Mr. Monk and the Weak Interstate Battery –

[Chuck_Sorensen]

About four months after receiving our Excel, the coach battery went from being a three-night battery to a one-night battery; for our use. “Here’s what happened.” The coach converter would work through its charging stages and get the battery to a full charge voltage. Without charging, during use of the battery, voltage dropped a lot faster than previously. I checked for the easy possible drains and moved on to the battery. The Interstate SRM-24 “deep cycle” battery provides access to the electrolyte in each of its six cells. I used my old hydrometer to check each cell; the first five were fully charged, but the 6th cell near the positive battery post was very weak. “He’s the guy.”

I checked the Interstate web site for dealers near me, removed the battery from the tray, and schlepped it to the dealer with the star by his name; a gas station with active work going on in the service bays. I told my story about the dead cell with water-like specific gravity. It did not matter; “Two hour charge and then test.” I was told. When the battery was put on the charger, I pointed out that no current was flowing through the battery; it was about as charged as it was going to get. “Here’s the thing;” again explaining about the low specific gravity of the one cell. I was told: “I do not understand what you are saying.” I could relate to this as I have had teenagers try to explain to me the processor architecture in their laptops, with similar results. I asked if the mechanic had a hydrometer. “No, but I do have this multi-hundred dollar Snap-on battery tester.” My battery was then tested and pronounced “GOOD.” He could not help me get anything off on the price of a new battery.

I thanked him and drove to my next choice Interstate dealer; a tire sales and service shop. They did not have a hydrometer either and they did not seem interested in my story about the bad cell. However, they did have a Midtronics battery tester, which printed out “REPLACE BATTERY.” The tester failed the battery because the equivalent Cold Cranking Amps were calculated to not be up to that printed on the top of the battery; apparently no testing directly related to Reserve Capacity or Amp Hours is included.

The battery manufacturer ship date molded into the battery case indicated that the battery was originally shipped 9 months before we bought the Excel from the Pleasure Way dealer. The Interstate distributor authorized the local dealer to pro rate my new battery cost based on the now, over one year old date.

My very small sample of battery dealers could indicate that there are not a whole lot of people out there worrying about the things that concern RVers; such as Reserve Capacity, Amp Hours, and any related specific gravity problems with the electrolyte. It’s a Jungle out there.

Chuck Sorensen
Buellton, California
2012 Excel TS

P. S. Unlike Monk, I took pictures of the original battery tray cable runs and ties, which I used when mounting the new battery.

[mlts22]

The battery dealers I have encountered know enough to see that a battery might start a car, or perhaps work with a trolling motor. If I talk about Ah, people there get a glazed look in their eyes.

It is tempting to go the route of Amazon, but I feel guilty buying from them because it means more brick/mortar stores end up closing. I'd rather see crummy battery stores that I can work with as opposed to more "Car Title Loan" places or other places I'd never set foot in.

[Fastpaddler]

There is one fundamental procedure any decent garage can do(dealer?) to check out the battery which in your case had a weak cell.LOAD TEST THE BATTERY. A battery might/might start your vehicle or run your inside coach lights with your MARINE battery but that doesnt mean they have the beans to deliver the amperage hours promised by the warrantee. If the loading on the battery shows adequate spec performance under load, then the battery is ok. Yours would fail for sure. Why do I know this? When I bought my 2005 Winnebago Aspect, for the first few days I kept having trouble with both the Interstate truck battery going flat after a few days AND the coach Marine deep charge battery. I took it to the RV dealer, told them to load test them both and sure enough--both were below 12 volts under load. They replaced both free of charge. It is often possible also to buy a new battery which can develop a weak--below spec--cell,usually an outer cell. A new battery is the answer.I use a small solar panel plugged into my 12v outlet on the dash for the truck battery and now about to attach one for my coach battery to trickle charge both when I am not taking my PW Plateau for trips regularly.
AL

[Dog_Folks]

You went to a battery shop and expected competence? Foolish man. I am surprised you did not have to explain what a hydrometer was!

[Rheinlan]

Had the same basic problem with Interstate battery in 2009 that had been in PW Excel motor home one year when I took delivery. One cell was dead per hydrometer test. Went to Interstate dealer, who only sold and distributed Interstate batteries and their electronic tester said it was perfectly good. No hydrometer test. Appealed to Interstate via e-mail and got response "they would take care of me". Took printed copy of email to dealer and he replaced battery at no charge.

[pbitschura]

PSW wrote:
Obviously, you needed Natalie or Sharona to explain to the nerds at the battery shops why they were so ignorant! Seriously, we seem to live in a world that is populated by people that don't give a darn and don't have a clue what they are doing. When you say "hydrometer" you might as well be saying "crank telephone" to these goofs.

I suspect that any serious RVer knows more about batteries than most people selling them. Gassing, discharge rates, etc. are just beyond their grasp or....more importantly....care. How sad. And customer service? Fahgetaboutit. That's the reason I am an Amazon Prime customer.

Yesterday, I ordered a new GPS and some over the counter medicine. I had gone to the Walmart and Walgreen near my home and they neither had the rather common medication in stock. Walgreen had an empty space for it on their shelf at a price almost double the online price.

No wonder our unemployment rate is high. Just ask someone in any store about their products. Get into a technical area like batteries and consumers are toast.

End of my rant and I truly understand and sympathize with you. Only one thing left to say: WIPE, please!!!

If you need a good laugh, or cry as the case may be, watch the movie "Idiocracy". It's a comedy,but still prophetic about the population becoming stupid and it's results in 500 year future USA. I think we are closer than that.

[PSW]

Obviously, you needed Natalie or Sharona to explain to the nerds at the battery shops why they were so ignorant! Seriously, we seem to live in a world that is populated by people that don't give a darn and don't have a clue what they are doing. When you say "hydrometer" you might as well be saying "crank telephone" to these goofs.

I suspect that any serious RVer knows more about batteries than most people selling them. Gassing, discharge rates, etc. are just beyond their grasp or....more importantly....care. How sad. And customer service? Fahgetaboutit. That's the reason I am an Amazon Prime customer.

Yesterday, I ordered a new GPS and some over the counter medicine. I had gone to the Walmart and Walgreen near my home and they neither had the rather common medication in stock. Walgreen had an empty space for it on their shelf at a price almost double the online price.

No wonder our unemployment rate is high. Just ask someone in any store about their products. Get into a technical area like batteries and consumers are toast.

End of my rant and I truly understand and sympathize with you. Only one thing left to say: WIPE, please!!!