Battery Meltdown!

[luv2dsgn]

We recently purchased our friend's '98 Dutch Star motor home.

After a few weeks we smelled what seemed to be a black water issue, and then discovered that the cabin batteries (plugged into our house) were going through melt down with sulfur steaming out of the top of one of them. There was also swelling on the sides of the case.

We began trying to replace these batteries, but have found it difficult to locate. We also discovered they can run over $200 each! (OUCH!!!) 😞

The batteries needing to be replaced are Freightliner Commercial Maintenance Free H9.

Any thoughts or suggestions???:h

Also, is it OK to drive this beast across town into storage without these batteries installed until we can replace them?:h

Please advise.
Thanks!

[luv2dsgn]

As a new owner, I feel that I need to sign up for MOTORHOME-101 at the local college!!! Very helpful! Thanks guys!

FYI.....As a result of another forum posting, I linked to a recalls site and searched my unit. I found our Dometic Frig by model/serial listed as needing an after market repair kit. It had been recalled in '08! i contacted the company, and discovered the Stoltzfus stocks the kits and it's just a matter of scheduling the appointment to have it installed. Whew!....(another close one!)

Enjoy!

[dougrainer]

bsinmich wrote:
Maybe Dougrainer can verify this but I think there may be a button on the dash that would connect the batteries to the starting system in case of a dead battery for starting. No need to physicaly move them or wires.

Yes, ALL Newmar's have a emergency(battery Boost) start switch on the dash. Doug

[bsinmich]

Maybe Dougrainer can verify this but I think there may be a button on the dash that would connect the batteries to the starting system in case of a dead battery for starting. No need to physicaly move them or wires.

[luv2dsgn]

Wow! Great info smk! Very informative in layman terms! Thanks! 🙂

[time2roll]

Here is some general reading on batteries.

The 12 Volt Side of Life

Worst case it will help you get to sleep.

[luv2dsgn]

Thanks GTN&Catz! I certainly appreciate the welcome to the group! 🙂

Finally purchased two batteries today that ran about $138 each. Still a bit of an ouchie, but could've been worse. I'll certainly maintain these!

I'm just hoping my converter is truly viable. At first it was roaring, but has settled down and is barely a hum now.

I have owned a huge popup, then a Jayco Kiwi C21, and now this wonderful beast! I also grew up tent camping in Big Cypress with my Dad. (MANY moons ago!)

While on my way home, after picking up the Dutch Star from my friends in Maryland, I was barn stormed on each side by two tractor trailers......while in the middle of crossing a huge bridge in a middle lane! Almost had a heart attack!!! LOL! I'm sure THEY were amused!

Enjoy!

[GTN_and_Catz]

Luv2Dsgn ...
All of that back-and-forth, a couple of snarky comments along with some good advice and no one thought to welcome you the forum! What's up with that??

I've just spent entirely too much time reading up on batteries, chargers, inverters, care & feeding of same trying to figure out the best route to take when replacing my chassis and house batteries. Probably the best advice given was to spend time setting up a maintenance schedule (assuming you go the flooded lead acid route). That will not only keep your batteries in tip-top shape but it will extend their life considerably.

Again - welcome - and enjoy the new toy.

[wallynm]

Sorry 165 each

w

redguard wrote:

Thanks!

where did you find 6 volt RV batteyrs for 41$ each?? also a #9 series as the op has is a 12 volt battery and hes also not talking about chassis batterys if you were to read and observe his posts properly

[luv2dsgn]

Thanks for the info Red. 🙂

[redguard]

About MF being dangerous because of gassing. "ALL battrys" when charging will gas.Wheather you use a MF or a RV deep cycle one is NO more dangerous than the other.The MF is not fillable is the problem
and also are not designed to be run low and recharged any where near what DC batterys are allowed to

[luv2dsgn]

Hi Doug, Red, et al! 🙂

Well, I discovered an electrical engineer, who's a serious guru, and runs an auto electric shop in South Jersey. This guy is seriously on it!

Doug you are 100% correct! As it turns out, maintenance free batteries should NEVER be installed in a power-cycling application, and posed a serious danger of explosion. The gases fuming out of one of the batteries was a highly explosive form of hydrogen, which was somehow created off the sulfides. (FYI...I'm not techie enough in this area to remember the exact terms, so please don't quote me.)

Just like Griff says on MIB, "Oh my, that was a close one!!!"

Thanks to ALL for your time and input on this matter! I'll update you when I have a further determination.

If anyone's interested in connecting with this guru guy, just let me know.

Enjoy! 🙂

[deandec]

"Cold Cranking Amps" measure the capacity of Starting Batteries (Chassis).

Amp Hrs measure capacity of Deep Storage batteries (House).

One can interchange the battery applications but the result will be far less than optimum and perhaps more expensive.

[dougrainer]

luv2dsgn wrote:
Well Wally, you might be onto something there.
The 50amp converter box on the other side of the unit had been making a loud noise, but decided to settle down.

There are 2 boxes on the "other" side in the shore cord compartment. The 50 amp box is NOT a Converter but your 120 volt , Shore and Genset Power transfer box and on occasion those transfer boxes will chatter or hum. The odds are on a 98 DSDP, you have POWER CONVERTERS in the same compartment and those are the 120 volt to DC charge appliance that supplies 12 volts to the RV when on Shore power or Genset and also charge the Coach batteries when on shore power. Some Newmars have 2(two) of those Power Converters depending on the model. Doug

[dougrainer]

redguard wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
I guess the OP is gone. BUT, Newmar NEVER installed frtliner maintenance free batteries for the coach batteries. You NEVER install sealed batteries for Coach batteries. Newmar always installed regular RV deep cycle batteries, as that is the BEST type for coach batteries. Someone installed those Frtliner batteries in place of the correct batteries at some time. Doug

So what? she clearly says she has those battrys running the house?
I have already suggested her going to four 6 volts Rv style
I agree though most likely someone put those there after the fact at one time or another

MY point was, the OP does NOT know that and you never install maintenance free batteries in a coach system. The fact she had those Frtliner batteries is the reason they boiled. Doug