Country Coach Owners Forum

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Lee

I had the same battery setup in my 2000 Allure you have except I

not have the Link 1000 control. The Allure only had a remote

switch in the panel above the door to control the Freedom 20 > inverter. My two 8D house batteries were the original Les Schwab > batteries installed by Country Coach. The manufactured date on the > batteries were 12-99. Of the two one had a totally dead cell and

other had a marginal cell when checked with a hydrometer. I had

the batteries load tested that confirmed my findings. The engine > battery is also an 8D, but maintains a good charge and all specific > gravity reading are normal for all cells. The two house batteries > were labeled deep cycle. However, I question that they were since > they were no heavier than the engine battery. Deep cycle batteries > have more lead plate surfaces, thus making the batteries noticably > heavier.

The primary cause for a dead or weak cell in a wet lead-acid

is improper maintenance. A dry cell and/or sulfating of the plates > are the culprits usually. Batteries begin to act funny when they > begin to go dead. Usually you notice that the charge seems to not > last as long but yet the battery seems to accept a charge.

the charging time begins to take a shorter and shorter time

This is one of the first indications of a cell going bad due to a > sulfate buildup. The only way to hedge this is to do equalization > periodicaly. Many say that 2-3 time a year is sufficient.
However, the frequency actually depends on the number of cycles of > discharge and charge the batteries go through. If you are an > occasional dry camper or inverter user, then a couple time per year > would suffice. However, if you are doing more dry camping and > inverter use than anything else, then 3-4 times per year may be > needed. Deep cycle batteries are only going to last just so many > cycles of discharge and charge. Many of the battery manufacturers > will provide that kind of cycle specification one can expect to get > from a deep cycle. Some will not.

After taking a careful look at my Freedom 20 system, I discovered > that there was no way to equalize my batteries. I felt that it

be foolish to install new batteries unless I could properly

them. The Freedom 20 has a three level charge function as well as > the capability to equalize the batteries. However, with only the > remote ON/OFF switch you cannot access that function in my Allure.

called Country Coach and discovered that the only way was to

a Freedom Remote Control Panel. The installation was simple since

used the same RJ45 control cable already in place for the ON/OFF > switch. I took the monitor panel above the door down, unplugged

ON/OFF switch and plugged the RJ-45 cable into the new control

I had mounted in a shadow box just above the monitor panel. Worked > like a champ.

With the new control panel installed, I figured I would see what I > could do to try to salvage some additional use out of the 8D house > batteries. So, I charged the batteries until they indicated full > charge. I then initialized the equalization process. When

about 8 hours later, I checked the batteries with a hydrometer.
Nothing changed. Still had one battery with a bad cell and the

with a marginal cell. So, next step was to find some batteries.

I began looking for the best ampere-hour and cycle ratings. I > quickly discovered that most deep cycles are not warranteed for

than 12-18 months max. Also, unless I wanted to pay $300-400 for a > Rolls 8D deep cycle battery, I was not ging to find the maximum > capacity. I considered AGM and other sealed batteries. But then I > remembered why I do not like them from my experiences with them in > other vehicles. Like the Die Hard, when they die, they die hard.

least with the wet cell you can check and see when a battery is

to go bad before it does. I don't mind the routine of periodically > checking the batteries. Having spent the past 37 years working in > aviation for the USN, I am somewhat accustomed to the scheduled > maintenance routine.

I then looked at the Trojan golf cart batteries. The T-105, T-125 > and T-145 all offered the same amp-hour or greater capacity than

8D's when paired together for a 12-volt bank. The Trojan batteries > also offered a better cycle rating and warranty. The warranty is > total replacement first 12 months and prorated from there through

months. The foot print of the Trojan batteries I was considering > were all the same and took up less area than the 8D's. The

were a bit taller, but my battery compartment could handle the > heighth with no problem.
> Bottom line....I installed four T-145 Trojan's, built a storage box > for my hydrometer to go in the space remaining in the battery tray > and fabricated a 2x2 aluminum brace to keep everything in place. I > did this about three weeks ago and so far everything seem to work

it should. The real test will be this coming week when we travel

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Jim

I also have a 2000 Allure with batteries that are going bad. I am

Dick

2000 Allure 9592

> Jim,
>

> Did you have to put any support under the golf cart batteries. I > > believe the 8Ds get their support at each end because they sit on

major piece of the frame there. Golf batteries aren't long enough

ON/OFF switch on your monitor/control panel above > your entry door,

that you get the Freedom Remote Control Panel and > > A little filing

of the wood to allow the cable to be snaked to it > worked great. >
Good luck.....

Jim Hughes

Jacksonville, FL
2000 Allure #30511

> -

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Ray

No additional support needed. The 8D's were sitting in a hard

tray on top of expanded metal grate with the metal supports > underneath that.

Jim 2000 Allure #30511

[quote author=travman100

> Jim,
>

> Did you have to put any support under the golf cart batteries. I > > believe the 8Ds get their support at each end because they sit on