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Battery issues.

Yahoo Message Number: 80367
I'm lost for an answer to a problem and hope someone here can point me in the right direction.
About a month ago we overnighted in a WalMart. Parked at 3pm and at 1am the CO alarm started to chirp. Turns out we had flat batteries. The generator would not start so I had to use the 'magic' switch to get it started off the chassis battery. Ran it for an hour and all was OK.
We have stayed in parks ever since and assumed everything was OK. (I blamed the fridge being on 'humidity' given the manual says not to leave it on without shore power due to heavy current draw).
Now today we lost power in the campground. (The whole county was out). But 15 minutes after losing power we were down to 77% in the batteries. The generator would turn over but not start. 3 tries later and the batteries would not turn over the generator. Magic button was used again.
Now my question is - Why would we drop to 77% in just 15 minutes. Why wouldn't 77% start the generators?
We had nothing on during that 15 minutes. Anyway even if we did 15 minutes is/should be nothing.
Any clues? Batteries are 6 years old. Chassis battery is 2 years old.
My guess is I need new batteries but before I get a mortgage for them I'm looking at other issues that may mean I don't have to buy batteries only to find that I still have problems.

Thanks.

Bruce.

2001 Intrigue #11278

Re: Battery issues.

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80368
My guess is you have a shorted cell in one of the batteries.

Al Colby

2000 Intrigue 10979

Re: Battery issues.

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80369
At 6 years you got an extra 2 years out of em... Get a new set and I bet the problem disappears.

Mikee

Re: Battery issues.

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80379
Bruce,

They're toast. You did well getting 6 years, but the good times are gone. I can help you if you want Lifelines.

Tom

Lifeline Batteries
97 Prevost

Re: Battery issues.

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80387
I agree with Dave. Have a load test performed on each individual battery with the batteries fully charged and then disconnected from one another. It does sound like a bad battery issue but it's worth a try to have them properly load tested.
For the record, however, 6 years in itself is not a death sentence on batteries (of course that probably depends on brand and care). In my previous coach I had Trojan T-105s (6 of them) and they were still running strong at 8 years of age when we sold the coach. In our present coach I have eight Trojan T-105s and they are also 8 years old and still going strong. Obviously I am very partial to these batteries and I only service them about 2 or 3 times a year.

Steve B

2002 Intrigue #11382

Re: Battery issues.

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80391
Usually you can only discharge batteries (flat) so many times before they give up the ship. At six years and depending on the type of batteries you have, they may be at their useful end. I would take them out and have them tested under a load since you might just have on bad cell. The alternative would be to " wedge" your boost switch for about an hour in the on position and that will quick charge your batteries; you can check the, periodically and see if they are holding before replacing.

Roger Harper
2006 Intrigue
#11990

Re: Battery issues.

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80392
You can purchase a simple and inexpensive hydrometer battery cell tester at a auto parts store and check each cell. You will quickly find the bad battery. One bad battery at 6 years calls for replacement of all of them.

Leonard

97' Magna 5418

Re: Battery issues.

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80397
Bruce, just wondering; I have six Tojan GC batteries in my 2002 Intrigue for what I think is 675AH. What would you recommend in Lifeline? I'm thinking of going to Lifeline next.

Don

Re: Battery issues.

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80399
Bruce,

There have been some good suggestions about a dead cell in one battery and load testing them.
If you are considering Lifeline batteries take a look at the Lifeline GPL-6CT if you can fit those in (13" tall) or the GPL-4C. The nice thing about AGM's is they can take a faster charge and are sealed. If you aren't religious about checking water level with conventional wet cells you can easily ruin them.
I bought my Lifeline 6V's from Powerstride.com and got free shipping but maybe Tom can match or beat the web.

John

05 Inspire #51399

Re: Battery issues - load test

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80401
I was told by a tech that deep cycle batteries cannot be accurately load tested. Is this true?

Thanks, Jim
10614

Re: Battery issues - load test

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80409
The folks at the Lifeline distributor in Azusa CA do extensive load testing. They take each battery individually, fully charge them and do a load test until they are discharged. For multiple batteries this requires several days to complete. Their testing provides a result of percent of original rated capacity remaining.

Bob Wexler
SOB

Re: Battery issues - load test

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80427
Jim,

That tech needs to go back to school or maybe his technique was wrong. Some load testers will not display accurately with AGM's. If that's the case, you can use a multi-meter to measure voltage while loading the battery with the tester.

Tom

Lifeline Batteries
97 Prevost

Re: Battery issues - load test

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80451
I think I would find another battery shop to have them load teasted. Yes you can load test them.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

Re: Battery issues - load test

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80454
Not sure where you are getting yuor info, yes they can be load tested, but not accurately. Deep cycle batteries are made for deep discharge cycles at low amps. Ie 20 to 30. A

Re: Battery issues - load test

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80457
Thanks, Mikee, that confirms what my tech said. . .yes, but not accurately for deep cycle.

Jim
10613

Re: Battery issues - load test

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80458
The best way to test batteries with access to the cells is either with a volt meter, check the voltage of each cell by placing meter tips in the water of each cell. One cell weaker then then the rest a a very bad sign. Be sure batteries are charged up before testing. The other way is to use a hydrometer to check the electrolyte level in each cell. Again, charge up FULLY first, not 90%, fully charged. Any weak cell will quickly stand out. Another test is to simple check the voltage between post. Have to isolate batteries from the rest first. ANY battery that drops under 12 volts or 6 volts with a load is a bad battery. A really bad battery will not take a charge, it will remain at a lower voltage then the rest of the bank after the bank is fully charged. By the way, it takes lots of hours to fully charge a battery.

Purchased a new car with a battery that dropped under 12 volts while cranking, yet the dealership wanted to tell me it was OK by the factory test. So much confusion on how to test batteries. They replaced it from a new car on the lot and all my electronic problems went with it.

Leonard

97' Magna 5418

Re: Battery issues - load test

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80463
Took my AGM's to an Interstate battery shop who placed them on his $3500 Interstate hand held tester and they showed good. I said they don't act good and the shop put them on a load test machine and they failed and I walked away with two new batteries for no charge.

Dan 2006 Allure 31348

Battery issues.

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 80370
Hello,

I would do a draw test on all batteries first then replace if needed. Six years for any battery is good..

Dave.

Dave Rousey Jr. (owner)
Former CC Technician
Styleworks RV Repair LLC
4764 Long St.

Sweet Home, OR 97386
(541) 543-7983

Sent from my HTC smartphone on the Now Network from Sprint!