out 13.6VDC. This is right on the edge of making the batteries boil out fluids if being connected for extended times.

I replaced my converter/charger with a multi-mode smart mode charger and have not had any boil out since. I still check my batteries on a scheduled basis but never see them low on fluids anymore...

Roy Ken

According to the manufacturer of my converter/charger it is a multimode charger. It is a WFCO 8955 55amp. I have no battery disconnect and was thinking of putting a marine style in. That I could use either battery or both...then using my battery tender during the week when we don't use the Rv.
old_guy
Explorer
Sep 08, 2014
I wish I had a nickel for every battery I have lost to boiling out.
time2roll
Nomad
Sep 07, 2014
Probably a shorted cell. Watering would not have helped. The battery just failed so don't beat yourself up.
bshpilot
Explorer
Sep 07, 2014
if you don't have a smart charging converter/charger GET one, i only rely on my converter/charger when I'm traveling or camping.

when in storage i turn the batteries off & use a batteryminder (aka battery tender) to maintain the batteries.

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