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6V Deep Cycle Batteries

dreader3
Explorer
Explorer
I'm Using 2 deep cycle 6 volt batteries wired in series in my trailer. I bought the batteries last fall after the camping season was over for us. I put the batteries on a 12v trickle charger over the winter to keep them charged. When I initially installed them this year they still were not charged very well. After a couple of trips where I couldn't keep them charged I bought a Schumacher SE-70MA deep cycle charger to charge the batteries. When I reinstalled the batteries in the trailer and switched on the battery it blew two 40 amp and one 15 amp fuses immediately. What gives?
20 REPLIES 20

MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Explorer
When a Jeep Cherokee was set up on 4-jackstands?

She was wearing one of her half dozen PROUD TO BE POLISH T shirts. I looked at the slogan and quipped "Which one? Mother's or Meguiars?

"See? See? He really doesn't know about cars!"

Amazing. And these people raise children and vote?

pnichols
Explorer II
Explorer II
Mex wrote:
"EVERYONE knows starter motors do not have brushes! Harrumph!"


Perhaps she was thinking of the "starter motors" on certain Onan generators???

i.e. Aren't certain Onan generator models started by applying battery voltage to their generator's output windings - which turns the generator into a motor momentarily for starting of the engine? If so .... this is brilliant engineering .... and maybe a starter motor without brushes?
2005 E450 Itasca 24V Class C

CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Explorer III
Would paint on a battery invalidate the warranty? It would not surprise me...
2009 Holiday Rambler 42' Scepter with ISL 400 Cummins
750 Watts Solar Morningstar MPPT 60 Controller
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland

Bob

wa8yxm
Explorer III
Explorer III
Again I make my suggestion to paint and over spray onto the batteries.

Way easier than worrying about it. RED for Positive.

On my coach the house batteries I replaced the positive wire so it is RED, big, heavy, and RED, the negative is Factory original black,,, (The factory original on the positive side was black as well but,, well it's a complex hookup.. I'm into Rube Goldburg.. Shore HEAVY cable runs from batteries to generator fuse block.. Factory lead moved to fuse block. On the chassis battery I did something like that too 3 positive wires became one)
Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times

MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Explorer
Ego Ergo

Followed by contents of wallet.

Common affiction. No cure. I remember one Canadian broad marching up to me down here, putting her hands on her hips and yelling..

"EVERYONE knows starter motors do not have brushes! Harrumph!"

CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Explorer III
One guy changed out his batteries at a CG and then the engine was dead. He was a friend of a friend that I was traveling with. I was told that everything was hooked up correctly and he really didn't want any help. After an hour he started calling for support.

I asked if I could take a look and he said OK just to shut me up - Hey Don what is this cable that is hanging in the back and not connected? :S
2009 Holiday Rambler 42' Scepter with ISL 400 Cummins
750 Watts Solar Morningstar MPPT 60 Controller
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland

Bob

CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Explorer III
2oldman wrote:
Don't batteries have polarity clearly marked on them?
Yes, but when they can't be seen due to dirt, the cables aren't marked and pictures weren't taken (everyone just know how they came off) then you're up the creek without a paddle. Plus there is no standard color scheme that RV's use. Some may have a plan but none will hold up production because they ran out of some color... :@

Now add to the mix by changing battery sizes, terminal types and locations, parallel to/from serial and we play the battery doesn't work game... :S
2009 Holiday Rambler 42' Scepter with ISL 400 Cummins
750 Watts Solar Morningstar MPPT 60 Controller
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland

Bob

MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Explorer
I'm a BRUTE...

Krylon spray paint for PLASTIC

RED +

BLACK -

GREEN for series jumper wire

I splotch a little color on the battery plastic lid too. Pretty hard to screw up connections color coded like this...

I paint the post, a bit of the cable inulatuonรฑ I

Dakota98
Explorer
Explorer
Triker33 wrote:
Dakota98 wrote:
Your 6-volt GC batteries need an occasional "equalization" charge. The Schumacher SE-70MA charger will not do this.

Maybe I need to equalize mine. I never have and the T-105's only last me a little over 8 1/2 years.

How much longer will they last if equalized?


8 1/2 years is very good.

Here's an article, that I believe is actually by Trojan

Battery Q & A
I'm an expert in only one field....I believe it's somewhere in Kansas.

2000 / 22' SKYLINE NOMAD LITE
1998 DODGE DAKOTA / 5.2L= 8mpg.
2006 POLARIS ATV
1500/1200 Watt Champion generator
Yada Wireless Back Up Camera
1998 Dyna Wide Glide
USMC 68-74

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
Don't batteries have polarity clearly marked on them?
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

RoyB
Explorer II
Explorer II
Another sure way would be to PRINT a large PLUS and MINUS on piece of paper and tape them to the correct cable using CLEAR TAPE...

I went and purchased a new JENSEN RADIO a few years back and it came with RED and BLACK terminals so when I installed that inside the trailer I ended up with a RED TERMINAL over a BLACK TERMINAL in the junction box. That sure looked strange to we old timers haha...

Roy Ken
My Posts are IMHO based on my experiences - Words in CAPS does not mean I am shouting
Roy - Carolyn
RETIRED DOAF/DON/DOD/CONTR RADIO TECH (42yrs)
K9PHT (Since 1957) 146.52M
2010 F150, 5.4,3:73 Gears,SCab
2008 Starcraft 14RT EU2000i GEN
2005 Flagstaff 8528RESS

CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Explorer III
Just get red and black tape from the hardware store.
2009 Holiday Rambler 42' Scepter with ISL 400 Cummins
750 Watts Solar Morningstar MPPT 60 Controller
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland

Bob

wa8yxm
Explorer III
Explorer III
Suggestion.. Get either two bottles of Nail Polish -OR- two small cans of spray paint (or two large cans) one RED one Black

With the batteries PROPERLY connected spray the positive terminal with RED (or brush it on) Overspray onto the battery is a good thing if spraying, Dripping red paint (or just flat brushing it on) the battery likewise.


Use black on the Negative end

now red painted wire to red painted battery terminal. Black to black, Unpainted to Unpainted and your job is always going to be right.

Now,, the winter storage.. Did you use a Battery Minder (TM) or Battery Tnder (TM) or a trickle charger (Junk) to maintain the batteies?

There are several different devices.. When I waS a child our only choice was a trickle charger, these low-amprage chargers had no regulation and depending on teh size of the batteires and the size of the charger either over charged or failed to maintain (IN THEORY you might hit one that worked 100% but odds are against it like 99.9 to 0.1)

Today we have two more editions
One is an automatic slow charger,, It charges 'em up and shuts down

The other is the Battery Minder/tender 2-stage automatic charger (Absorption/float) these continuously monitor and will switch back to ABSORPTION (Charging) if necessary.

READ the instruction manual because what I posted is a generality.. not all products work as well as others.

But do paint both the wires and the battery in the area of the terminal (or and the terminal itself) to insure red to red.
Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times

Triker33
Explorer
Explorer
Dakota98 wrote:
Your 6-volt GC batteries need an occasional "equalization" charge. The Schumacher SE-70MA charger will not do this.

Maybe I need to equalize mine. I never have and the T-105's only last me a little over 8 1/2 years.

How much longer will they last if equalized?
Larry Full Time Since 99
1999 34Q Discovery DP ISB 275HP 6 Speed Allison
VMSpc | Pressure Pro
14 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost Toad

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