Here is the equipment in the stairs of our new RV.
The batteries are really corroded but they seem to be holding a charge. I’’d like some expert advice. Should I charge with the negative and positive on different batteries?
Besides wire brushing and checking the fluid what other maintenance would you recommend?
Should I check the solenoid and transfer switch or assume they are working correctly?
The batteries are really corroded but they seem to be holding a charge. I’’d like some expert advice. Should I charge with the negative and positive on different batteries?
Besides wire brushing and checking the fluid what other maintenance would you recommend?
Should I check the solenoid and transfer switch or assume they are working correctly?
theoldwizard1 wrote:
REMOVE the batteries. Clean the batteries, hold down and battery box with baking soda and water solution and rinse well.
The hold down need a serious wire brushing. Judgement call on if the hold down bolts need to be replaced.
I would remove all paint/coating on the brackets. Prime with Rust-oleum "red primer", at least two coats, then at least 3 coats of your choice of color of Rust-oleum paint. Spray can is fast and easy.
When you put it all back together, put a GENEROUS dollop of Vaseline on all connections. It will slow down and future corrosion.
I would go one further, replace the batteries, they look like they have been there a long, long time and the way the brackets are corroded, those batteries have been boiling for long periods of time.
You will need to "treat" the brackets by cleaning all of the loose corrosion off, then followup with "baking soda" treatment to neutralize the acid that has been splashed on them. Rinse off the baking soda and allow to dry completely. Once dry, treat the metal with Ospho which is a rust converter to neutralize any rust that may be found. Ospho is the base ingredient in most rust converting paints like Rust-oleum rusty metal primer but BETTER than Rust-oleom. Once Ospho has had 24 hrs to do it's work then cover with a good paint primer coat.
Once Primer is cured, I would suggest painting with a rubberized bedliner, so far, the best I have found is of all things Harbor Freights Spray bedliner.. Under no circumstances buy the Rust-olems bedliner version, it IS garbage, it is not rubberized and is nothing better than textured paint and will chip and rust easily. Minimum of two coats for best protection.
For what it is worth, I would simply see if I could find some generic aftermarket brackets and hardware that fits and then cover the new hardware with HF's bedliner starting out with a clean slate.
While you could use Vaseline, it wouldn't have helped the issue since the issue here is the batteries are boiling off, ALL of the corrosion damage is at the brackets and the brackets go between the filler caps, that needs to be addressed and most likely a converter issue or just plain old wornout batteries.
Generally if it is more of the terminals getting severe corrosion Vaseline or any grease/oil may sometimes help, but more often will not due to the terminal seals failing and the acid creeps up the terminals.
On edit..
Wanted to include a photo of my batteries, Replaced mine in late 2017, photo was taken late 2020. Terminals do not have any grease or oil applied, no corrosion and are clean enough to eat off..
Terminals are not corroded on the outside are not shiny or new looking but they certainly are not corroded.
Bottle of water is shown as that is what it took to replace lost water over one and a half yrs.
Trailer is plugged in 24/7 while not camping.
Click For Full-Size Image.
