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Topic: Random Battery Question (Read 648 times) previous topic - next topic

Random Battery Question

Hi, I am curious, does a 1991 Unihome GV have 3 batteries, whereas my '91 GV only has two? Or have I been missing one this entire time..?


Thanks


Dave
1991 Foretravel Grand Villa 36'
1993 Cobra Phoenix 33'

Re: Random Battery Question

Reply #1 –
@Dave My 92' Unihome has 3 8D batteries. 1 start and 2 house batteries. All in the same battery box in the wet bay (D4).

see ya
ken 

The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: Random Battery Question

Reply #2 –
my '93 Unihome, 6v92, has/had;
 3 AGM's, located in the engine compartment , don't remember size, but smaller than 8d's
 2 8D's in compartment behind of left rear tires. I replaced then with 2 270 AH AGM's
1993 U300, 6v92
build 4366
USAF retired, Flight Engineer, C124, C130
 ATP, A & E.  & ex AI

Re: Random Battery Question

Reply #3 –
Best I remember our 91 GV only had one 8D. 
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

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Re: Random Battery Question

Reply #4 –
Quote from: kenhat –
@Dave My 92' Unihome has 3 8D batteries. 1 start and 2 house batteries. All in the same battery box in the wet bay (D4).

see ya
ken 





Ken,

At the fire department, we had problems starting the 8V-71s on just one 8D so when we opened the driver's door, we turned the battery switch to both. The non-turbo engines had a higher compression ratio so may be part of the reason. On both batteries, they would start in a tenth of a second on the first revolution hot or cold.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Random Battery Question

Reply #5 –
Dave,
On my '91 the OEM set up is 3 8d batteries in compartment in front of drivers side rear wheel housed in a fiberglass box with a PVC pipe to vent out the rear bulkhead.  Two for house, one for chassis (starting).  I modified those three for house only and added a chassis battery bank on the passenger side behind the rear wheels.
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: Random Battery Question

Reply #6 –
My 1991 Grand Villa was just like Ken's. Three 8D's, two paralleled for house batteries and one for the chassis battery. 
Jerry
'91 U240 GV / 36'
CAT 3208 w/Allison MT 643  4 speed
'10 Ford Flex

Growing old is mandatory
Growing up is optional

Re: Random Battery Question

Reply #7 –
Mine looks like it was setup for 2 8D's. They are in a battery bay under the steps, pretty complex wiring setup, and an isolator back by the engine, which I guess you need to choose close to the engine, or close to the batteries. It also sounds like there is some sort of charger in above my septic valves...

Something seems not quite happy about this setup, as I am having to charge more often than what would 'seem' normal. I bought a new Interstate Workhorse 8D a couple of months ago, and the other (same type and brand, etc.) is only a couple of years old. Even with the Boost switch on it sometimes will not have enough juice to crank over, jumping is easy, or hard depending upon how/where I am parked, and the GenSet will charge them if I have enough juice to start it. Makes me want to add another deep cycle for just the Genny...
1991 Foretravel Grand Villa 36'
1993 Cobra Phoenix 33'

Re: Random Battery Question

Reply #8 –
Dave,

My 88 ORED had 2 8D (wet cell) under the steps also, I had enough room 8" between them. Should be a straight forward to add another 8D for engine.

The converter in the sewer bay, overcharged all the time!
I replaced it w 45amp smart charger.

Hope our experience helps you.
The selected media item is not currently available.
My advice and experiences are Free, you decide if they are worth anything .

John - driving Old Faithful
1994 U280 GV
C8.3, Banks, Pacbrake, 900 watts, Resonator, XLHD tow dolly
Retired Army Warrant Officer

Life is what you make of it - if it is lemons, make lemonade!
Former Coaches:
1988 GV 40' ORED 300HP CAT - 9 years
1990 Winnebago LeSharo - 3 years
2000 Newmar London Aire - 3 years (#18 of 23 produced)

Re: Random Battery Question

Reply #9 –
On my 84 ored with the 2 8d batteries under the step the boos solenoid there by the batteries had the contacts welded together, so if one battery went down they both went down. I changed that solenoid and no more trouble. On your coach I would change that old converter for one of the new smart charger converters
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: Random Battery Question

Reply #10 –
Our 91 ORED GV has four deep cycle golf cart batteries in a series/parallel setup and located under the steps.  The engine battery is an 8D and is in the compartment where the shore power cable is stored.  I like the golf cart battery setup, it seems to give better overall performance than 2
Fritz & Kathy Johnson
1991 36'

Re: Random Battery Question

Reply #11 –
Quote from: DaveLarose –
Something seems not quite happy about this setup, as I am having to charge more often than what would 'seem' normal. I bought a new Interstate Workhorse 8D a couple of months ago, and the other (same type and brand, etc.) is only a couple of years old. Even with the Boost switch on it sometimes will not have enough juice to crank over, jumping is easy, or hard depending upon how/where I am parked, and the GenSet will charge them if I have enough juice to start it. Makes me want to add another deep cycle for just the Genny...

Check electrolyte levels in the cells. If you are charging more frequently than you feel is normal there is a good chance that the charger has boiled the cells dry.

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."