More Battery Problems

[J-Rooster]

I'm having problems with my two coach batteries this time around (last week it was my chassis battery). My two coach batteries are around 4+ years old. My wife heard a sizzling noise and could smell the batteries. When I opened up the step on my Winnebago one of my coach batteries had steam coming out the refill caps. I immediately took both coach batteries out of the battery holder. One of the battery cases was hot the other was warm. I'm going down right now to buy 2 new batteries! Can anyone tell me what is causing my battery to boil? I don't want to put the new ones in and have them boil!

[J-Rooster]

Sam Spade wrote:

J-Rooster wrote:
Sam, I have a solar trickle charger will this get my batteries up to charge or will I have to charge them on my charger.

Maybe but I would not trust solar alone.

To be sure the new batteries get a full charge, you need to have shore power or an external charger hooked up for at least 12 hours.

Then hopefully you have a smart controller with your solar and it will keep them charged up when not in use without overcharging.

Thanks Sam, I had shore power hooked up the first 24 hours and the batteries seem to be working fine.

[Sam_Spade]

J-Rooster wrote:
Sam, I have a solar trickle charger will this get my batteries up to charge or will I have to charge them on my charger.

Maybe but I would not trust solar alone.

To be sure the new batteries get a full charge, you need to have shore power or an external charger hooked up for at least 12 hours.

Then hopefully you have a smart controller with your solar and it will keep them charged up when not in use without overcharging.

[J-Rooster]

pianotuna wrote:
This is what is balanced and best for twin twelve volt batteries.



As it often doesn't cost a dime more to do this, I think it is worth the trouble.

If you wish to understand the "why" surf here:

correctly interconnecting multiple twelve volt batteries

Others may say it doesn't matter--but unless there is a compelling reason to not optimize charging and discharging why not do it the best possible way?

Here is a video of 3 twelve volt batteries that have been wired in an unbalanced manner for 2 years. They have been equalized. The test shows how CCA has been adversely affected.

unbalanced for 2 years

J-Rooster wrote:
Pianotuna, I really respect your posts especially on electronics you seem to have a lot of knowledge and experience! I have to admit that I don't understand the term wired in a balanced manner? I installed the batteries the same way that they came out (not saying that it was correct)?

I couldn't see your pictures due to preference settings!

[randallb]

A quick little pointer. For maximum battery life turn them off completely, even if you have to add a shut off switch, when you park the RV for an extended period of time and place them on a maintainer. I ran my Class A batteries, chassis and house, on BT Jrs, .75A and got great life out of them. Every thing in my shop; from my boat to my tractors have Jrs on them and my batteries never boil or cause me any issues. Save the converter/inverter for when you are on the road and need quick charges and slow roll the batteries at home. I do not care if you have the greatest progressive converter/charger in the world. They are rough on batteries when you stay plugged in 24/7/365.
Randy

[J-Rooster]

Ivylog wrote:
Hopefully in the control for your inverter/charger there are settings for the type of battery you are using. AGM's do not like being charged over 14.2 volts. You also need to turn off the equalizing function which runs the volts up to 16+. If you have a solar charger you need to change the settings in it too.

Ivylog, how do I go about changing the my solar charger? I have a Winnebago and I don't remember ever seeing any settings!

[J-Rooster]

Sam Spade wrote:

J-Rooster wrote:
I checked this and they were at 12.5 just after they were installed. I hope this is in the acceptable range and thanks for your post!

The 12.5 indicates that they weren't fully charged when installed.

It probably also explains why your measured charging voltage was over 14. Once fully charged, a "smart" 3 or 4 stage converter/charger should drop to something around 13.4 to 13.6.

You really should get your new batteries up to a full charge by leaving the charge ON for several hours......maybe up to 10 hours the first time.

Sam, I have a solar trickle charger will this get my batteries up to charge or will I have to charge them on my charger.

[Ivylog]

Hopefully in the control for your inverter/charger there are settings for the type of battery you are using. AGM's do not like being charged over 14.2 volts. You also need to turn off the equalizing function which runs the volts up to 16+. If you have a solar charger you need to change the settings in it too.

[pianotuna]

This is what is balanced and best for twin twelve volt batteries.



As it often doesn't cost a dime more to do this, I think it is worth the trouble.

If you wish to understand the "why" surf here:

correctly interconnecting multiple twelve volt batteries

Others may say it doesn't matter--but unless there is a compelling reason to not optimize charging and discharging why not do it the best possible way?

Here is a video of 3 twelve volt batteries that have been wired in an unbalanced manner for 2 years. They have been equalized. The test shows how CCA has been adversely affected.

unbalanced for 2 years

J-Rooster wrote:
Pianotuna, I really respect your posts especially on electronics you seem to have a lot of knowledge and experience! I have to admit that I don't understand the term wired in a balanced manner? I installed the batteries the same way that they came out (not saying that it was correct)?

[Sam_Spade]

J-Rooster wrote:
I checked this and they were at 12.5 just after they were installed. I hope this is in the acceptable range and thanks for your post!

The 12.5 indicates that they weren't fully charged when installed.

It probably also explains why your measured charging voltage was over 14. Once fully charged, a "smart" 3 or 4 stage converter/charger should drop to something around 13.4 to 13.6.

You really should get your new batteries up to a full charge by leaving the charge ON for several hours......maybe up to 10 hours the first time.

[J-Rooster]

Sam Spade wrote:

J-Rooster wrote:
had my son come over with his voltage meter and one new battery read 14.4 the other 14.5 I also had him check my chassis battery and it was 14.5.

Please note that those voltages are the CHARGING voltage and not the battery voltage.....which should be around 12.8 after the charging has been removed for a while.

Sam, I checked this and they were at 12.5 just after they were installed. I hope this is in the acceptable range and thanks for your post!

[J-Rooster]

ksg5000 wrote:
While shorted battery is likely the culprit you should check to see if your converter is working properly -- I had a situation where my Progressive Dynamics converter went bonkers and put out too much juice toasting my batteries and ruining some of the electronics on the rig.

I own a 2004 Winnebago Adventurer RV would you happen to know where the converter would be located?

[J-Rooster]

pianotuna wrote:
J-Rooster,

Did you wire the new batteries in a balanced manner?

Pianotuna, I really respect your posts especially on electronics you seem to have a lot of knowledge and experience! I have to admit that I don't understand the term wired in a balanced manner? I installed the batteries the same way that they came out (not saying that it was correct)?

[ArchHoagland]

pianotuna wrote:
J-Rooster,

Did you wire the new batteries in a balanced manner?

Could you explain "Balanced manner".

[ksg5000]

While shorted battery is likely the culprit you should check to see if your converter is working properly -- I had a situation where my Progressive Dynamics converter went bonkers and put out too much juice toasting my batteries and ruining some of the electronics on the rig.