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More Battery Info

Yahoo Message Number: 4346
I installed Lifeline AGMs for my coach batteries some time ago. The factory installed batteries failed (burned up actually). I discovered that the Link 2000 Control had wrongly used the chassis batteries as reference probably burned up my coach batteries. I set the Link 2000 properly prior to installing the AGMs. When the AGMs were discharged some time later I noticed that the charger would overheat in hot weather and the current going into the batteries was 140 amps in bulk mode! To make a long story short I discovered that the chassis batteries were again selected as the reference by the Link 2000. I re- selected the coach batteries as the reference and the charger now appears to work properly. I did disconnect the Link 2000 before the AGMs were installed as the manual instructed. I can't remember whether I rechecked the Link 2000 settings or not, probably not. I don't know if the chassis batteries got selected then or not but I would urge anyone who has this system installed to check it ASAP. jerry in NM, '00 Magna.

Re: More Battery Info

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4355
Jerry,
Allow me a few questions about your experience with the Lifeline batteries.
Aside from the setup problems how satisfied are you with the Lifeline?
Did you replace the chassis battery at the same time as the house batteries and with what.... lead-acid or Lifeline AGM?
I have all but decided to get the AGM batteries. It's just a matter of finding the right source and price.... care to share?
Dick May

2002 Intrigue, #11438
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438, towing a
2014 Jeep Gr Cherokee ecoDiesel

Re: More Battery Info

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4356
Tom, I instaled the AGMs in Jan. or Feb. 2000 for the coach batteries only. The chassis batteries are ok so far. I've had no problems with them at all even with the abuse my charger has given them. It probably shortened their life tho'. I don't use them much but when I do they have been flawless. I've used them for two days in winter and four days in summer without needing recharging. They are completely maintenance free and you can install them and forget them. When I had mine installed the only thing the dealer checked was my alternator output when the chassis batteries were under heavy load. jerry, '00 Magna.

Re: More Battery Info

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4357
Dick, I don't why I called you "Tom". Please forgive me. jerry

Re: More Battery Info

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4359
Dick,

We purchased a "new" 2002 Allure in Nov of '02 from Holland Coach in Holland Mich. The coach had Champion Deep Cycle batteries size 8D which were original from CC. It had approx 5500 miles on it but was never titled - only used as a "show" coach at a couple of rallies I'm told. We drove it home to Wichita, Ks and put it in storage.
Not being one that can buy a new "toy" and put it away, I visited it several times over the next few weeks. I noticed that the house batteries were always low even though I had everything unplugged that I could find. My thought each time was that there was something putting a drain on them. Unrelated to this, we decided to put the coach in a heated storage building and so I brought it home to run the generator to recharge them and did so for about 6 hours. They still would not hold a charge. After many discussions with Holland and with CC, it was determined that the batteries probably had bad cells. Since there wasn't a champion dealership in Wichita, Champion agreed to remburse me for the cost of the batteries and CC the freight and the labor to remove them and replace them with batteries that I would purchase. Mike at Holland suggested that I contact Lifeline Distributors in Azusa CA (800-527-3224)which I did. They, by the way, supply CC with Lifeline AGM batteries. I purchased two at $265 ea plus $90 freight to Wichita Ks. I had them installed by a service center I use at the cost of $30. That was 12/12/02 and they have maintained a full charge since then. I do have the coach plugged into 110 which I'm told is only on for one hour a day (which I doubt). We are getting ready for a week trip mid march and I would be glad to report back to you how it went regarding the batteries if you would like. Just send me an email and I will respond.
Regards
Ken Havener

'02 Allure #30711
Wichita Ks

Quote from: Dick May

Jerry,

Allow me a few questions about your experience with the Lifeline

batteries.

Quote
>

Aside from the setup problems how satisfied are you with the

Lifeline?

Quote
>

Did you replace the chassis battery at the same time as the house
batteries and with what.... lead-acid or Lifeline AGM?

Quote
>

I have all but decided to get the AGM batteries. It's just a
matter of finding the right source and price.... care to share?

Quote
Dick May

2002 Intrigue, #11438

Re: More Battery Info

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4361
Ken,

There is an excellent article on maintaining your batteries in the winter issue of the CC's Destinations magazine. We do it that way and have never had a problem with our original equipment batteries. Unfortunately dealers do not take care of the batteries and when you buy the coach you get batteries that have been abused. We have purchased 2 CCs thru the factory and aside from the delivery guy no one has screwed them up. We have owned 4 coaches over 11 years and never purchased one from a dealer lot.
We once left our coach with a dealer in NC and in one week he ran our batteries down to 9 volts. He said that was not unusual, we needed a big jump start and he blew our inverter and several other things including a 200 amp fuse. From that time I always stay with the coach when it is in a dealership.
CCI in their article says never let the voltage go much below 12.5 volts for an extended period of time and never let the batteries go below 50%. We stick to that and have never even needed to equalize. Our batteries even came back for the 9 volt experience, I think because I could not use the coach charger (blew with inverter) so we used a very slow charger from Walmart. Our present coach, a 2001 Magna is over 2 years old, has 35k miles and is keep in storage for 2 months at a time. We do have solar panels which helps but they are only a year old so we went for over a year without them. During that year without solar panels we did use the generator quite often, but that's also good for the generator except that we had to go 10 miles to do that, Coach is not stored at house.

Bill G. 2001 Magna #5998

Re: More Battery Info

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4384
Tom... Dick.... Harry..... what's in a name? Not a problem.

Quote from: jerry
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438, towing a
2014 Jeep Gr Cherokee ecoDiesel