Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Jason on July 21, 2022, 06:24:03 pm
Title: Prosine Temp Error, Battery is hot
Post by: Jason on July 21, 2022, 06:24:03 pm
Background- I have a 50A plug on my house that the coach is always plugged into.
Awhile back I turned off the charger since it was parked and not in use. About a month ago I turned back on the charger but left the inverter off. This would keep the batteries charged.
Today I took it up to get it's annual inspection. Both ACs on with generator running. The ACs ended turning off and I see an error on the panel- 3 red lights for faults. Drove home after passing inspection and would look at it later today. Generator kept running, that's good.
It is not plugged in. I tried to bypass it as the manual stated but nothing changed. I can hear the Prosine humming away. I figured out how to read the code and then looked it up, it's a 001 which is battery temp too high or low. I opened the house battery compartment and touched all three, the top one is very hot to touch, the others are fine. Volts are 12.3.
How do I cool this battery? What would cause this to run hotter? Is a replacement in order? They are AGM Magna Power. I probably need to replace it, but looking for confirmation.
Title: Re: Prosine Temp Error, Battery is hot
Post by: wolfe10 on July 21, 2022, 06:41:49 pm
A battery with a bad cell WILL cause an overheated battery condition. Instead of charging a 12 VDC battery, at say 13.2 VDC float, think what would happen if one cell was dead= 10 VDC battery charged at 13.2 VDC.
Separate the batteries, fully charge each and do a LOAD TEST (free at any place that sells batteries).
Title: Re: Prosine Temp Error, Battery is hot
Post by: Jason on July 21, 2022, 06:53:36 pm
Thank you Brett! I do have a BatteryMINDer and a Schumacher load tester, the metal non-electric type. I will remove, check water levels and then charge/test.
It's the top one that is suspect, gotta figure out how to remove that, these are not light as ya'll know!
Title: Re: Prosine Temp Error, Battery is hot
Post by: oldguy on July 21, 2022, 07:10:50 pm
AGM batteries don't need the water checked and you should be able to check the batteries in place.
Title: Re: Prosine Temp Error, Battery is hot
Post by: wolfe10 on July 21, 2022, 07:14:35 pm
AGM batteries don't need the water checked and you should be able to check the batteries in place.
Correct, AGM batteries do not need water level checked.
Yes, you can check them in place, but each must be separated for the test.
Title: Re: Prosine Temp Error, Battery is hot
Post by: Jason on July 21, 2022, 07:38:10 pm
Thanks yes I realized that once I looked at it.
Title: Re: Prosine Temp Error, Battery is hot
Post by: turbojack on July 22, 2022, 06:53:21 am
If your coach was like the 1997 U295 I had the top battery is on a slide. Of course once you slide it out you have to pick up that heavy _ _ _ _.
When I got new batteries I went to O'Reillys disconnected them in the parking lot. Went inside and had the guys come out, pick them up and put on dolly. They came out with the new ones. Installed them and I then wired them back up.
Title: Re: Prosine Temp Error, Battery is hot
Post by: Jason on July 22, 2022, 07:02:21 pm
Update- I put on my BatteryMINDer charger/desulfator on all three. The bottom 2 were mostly ok, one registered as weak after the desulfator but both passed the load test. Volts said 12.6 and 12.3 after charged.
The top one which was hot- I never allowed it to complete the process, it was really hot so I decided to let it cool. Came out this AM and it was still hot. Volts dropped from 12.3 to 8.8 in 12 hours or so with nothing hooked up. And there is a decent size bulge on the side, hard to see but you can feel it. Batteries were made 11/17, so not old but not young, I was hoping to get 7-10 years out of them.
Obviously the top one needs replacing. I am on the fence and searching just leads to analysis paralysis with all of the videos/blogs/forum posts. So maybe some of you knowledgeable folks can weigh in.
1- Can a single LiFe battery work alongside 2 AGMs? 2- AGMs appear to be all over the place price wise. 350-750. LiFe are in the 750-850 range. 3- What needs to be done to have LiFe work in cold weather? Can they be charged below 0? Texas does get cold and my travels will certainly take me to places that get cold. But I need to be able to use them 4- I do not have solar or a residential fridge, yet, those are on the (long) to do list. 5- If I go with AGMs, any recommendation? The one I have is a 1450CCA/225ah, so I'd want something similar. 6- LiFe do not appear to be plug n play. It appears a regulator needs to be installed for the alternator. Or is the a LiFe brand that is plug n play? 7- Any other input, suggestion, advice is recommended.
