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Battery Watering

Yahoo Message Number: 66223
This is our first RV and I am trying to do some of the maintenance myself. We have a 2005 CC Allure Siskyou Summit and the batteries are located in the passenger rear outside compartment. I can get to two of the batteries but the other two seem to be in postions that I can't get to the caps. Any advice on how to water them?

John G.

2005 Allure #31242

Re: Battery Watering

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66224

I went to the local auto store and bought a universal sun visor vanity mirror - about $2 - any mirror will do but these are plastic encased, etc and don't break easily. Harbor Freight sells the battery fill bottle with automatic shutoff, that can be used without need of a mirror but I like to check.
There are also (expensive to me) fill kits that keep the batteries topped more or less automatically with a reservoir, lines to each cell and special caps. I hear they work well.
If you are really willing to separate some money from your wallet AGM batteries are maintenance free in the extreme. If you go that route remember to change the charging program on your inverter/charger to the specs needed for AGM long life.

Lots of ideas will be posted - just stand by. ;-)

Bob (rthandren@...)
'05 Inspire 51178

Re: Battery Watering

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66225
Google battery watering systems.

Put them on my coach to save my back.

George

'04 Inspire 51061

Re: Battery Watering

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66230
John, what I did was in Bob Handren's first paragraph, "Harbor Freight sells the battery fill bottle with automatic shutoff."
Then, because there is minimum space, I found a small pill bottle with matching threads to the fill shut-off head. I cut off the bottom of the pill bottle, threaded it on the fill shut-off head. This creates a nice funnel with automatic fill shut-off. No mirror needed.

--

Lee Zaborowski

07 Intrigue 12153, Cat C-13

Re: Battery Watering

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66233
Get a turkey baster with a good sized bulb and 6" nozzle. Use a plastic measuring cup to keep track of the amount and fill the battery compartments to cover the plates - not necessarily to the bottom of the filler pipe. An angled mirror and flash light is handy to look down at those cells in back (and other applications) but in practice they'll all take about the same amount as the other cells every couple weeks. No fancy plumbing or Rube Goldberg setup necessary.
Autofill bottles invariably leak a little each time tilted - not that a little distilled water on top of the battery really hurts anything but it's messy.

Jim M '02Intrigue#11410 ISL400 -no bidet.

Re: Battery Watering

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66237

Jim,

" No fancy plumbing or Rube Goldberg setup necessary."
Surely you jest. This bunch lives for complex, difficult to justify goodies. Life would not be worth living......

Bob (rthandren@...)
'05 Inspire 51178

Re: Battery Watering

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66246
Get the Pro-Fill or Quick Fill watering device available at CW. This is not Rube Goldberg but rather a well engineered product that assists with filling batteries. Remove the caps, insert the feeders, connect the hoses, (one time of course). Comes with a hand squeeze bulb. Stick the free end into a gallon bottle of distilled water, squeeze the bulb a couple of times, and all cells will fill to the proper level. I like mine so much I just ordered a different system for my new 8D battery. I have the model for 4 6 volt batteries and I think it was around $80 but I don't really remember.

John

Re: Battery Watering

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66261
That's right, Bob. We don't do things the easy way around here. However, I do use Jim's recommended procedure for battery watering except that I bought a battery watering bulb for the purpose. My wife frowned upon my using the turkey baster. I agree that the battery watering bottles leak.

George Harper
04 Allure
31093

Re: Battery Watering& question

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66264
My turkey baster is what's called multi use tool. Actually I do use a bulb type filler I got years ago at some automotive parts store.
In a related vein. I notice it a brief perusal of the Lifeline AGM battery catalog & specs. that they have replacements for D8 deep cycle RV house batteries but no corresponding replacement for D8 size starting batteries. If one has a single D8 starting battery and two D8 deep cycle house batteries as I have and considering replacement with AGM batteries does one replace just the deep cycle house batteries winding up with a mix of lead acid start battery and two AGM D8's. Replace all three with D8 AGM deep cycle batteries. Replace the start battery with an AGM 12VDC start battery of the next smaller size (but lesser capacity) or replace the start battery with two 6VDC AGM start batteries connected in series for 12VDC (for essentially the same capacity as the present D8 start battery)?
Their literature doesn't address this situation. I'm talking replacement with essentially the same physical battery setup without changing all the cables, etc. Probably give up on the idea once I see the cost - which also is missing from their literature.

Jim M '02 Intrigue#11410, ISL 400
 

Re: Battery Watering& question

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66266
Contact Tom At...... truk4u@... and he will be able to help you.
AL

00 Affinity...no bidet