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New Batteries --- Falling Fast

Yahoo Message Number: 99560
I just put 3 New batteries in my 03 Allure.
When I first turn on the inverter, it showed batteries at 74% and was dropping.  So I started and ran Generator for 3 hours.  .  The battery show full 100% and float charge.  So I turned off the generator.  The inverter shows bat level drop to about 65%.  But seems to be holding at 65%..  even with lights on and playing around a little.

Has anyone had this happen? 
Bob

Re: New Batteries --- Falling Fast

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 99561
This is just a guess but my assumption is the reading telling you the percentage is just measuring voltage so if it drops that low in my mind would suggest a bad battery. I would check the voltage with a meter to determine which one is defective.

Re: New Batteries --- Falling Fast

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 99567
I was thinking the same thing.  I left the coach over night,  Inverter showed 65% charged, When I started the coach, the dash volt shows like 10.5 to 11 Volts,  The new batteries started the coach, but slow.  once started, I started the Generator, and in about 5 minutes, the dash volt gauge showed 14 volts,  Then in about 15 to 20 minutes of running generator,  the inverter went from 65 % charged to 100 %...  I think I might have a bad battery as well.  I am going to charge with coach attached to AC.  Then I will unplug and turn batteries off,  Wait 1/2 hour, then do a water test per cell.
Anyone els have a better idea???

One other factor, the battery warehouse where I bought the batteries said he had 1,100 cranking amps or 1,400 cold cranking amps,  He said for my application, better to use 1,100 cranking amps as there is more deep cycle room in the batteries.

Bob

03 Allure 40 3 Slide tag / # 30814

Re: New Batteries --- Falling Fast

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 99569
Cranking amps are useless for deep cycling. That is why  chassis and house use different batteries. Cranking batteries can deliver high  amperage for short period like starting an engine. Deep cycle deliver low to mid  amps over an extended period and recover more times from down to 40-50%  discharge.
 One you may have is something that should be connected to the  house batteries connected to the chassis instead.

Ray

They say wine improves  with age! As I enter my golden years, I say age improves with wine!  The Born  Loser

Re: New Batteries --- Falling Fast

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 99575
Bob, From experts I've talked with the Inverter % of battery full is not especially accurate.

I suggest you once again bring your batteries up to full charge measure the voltage at each battery with you volt meter, then disconnect your shore power and turn off your battery disconnect toggle switch.

1. after one hour re-measure your batteries voltages with multi-meter

2. repeat after 2 hours

3. repeat after 3 to 4 hours

If you batteries are still in the 13.2 to 13.5 your probably OK, if their down in the 12's there's a problem.

Mike 03 Allure 1st Ave. #30898

Re: New Batteries --- Falling Fast

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 99578
Mike

AA fully charged 12 volt battery is 12.6. Each cell contributes 2.1 volts  You can Google state of charge voltages. ]

Mikee

Re: New Batteries --- Falling Fast

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 99583
Mikee,

This is what I find below which I pasted from an article, I didn't paste BULK Charge info, when it stops raining I'll go out and re-check my Float Charge Volt numbers as I am camped on the road plugged in right now and in Float Charge.

Absorption Charge - The 2nd stage of 3-stage battery charging. Voltage remains constant and current gradually tapers off as internal resistance increases during charging. It is during this stage that the charger puts out maximum voltage. Voltages at this stage are typically around 14.2 to 15.5 volts.
 Float Charge - The 3rd stage of 3-stage battery charging. After batteries reach full charge, charging voltage is reduced to a lower level (typically 12.8 to 13.2) to reduce gassing and prolong battery life. This is often referred to as a maintenance or trickle charge, since it's main purpose is to keep an already charged battery from discharging.

Thanks for the reply, Mike 03 Allure 1st Ave. #30898

Re: New Batteries --- Falling Fast

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 99588
As you are saying these are charge voltages not battery voltages. With all  charging sources disconnected the battery will be 12.6. The 13.xx you are  talking about are charge voltages.
 To determine battery voltage they need to rest for 2 hours with all  charging sources disconnected. You will probably need to disconnect them to  eliminate any draw on them

Mikee

Re: New Batteries --- Falling Fast

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 99589
One of the experts I talked to,  Said with deep cell batteries,  The way to tell is with the water test.  I bought one,  Which looks like an anti-freeze tester, and it tell the condition of your cells.  He said if they are all in the range you are good.
I am going to do just that, check with an amp meter and water.  They say you can't do a load test on deep cycle batteries.  Who knows, before this is over Ill be an expert in this field... LoL....

Bob

03 Allure 40 3 Slide Tag/  #30814

Re: New Batteries --- Falling Fast

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 99593
The hydrometer test is a great tool since it checks individual cells.

Ray O   
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Re: New Batteries --- Falling Fast

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 99594
Mikeee correct "resting voltage" is after charge removed for 20-30 minutes. Also as he states removing cables, really only need remove ground cable, to remove load dragging them down.

Ray O

Re: New Batteries --- Falling Fast

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 99596
I am doing water test today...  One thing might be draining the batteries,  My Hurricane keeps showing code 7,  Fame out,  (With the many thanks to Kevin Waite) I need to (we are thinking) replace eye, and fuel nossel to keep the Hurricane burner running.
With that be said, and it is cold here in NC, the Hurricane is going into AC/DC mode that bring heat to the basement and water cabinet.  So this might be the big load on the batteries.
I would think the 3 circulator pumps wouldn't bring the batteries that low, that fast, where I can watch before my eyes in 15 minutes go from 100% to 65% in 15 minutes.  The odd thing is, it appears to hold 62% over night.  I'm thinking I have bad battery in the bank.
I went for wet batteries instead of AGM.  We will all see as I put this to a good test for our group.
I am posting this so y'all can get my experience, on my dime.  My daddy always said, " the difference  between a fool and a wise man, is the wise man learns off of the fool, while the fool learns of himself."

Bob
]

03 Allure 3 Slide Tag / #30814

Re: New Batteries --- Falling Fast

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 99599
Don't know where you are located in North Carolina but if you are near Asheville, Battery Pro on Sardis Rd will check your battery s for you. That is where I always buy mine. Also are you turning your inverter off??

Re: New Batteries --- Falling Fast

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 99614
Bob, I don't see the background, but your Hurricane running is a big drain on the batteries. Like 20 amps at least.

Rich 2002 Magna

Re: New Batteries --- Falling Fast

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 99618
Problem Solved !!!!

Ok all my do it your self boys, and girls I did the wet test.  All batteries are good.  It was the ground wire, that mounts to the chassis.  I took the nut off, and wire brushed it...  Bam all is good.

As far as the Hurricane,  did some diagnosis with a man on the phone, (Built a presser guage to make sure)  But he is overnighting me a new air compressor.  So I should have hot water when I leave tomorrow night...

I never keep my hands clean.... LoL....

Bob

03 Allure  3 Slide Tag/ #30814
 

Re: New Batteries --- Falling Fast

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 99626
According to my manual, Copyright 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, the draw is between 4 and 13 amps depending on the model.

Dick May

2002 Intrigue, #11438 (Hurricane Model CO45DRF, 6 amps)
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438, towing a
2014 Jeep Gr Cherokee ecoDiesel