Faulty Battery Watering System?

[theczar]

A couple years ago I purchased a BWS to simplify the process of keeping the water levels in my battery proper. Every month or so I would get out the hand pump and give it a few pumps until the floats all popped up and cut off the valves indicating full. It appeared that the SOC was 100% always until the last time I took out the camper and I get a Low Voltage error from my auto level.

I then notice the SOC is 72%. The unit sits at a storage lot with solar so it should be full and it had been a few months since I visited. I give the system a few pumps and it appears near full. I have 3 12V Batts in parallel and noticed some corrosion on one of the connections so figure that might be the source of the problem. I remove all three Batteries to inspect/clean all the connections. I remove the BWS and surprised to find several cells are low on water. I verify the floats, water flow and cutoff on the valves and all seems ok. Yet, when I test the fill again the valves pop up and cut off the flow on certain cell prematurely.

Not sure if I am doing something wrong or the system is broken or the system I have is junk? I really like having the system since it is not practical to fill the batteries without it.

The BWS gave me a piece of mind and added simplicity to this task but now not so sure. Has anyone had a similar issue or any info that may help?

I manually filled the low cells and am charging the batteries now but suspect they may be gone. Might be time for AGMs

fyi, the system I have is: BWS

[et2]

beemerphile1 wrote:
I use one of these;

Sometime the batteries are crammed into spaces that style won't get to all the cells. Tried on on our new coach, not the solution. Even other methods are hard as you can't see how full it is and you over fill it.

We've use the flow rite product. This is our second coach and have just installed again on this one. Last coach was 5 years without a battery issues using the system.

Other than that maintanance free are the way to go, but costly.

https://www.flow-rite.com/battery-care/brands/pro-fill-rv/

[Cummins12V98]

Simple eye dropper that holds about an ounce of distilled water.

[beemerphile1]

I use one of these;

[time2roll]

My BWS is working fine at least five years now. I only fill twice a year max.
Transferred system to the new 4x GC2 pack when the old batteries aged out. Still works great.

I would just get a few replacement caps.

[pianotuna]

Or if you live where it never gets below -4f consider LI

[2oldman]

theczar wrote:
Might be time for AGMs

Do that. Christmas is coming. Saves a lot of hassle and headaches. You'll never look back.

[Lwiddis]

Not reliable enough for me.

[azrving]

They work great until they don't. I dealt with them for many years and the best we did was when at X interval we removed and soaked cleaned all the valves and reinstalled.

They are quick and easy but just have one little fault....

How do you insure that they are working? Remove the cap and check. You say that's what we are doing now with regular caps? I know.

If I didn't want to check batteries I'd buy AGM

[Cummins12V98]

I simply look at mine every 3 mo when i change my water filter. I rarely add water.