House batterys

[RJL]

I'm trying to charge my house batteries. They're "Deka Pro Master" GC15's I had to add over a gallon of distilled water to them today and when I tried to charge them I got an "internal shorted cell" error message on my black and decker charger.

I hooked up a trickle charger and I'm going to charge it overnight and see if I can salvage them.

Searching the web for GC15 batteries they're all quite expensive. $250.00 or so a piece.

Any suggestions to places I can find affordable GC15's?

I just bought an engine battery and coughed up $215. I really am in no mood to pay 700 bucks for batteries.

Seems everything in this POS broke last season and I've got a ton of work to do to get it working as it should. Pretty sure I got an electric surge on one of my last outings.

Thanks

Bob

[SuperBus]

RJL, what did you end up doing?

I am on the fence now on the best option for replacing my six GC2s. I planned to toss another set of FLAs in but haven't been able to find six at any local store, at least any that were made in the calendar year. Of course, they have plenty of AGMs, for roughly twice the cost. I am not considering LiPo as, after all, there is a 12.5 kW generator connected to these things. Other than the AGMs saving me from needing to watch the water (which I did not do the last time) and them being more robust to the beating they take on our country's fantastic roads, I am not convinced they're worth another $600.

[wa8yxm]

OUCH.. You might want to check out the Deka G-20 or any GC2.. Same ratings. Do not know why the price difference.

[SuperBus]

onecb wrote:
I just bought 4 Duracell GC2 Batteries at Sams Club. The ones these replaced were Dated 2014 so they lasted 8 years in good operating condition.

I have been happy with the Duracell GC2s from Sams as well. The person responsible for maintaining my motorhome somehow forgot to add any water to them for four years, and they've finally become completely useless. Not bad in my book for a total lack of care. Hopefully I'll remember that they ARE flooded cells and add some water to them a few times a year this next time around and get a bit more time out of them.

[onecb]

I just bought 4 Duracell GC2 Batteries at Sams Club. The ones these replaced were Dated 2014 so they lasted 8 years in good operating condition.

[Grit_dog]

corvettekent wrote:
When I was using four 6-volt golf cart batteries I would check them every 4 months and add distilled water as needed. One gallon of water would last me two years. You not only need new batteries, but you need a new converter that won't cook your batteries to death.

That is the one nice “feature” of a WafCO converter I found…..the pos wouldn’t ever go into bulk or boost or whatever you call it. So I could leave the camper plugged in for a year straight and not lose any battery juices! Lol
OP you need new batteries. Go to Costco pick up a couple golf cart batteries and move on. They’re done if they were dry. Wasn’t even worth the gallon of distilled water…

[corvettekent]

When I was using four 6-volt golf cart batteries I would check them every 4 months and add distilled water as needed. One gallon of water would last me two years. You not only need new batteries, but you need a new converter that won't cook your batteries to death.

[Grit_dog]

You can use a pair of GC2s or 1 or 2 12V batteries. Depends how much power you need.

[CA_Traveler]

Did you fill the batteries to the bottom ring and not the top? Did you distilled water? Doubtful it matters with the amount of water added, but good to know for the future.

With excess water and a short they are likely compromised. At a bare minimum have they load tested.

[Chum_lee]

IMO, whether you have GC-15 or GC-2 6 volt wet batteries, IF you are adding more than about 12-16 OUNCES of distilled water to each battery to top it off at any one time, chances are that at some point, the top of the plates are/were dry and they are cooked. If your battery charger is showing that you have a shorted cell and the batteries won't hold a charge, well, . . . . that's just more bad news. Please don't shoot the messenger.

Chum lee

[CA_Traveler]

Anyone have a comparison of GC2 and GC15? Apparently the GC15 is a little better quality?

Any reason to not use the GC2 and save some $?

OP Surge possibility - The first thing I installed was a PI HW50C. I've never had a surge since 2004 but numerous other pedestal problems.

OP It almost goes without saying that batteries need to be maintained.

[enblethen]

Look up GC2 6-volt batteries.

[time2roll]

Do you camp off grid? If you are basically plugged in when parked a Walmart group 29 might do just fine.

[George_Beggs]

Batteries Plus gives you 10% off if you order online.

[KD4UPL]

If you added that much water the plates were probably exposed to air and thus the batteries are scrap. Water needs to be checked regularly. AGM batteries eliminate the maintenamce but cost more.