Title: Re: Prosine Temp Error, Battery is hot
Post by: craneman on July 22, 2022, 08:29:32 pm
Update- I put on my BatteryMINDer charger/desulfator on all three. The bottom 2 were mostly ok, one registered as weak after the desulfator but both passed the load test. Volts said 12.6 and 12.3 after charged.
The top one which was hot- I never allowed it to complete the process, it was really hot so I decided to let it cool. Came out this AM and it was still hot. Volts dropped from 12.3 to 8.8 in 12 hours or so with nothing hooked up. And there is a decent size bulge on the side, hard to see but you can feel it. Batteries were made 11/17, so not old but not young, I was hoping to get 7-10 years out of them.
Obviously the top one needs replacing. I am on the fence and searching just leads to analysis paralysis with all of the videos/blogs/forum posts. So maybe some of you knowledgeable folks can weigh in.
1- Can a single LiFe battery work alongside 2 AGMs? 2- AGMs appear to be all over the place price wise. 350-750. LiFe are in the 750-850 range. 3- What needs to be done to have LiFe work in cold weather? Can they be charged below 0? Texas does get cold and my travels will certainly take me to places that get cold. But I need to be able to use them 4- I do not have solar or a residential fridge, yet, those are on the (long) to do list. 5- If I go with AGMs, any recommendation? The one I have is a 1450CCA/225ah, so I'd want something similar. 6- LiFe do not appear to be plug n play. It appears a regulator needs to be installed for the alternator. Or is the a LiFe brand that is plug n play? 7- Any other input, suggestion, advice is recommended.
Lithium cannot be used with lead acid batteries
Title: Re: Prosine Temp Error, Battery is hot
Post by: danilaprepeleac on July 23, 2022, 12:58:50 am
the thing about lithium is that you will only need 2 batteries instead of 3
the Ah in lithium is fully usable in the regular batteries you can only use the half of the Ah ratting.
so on a 3 batteries setup like yours you have 370 ah
with 2 lithium each rated at 240ah you have 480 ah
take the cost of 3 agm $2300 cost of 2 lithium $3200 and you have a better setup and longer life.
Agm are real good for college Temps where they can give you desired cranking amps
less weight
at the end of the day lithium will be more power for your buck.
I wish o did that instead of the Agm
Title: Re: Prosine Temp Error, Battery is hot
Post by: Jason on July 24, 2022, 03:49:04 pm
A few more questions after researching. I am taking a trip next month, mainly staying in campgrounds but may do a few boon-docking nights, so I don't have time to do a lot of work and planning.
1- Is there any problem with just running the 2 remaining ones, leaving the top one disconnected. I would remove the bad top one and then cover cover the connectors so nothing touches the metal
2- Does anyone have experience with either the Renogy or Oreilly AGM batteries? If I move to solar/LiFenext year, I can find a place to use the AGMs. Renogy- Amazon.com: Renogy Deep Cycle AGM Battery 12 Volt 200Ah, 3% Self-Discharge... (https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Self-Discharge-Discharge-Appliances-Maintenance-Free/dp/B075RGX1WR?th=1) Oreilly- https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/fleet-heavy-duty/super-start-fleet-heavy-duty-battery-group-size-8d/ssbl/agm8d?q=AGM8D&pos=0
3- Are there any drop in lithium replacements? I have found these Chargex - They advertise these as drop in replacements 300ah 12V 300 AH Lithium Ion Battery | Deep Cycle Lithium Ion Battery | CHARGEX® (https://www.lithiumion-batteries.com/products/12-volt-lithium-batteries/12v-300ah-lithium-ion-battery) 100ah Chargex® 12V 100AH Lithium Ion Battery (https://www.lithiumion-batteries.com/products/12-volt-lithium-batteries/chargex-12v-100ah-lithium-battery)
Another couple of options from researching here, but they may not be direct replacements Enduro 300ah Enduro Power Baja 12V LiFePO4 Battery (https://www.continuousresources.com/collections/batteries/products/enduro-power-baja-12v-lifepo4-battery?variant=42106442383577) LifeBlue 300ah https://www.continuousresources.com/collections/batteries/products/lifeblue-lifepo4-low-temperature-battery?variant=40325353242781
4- Assuming there are no drop in replacements, is the BIM 225 all that is needed? https://battlebornbatteries.com/product/lifepo4-battery-isolation-manager/
Title: Re: Prosine Temp Error, Battery is hot
Post by: wolfe10 on July 24, 2022, 03:55:12 pm
A few more questions after researching. I am taking a trip next month, mainly staying in campgrounds but may do a few boon-docking nights, so I don't have time to do a lot of work and planning.
