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Topic: Battery location as it relates to bulkhead separation (Read 886 times) previous topic - next topic

Battery location as it relates to bulkhead separation

This seems as good a thread as any to post this;  I have not see it covered before but it may well have been as there have been a large number of discussions (good)

Keith Risch of MOT told me today that an oft overlooked culprit in older coaches is that the chassis batteries are located just fore the bulkhead joint.  The batteries from whatever of a variety of possible causes can discharge fairly potent fluid from their storage tray into the bulkhead joint and cause more corrosion than just road spray.  To counter that, those with such battery arrangements need to look carefully for a means to control such discharges and in particular check to see if corrosive liquids have been moving toward the bulkhead already and need urgent attention.

I hope this helps.  If it seems implausible or just off the mark, blame me and not Keith please.....I may have just misunderstood his admonition.  He was trying to be helpful to me in understanding some overlooked causes of failures.  Mike
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: Battery location as it relates to bulkhead separation

Reply #1 –
Mike,

This based on the 1993 U240: The fiberglass battery tray and fiberglass lid with vents in and out should contain any battery acid/discharge.  Said another way, it could not get into the basement unless the battery tray failed as it is a fiberglass enclosure inside the basement.
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: Battery location as it relates to bulkhead separation

Reply #2 –
Brett, thanks for the clarification.  Keith seemed to think it a real threat, and perhaps it is, but very low probability. 

I apologize that I have gotten tied up in some personal motorhome work and having some ForeForum folks over to the house Monday evening that I have not mailed you the bumper sticker.  But I got it into my truck!  So some progress and I will get er done THursday noon.  IF you want another copy, or even three more, the fellow would make those for me with some of the stock left over.  No cost to you. So if you want the three or four more, get back to me.

thanks for response on this, I surely do not want to worry them needlessly.  A day or so ago I diagnosed a friend's coach to have bulkhead problem, that I asked Don Hay to confirm, see if I was correct.  So this on my mind.  Mike
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: Battery location as it relates to bulkhead separation

Reply #3 –
two of the three '93 Grand Villa's I have seen have batteries mounted on fabricated angle iron forward of the rear wheel. Mine, a U300 (with DD 6V92) have the batteries in front og the left rear wheels, another (u280, with cummings ) located in front of the right reat wheels
The other a '93 225 has encased batteries.

Bill Chaplin
1993 U300, 6v92
build 4366
USAF retired, Flight Engineer, C124, C130
 ATP, A & E.  & ex AI

Re: Battery location as it relates to bulkhead separation

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Bill Chaplin –
two of the three '93 Grand Villa's I have seen have batteries mounted on fabricated angle iron forward of the rear wheel. Mine, a U300 (with DD 6V92) have the batteries in front og the left rear wheels, another (u280, with cummings ) located in front of the right reat wheels
The other a '93 225 has encased batteries.

Bill Chaplin
On my '94 U225, the batteries (both chassis and house) sit on fabricated angle iron, are not encased, and are located behind the rear wheels.  Chassis are on co-pilot side and house are on drivers side.
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Battery location as it relates to bulkhead separation

Reply #5 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Mike,

This based on the 1993 U240: The fiberglass battery tray and fiberglass lid with vents in and out should contain any battery acid/discharge.  Said another way, it could not get into the basement unless the battery tray failed as it is a fiberglass enclosure inside the basement.

In my '93 U225 the batteries sit in a sealed f/g case (2 coach and one start) in a compartment on the starboard (co-pilot) side just forward of the rear wheel well. The case is vented through the bulkead into the wheel well.

Interesting how this all varies even among the same "models".

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: Battery location as it relates to bulkhead separation

Reply #6 –
Mine are also in the f/g box on copilot side just forward of the rear wheels.  There is ample evidence of water migration from the opposite side of the coach as this is the wet bay.  When I got the coach I noticed that it was impossible to disconnect the FW without gushing water into the wet bay which I assume is the source of the rusty colored water staining over in the battery compartment but under and around the f/g battery box.  I've fixed this issue.  Brett has looked at my coach and said there doesn't seem to be much visual evidence of bulkhead issues save for some rust jacking at the outside rear corner of the wet bay.  I've yet to put a wrench on these infamous bolts but I know it should be done sooner rather than later.  I don't really have any signs of separation though as I've looked across the entire length of the bulkhead when the coach was up on the lift for the suspension issues.
Dwayne Keith
1992 U240
3116/MD3060

Re: Battery location as it relates to bulkhead separation

Reply #7 –
Dwayne,

Indeed, with the history of defective check valve allowing water into the wet bay and what I saw last year, you need to put a wrench on those bolts.  I suspect you WILL find many broken.
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: Battery location as it relates to bulkhead separation

Reply #8 –
I recently replaced the water connection fitting on my 91 U225 with one that has a check valve. The one in there appeared to be original, and it did not have a check valve in it.

Steve
1991 U225 Grand Villa