swimmer_spe
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Re: mixing batteriy sizes
wa8yxm wrote: swimmer_spe wrote: I have 3 deep cell batteries. One of them is bigger (and newer) than the other 2. What happens if I try to use a big and small one together? What about putting all 3 together? I hear a lot of "Stuff" like "The weaker battery will draw them down">> Bull droppings. What will happen is the batteries will work it out.. The Ideal socialist society will be formed (Each according to it's ability, each according to it's needs) Imagine you have 3 batteries one is 100 AH capacity one 200 one 300 You are drawing 60 amps and you meter each battery You will find the 100 battery is putting out 10 amps. the middle one 20 and the 300 30.. They work it out. Same when charging. NOW when batteries age one of two or three things happen and this will affect you ONE of them is "of concern" First. The internal resistance may go up.. in that case at low current you won't notice it but at higher discharge rates this one will simply not provide as much juice.. when the discharge rate goes down it will likely provide a greater share however for a time till they balance out So this is not a problem. The second is loss of capacity. also not a problem save the battery basically "Disappears" electrically. Finally the only concern. A Shorted cell. OF course this can happen with a battery that's a week old (And did to me once. what's more that battery had a lifetime warranty so the replacement was free). (Pro installed too). And I have behind me as I type 3 batteries. all different sizes all different ages and that's precisely how they act. So, will the older, smaller batteries prematurely kill the newest, biggest battery?831Views0likes0CommentsRe: swapping and charging batteries
wa8yxm wrote: swimmer_spe wrote: 12.5v after plugging it into the trailer,not into shore power. I sort of thought that was what you meant But it's not how I'd have said it (hooking up the battery to trailer) Which is why I covered all options (I hope) 12.5 after sitting on the shelf for a month or even a week is not bad at all. In fact with most meters it's within the margin of error for PERFECT. less you lab calibrated (Gads... Been a lONG time since I lab calibrated a meter) This one sat at least a year. Could be even longer. I have another that has sat that long that next week I'll be swapping it onto the trailer so it can get a good charge before using it.. Both of these batteries will only be used once a year, for about a week.912Views0likes0CommentsRe: swapping and charging batteries
valhalla360 wrote: wa8yxm wrote: opnspaces wrote: 12.5 after a week of charging is bad. A fully charged battery would be 12.67 or above. He said 12.5 when he "Plugged it in".. Not sure if he mean plugged the battery into the Trailer or the trailer into 120vac But 12.5 after a long time on the shelf is actually quite good. 12.5 if trailer plugged into 120v is not good. Agreed, the original post made it sound like he had left it on the charger for a couple weeks. If it had been sitting on a shelf for an extended period of time not charging, 12.5v isn't bad. 12.5v after plugging it into the trailer,not into shore power.912Views0likes0CommentsRe: swapping and charging batteries
valhalla360 wrote: time2roll wrote: swimmer_spe wrote: When I plugged it in,it was at 12.5V. I have not charged it since sometime last summer, or the fall before. Not bad... If the battery held 12.5v after sitting for a year... that would generally indicate good condition. Put them all in use together and see what goes. 12.5 after a week charging is not good. May be marginally OK but not good. Swing by an auto parts store. Most will do a load test for free. Mixing batteries you get the lowest common denominator so your good battery will be drug down by the marginal battery 12.5v is what it read before charging. I will let it charge for a week and see how it is.913Views0likes0CommentsRe: swapping and charging batteries
time2roll wrote: swimmer_spe wrote: When I plugged it in,it was at 12.5V. I have not charged it since sometime last summer, or the fall before. Not bad... If the battery held 12.5v after sitting for a year... that would generally indicate good condition. Put them all in use together and see what goes. That is the goal.912Views0likes0CommentsRe: swapping and charging batteries
CA Traveler wrote: It's not clear when you saw 12.5 vs plugged it in, but if it was charging then the voltage doesn't reflect battery charge state. Regardles now that it has charged do a load test to determine the battery condition. Shore power was disconnected. It jumped to 13.7v once plugged in.915Views0likes0Commentsswapping and charging batteries
I have a 1 year old trailer. It came with a deep cell battery, and it is good. I plan on adding a second battery. I have 2 older ones,that at the time, were good. Today,I swapped out my good battery for one of the older ones to let it change for a week or so with the trailer's charging system. When I plugged it in,it was at 12.5V. I have not charged it since sometime last summer, or the fall before. Not bad...1.6KViews0likes12CommentsRe: Stabilizer jacks at home?
way2roll wrote: swimmer_spe wrote: way2roll wrote: Which is it - stabilizers or jacks? The answer may be different for each. OP here. I am talking about the jacks that are at all 4 corners that is meant to prevent the trailer from rocking too much. Since those are designed for stability and not engineered to support the full weight (Like a leveling jack) I would err on the side of caution and leave them up in storage. As others have said, if a tire went flat the weight would be distributed onto the stabilizer and could bend it. Besides, what's to be gained by less rocking on an RV in storage? ..I don't know. I haven't, but I have seen and heard others do it.775Views0likes0Comments
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