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Topic: House batteries overheating? (Read 619 times) previous topic - next topic

House batteries overheating?

I have a problem that I finally got a place to plug the coach into for storage. I have been without shore power for almost 4 months and just starting the coach weekly and using the generator to charge for about 1 hour per week. I know that it is not nearly enough and I think that the coach batteries may be sulfated out causing them to reject a charge. Placing it on shore power everything seemed fine until 4 days later, I live 50 miles away, I checked on it and could smell something wrong. I immediately checked the voltage going to the batteries and it was 13.94V which is not unreasonable on charge but when I unplugged from shore power the batteries read only 12.5V. But in saying that I also noticed the cells boiling around the top and the sides starting to bulge, so I shut down any charging. Will check again on Monday but I think that they are toast and will have to buy 2 new 8D AGM's. Any thoughts would be certainly appreciated other than my own stupidity for not being able to getting it plugged in sooner. On the panel when I got shore power plugged in it was reading between 40 to 50 amps but I figured that was normal being that I had been unplugged for so long and the batteries low. They are only 4 year old AGM batteries.

Thanks,
John
John Smith
1994 U280 36' John, Pauline, & Marley Cat
2010 Ford Fusion

Re: House batteries overheating?

Reply #1 –
John,

Does sound like they are shot.

Be sure that your inverter/charger is properly programmed.  13.94 is too high for FLOAT level unless it is really cold out.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: House batteries overheating?

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Parati –
I have a problem that I finally got a place to plug the coach into for storage. I have been without shore power for almost 4 months and just starting the coach weekly and using the generator to charge for about 1 hour per week. I know that it is not nearly enough and I think that the coach batteries may be sulfated out causing them to reject a charge. Placing it on shore power everything seemed fine until 4 days later, I live 50 miles away, I checked on it and could smell something wrong. I immediately checked the voltage going to the batteries and it was 13.94V which is not unreasonable on charge but when I unplugged from shore power the batteries read only 12.5V. But in saying that I also noticed the cells boiling around the top and the sides starting to bulge, so I shut down any charging. Will check again on Monday but I think that they are toast and will have to buy 2 new 8D AGM's. Any thoughts would be certainly appreciated other than my own stupidity for not being able to getting it plugged in sooner. On the panel when I got shore power plugged in it was reading between 40 to 50 amps but I figured that was normal being that I had been unplugged for so long and the batteries low. They are only 4 year old AGM batteries.

Thanks,
John


Toast. My previous coach the AGMs were hot and outgassing. I disconnected them until I could replace them.  They were 10 - 11 years old, but had always been on smart chargers.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: House batteries overheating?

Reply #3 –
I had never had a problem with the AGM setting for 4 years of use plugged in all winter and most of the year and which I verified when installing the new batteries originally which were identical to those that I replaced. The wife had commented on the smell around the coach when we got there today and I too noticed it thinking at first that someone had just dumped there tanks next to us. Then it dawned on me the egg smell was the batteries. I was surprised that it happened as they had never given any problem before, but I concur with everyone that they are toast now and that is why I disconnected them. I'm thinking that I'll opt for Lifeline batteries this time for higher quality as 4 years is not enough and I am thinking that possibility of solar cells to help as well but one thing at a time. I believe that it was my fault for not fully charging the batteries each time as that has detrimental effect on them with the parasitic draw from the coach systems. I guess battery disconnects would help there too. Anyone have a specific brand or type that they would recommend?

I thank Brett and Don for your responses as it gives me a kick in the butt to just buy new ones instead of wondering why. It was a surprise for me as the originals lasted about 10 years from what I was told. If the batteries don't come up to the proper level of charge then charger will keep trying to charge, so the overheating situation. I assume that the batteries on charge would carry the voltage of the charger charging for a short while at 13+ volts and not show just 12.5 volts which could also be a surface charge. When I go to the coach on Monday I'll do another test of the voltage to see where it is at but I don't think it is going to be good. I have the new gauges to install for voltage monitoring so that should help some thanks to Pierce doing that already to his coach. 

Thanks,
John
John Smith
1994 U280 36' John, Pauline, & Marley Cat
2010 Ford Fusion

Re: House batteries overheating?

Reply #4 –

John,

Do you have a three way smart charger that does bulk, absorption, float charge?  My previous coach, 94 Bluebird, had old "battery boiler" charging when I first bought it. That was the first change I made on that coach.

It looks like from the factory your coach used a converter/charger for charging? 1994 Foretravel U280 Specifications

Amazon.com: Progressive Dynamics (PD9260C) 60 Amp Power Converter with... 

Power Converters - Progressive Dynamics 

Charge Wizard® - Progressive Dynamics

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: House batteries overheating?

Reply #5 –
Lifelines are nice. How much is an 8D

O'Reilly 8D AGM usually less than $450 ea.
(Part Number AGM8D I think, you can look up pricing at your store on their web site with the right part #)

http://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/super-start-fleet---heavy-duty-5000/marine-parts---accessories-16900/deep-cycle---marine-batteries-17354/battery/agm8d/4742645
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: House batteries overheating?

Reply #6 –
Lifelines can be equalized the others cannot if needed
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: House batteries overheating?

Reply #7 –
Thanks Tim, Dan, Caflashbob,

The Lifeline are almost double the price of the O'Reilly batteries. Comparatively, Lifeline = Amazon $850+ each and O'Reilly = $455 each, so I think that being O'Reilly is so close to my location and will install for that price as opposed to driving about 100 miles to get the Lifeline that I'll try the O'Reilly batteries first. The Lifeline are great but are a little more than my budget allows at the moment.

I'll probably go to a Pure Sine Wave Inverter but I will dig further into the system first to see which way I want to go. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Much appreciated,
John
John Smith
1994 U280 36' John, Pauline, & Marley Cat
2010 Ford Fusion

Re: House batteries overheating?

Reply #8 –
The motorhome IS the batteries.  Not the place to skimp.

Lifelines can be restored.  Plus add 10% more capacity.

So going from 50-90% capacity in two 8ds adds quite a bit useable capcity

Plus the equalization availability and a higher starting voltage helps the capacity

Lifelines are available for less money I think than you mentioned
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4
 

Re: House batteries overheating?

Reply #9 –
I'll see what I can find again but access here is not the best. I know what you mean as far as quality and I looked for them 4 years back with no luck on anything cheaper. I think in buying a pair then the price goes into the $700+ figure. Thanks for the push and you are correct in your thinking Bob.

John
John Smith
1994 U280 36' John, Pauline, & Marley Cat
2010 Ford Fusion