maintenance free batteries

[flyingfarmer]

Hello,
My 2014 crusader 295 model came with a Interstate battery that is I believe maintenance free. I recently pried the caps off and fluid level was below plates. I filled to ring level and charged with commercial charger and got over 13 volts. Now fast forward about 3 months and with a battery minder attached ( unattached while checking voltage ) I am only showing 11.4 volts. Does anyone else add water to a maintenance free battery?

[Me_Again]

Veebyes wrote:
You may have been too late & the damage done by the time you added water.

Charge it again with a proper battery charger then do the load test. A load tester is a nice tool to have handy. Saves removing the battery & lugging it to an autoparts store.

Here is your answer, anytime you allow the fluid to expose the plates you have damaged the battery beyond repair!

The charging system in trailers leaves a lot to be desired. So for most replacing the battery every few years is pretty normal. Chris

[rattleNsmoke]

I tend to agree with Duck. If all you show is 11.4, the battery is prolly toast. You should have approx. 12.3+- across the terminals without any draw on it when charged.

[jkwilson]

There are some batteries marketed by Interstate that say "Maintenance Free" that have an asterisk that says "In normal operation".

As others have said, if the caps pop off, then you need to check the electrolyte level.

[Duck]

From what you described they are not maintenance free batteries. Take the battery out and charge it with nothing attached to the battery except the charger. After you have it charged let it sit and check the voltage every day and see of the voltage reading drops down to the 11.4 volts you mentioned. It might have a bad cell.
Don

[Veebyes]

You may have been too late & the damage done by the time you added water.

Charge it again with a proper battery charger then do the load test. A load tester is a nice tool to have handy. Saves removing the battery & lugging it to an autoparts store.

[flyingfarmer]

Yes the unit came with a main disconnect switch and it is turned off. I always use distilled water. There are 2 caps covering 3 cells each and you have to use a small flat bladed screwdriver to pry them off.

Dave

[powderman426]

Like others have stated, if there are caps, its not a true maintinence free battery. The ones I have in mine would require you to drill into the top of the battery to add anything.

[wilber1]

I have Interstates and they occasionally need water. If they have caps, they aren't maintenance free.

[Gearitis]

Was distilled water used?

[Dakota98]

2oldman wrote:

Dakota98 wrote:
Install a discount switch & all should be good.

Um, the discount is at the store. I think you mean disconnect.

Keyboard wasn't working again. :S

[2oldman]

Dakota98 wrote:
Install a discount switch & all should be good.

Um, the discount is at the store. I think you mean disconnect.

[Dakota98]

All lead acid batteries require water occasionally. Obviously, yours needed it.

Do you have a Battery Discount switch installed? I suspect not.

The battery minder will not put enough amps back into the battery to maintain max charge if the battery is under load.

Install a discount switch & all should be good.

[downtheroad]

We have a couple of Interstates on our rig. I check them from time to time and have had to add water occasionally.

If they have caps that you can pry off then they are probably not true maintenance free batts.