1- Is there any problem with just running the 2 remaining ones, leaving the top one disconnected. I would remove the bad top one and then cover cover the connectors so nothing touches the metal. NO PROBLEM RUNNING ON THE TWO GOOD ONES. JUST MAKE SURE THE CABLES TO THE HOUSE REMAIN PROPERLY CONNECTED TO THE REMAINING TWO AND REMOVE (BETTER) OR ISOLATE ANY CABLES TO THE REMAINING ON BATTERY. OLD BIKE INNER TUBES WORK WELL FOR ISOLATING BATTERY CONNECTIONS-- JUST ZIP TIE IN PLACE.
Title: Re: Prosine Temp Error, Battery is hot
Post by: Dakota Slim on July 24, 2022, 04:41:14 pm
A few more questions after researching. I am taking a trip next month, mainly staying in campgrounds but may do a few boon-docking nights, so I don't have time to do a lot of work and planning.
1- Is there any problem with just running the 2 remaining ones, leaving the top one disconnected. I would remove the bad top one and then cover cover the connectors so nothing touches the metal
What Wolfe said. No problem. You are good to go with the amount of amp hours in the 2 remaining batteries and that will give you time to explore all your options.
Title: Re: Prosine Temp Error, Battery is hot
Post by: Jason on July 24, 2022, 07:01:14 pm
Thanks for the info. Battery removed.
Next, knowing I will go with 2 x 300ah lithium batteries, removing a section vs insulating with rubber is a better option. Does someone make a 2 post parallel cable? I can try to DIY it, never done it before.
It looks like my current cable is 3/0 Essex Excelene 600v welding/battery cable. How would I attach it? I could use a slip on connector and then bolt it to the post connector? Something like this https://smile.amazon.com/SELTERM-Marine-Terminal-Battery-Eyelets/p/B073Y9FDSX Or is there another way? What do others do?
Title: Re: Prosine Temp Error, Battery is hot
Post by: dsd on July 24, 2022, 07:10:12 pm
Jason I am not recommending this but I ran our coach (not chassis) for a year off one old red top battery. Just enough to start the generator. Never had a problem. Didn't operate anything unless the generator was running. I will one day update the batteries but am holding off till I can do the entire system and solar at the same time. Every day this stuff improves. Everything need to be a matched set also. Battery technology is also improving. Ill pull the trigger in a couple of years. Scott
Title: Re: Prosine Temp Error, Battery is hot
Post by: Jason on July 24, 2022, 07:31:19 pm
Agreed. We use our generator almost everywhere we go when not plugged in, we need AC to travel here in TX and being in AZ, you are probably the same. I know Elliot has figure it out for the front half, but he has a lot of wattage up top. Upgrading to solar/charger/batteries was something that I wanted to do all at once as there are tax breaks for a 2nd home which was not budgeted for this year. I am still trying to get someone to build a cover/garage for it which is a higher priority. For now, I will probably wrap and cover the terminals if I cannot find a reasonable 2 post cable solution.
Title: Re: Prosine Temp Error, Battery is hot
Post by: Jason on July 24, 2022, 10:00:18 pm
Done. Bike tube rubber. Wrapped up 5-8 times and laying on top of rubber. Zip ties are great.
Hooked it all back up and plugged in the shorepower, no error thrown on the Prosine. Thanks for the advice/suggestions.
I'll go for a spin sometime this week with ACs and generator on to test everything out. I am waiting until fuel is under $4, should happen the way crude is falling (we all hope), then I'll go fill it up.
Title: Re: Prosine Temp Error, Battery is hot
Post by: Rich Bowman on July 25, 2022, 12:32:15 pm
NAPA will customize battery cables. They built me some new starter cables last year.
Rich
Title: Re: Prosine Temp Error, Battery is hot
Post by: Jason on July 25, 2022, 12:42:10 pm