Odd Battery Behavior

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Odd Battery Behavior

December 07, 2018, 07:48:41 pm

I find it odd my batteries are so depleted after three weeks of sitting— Engine bank down to 0.8v; house <10v.

It is cold: 20F. I am inside, so no solar charging at all.

These batteries should have been disconnected, but I have been staying ready to depart for Airizona and had no idea they would deplete so fast. All batteries—six house 6v and two 12v Interstate truck—are new. "Salesman" switch off during the period.

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #1 – December 07, 2018, 08:03:59 pm

No secret here, the current is going some place. You just need to start at the batteries and look for a drain some where. With every thing turned off, loosen the grnd term of the battery bank and spark check it (tap it against the battery term and see if it sparks). If so, keep on going and check other places. Charge the batteries first of course. ---- Happy hunting and have a great day ---- Fritz

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #2 – December 07, 2018, 08:11:14 pm

How about the switch near the engine batteries?

You'll need to replace the eng. batts. I have two almost new Group 31 engine batteries for sale for cheap. 1100CCA each. Where are you?

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #3 – December 07, 2018, 10:28:52 pm

Batteries can be permanently damaged from that kind of discharge.

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #4 – December 07, 2018, 11:18:46 pm

Quote from: RandallBrink – December 07, 2018, 07:48:41 pm

I find it odd my batteries are so depleted after three weeks of sitting— Engine bank down to 0.8v; house <10v.

It is cold: 20F. I am inside, so no solar charging at all.

These batteries should have been disconnected, but I have been staying ready to depart for Airizona and had no idea they would deplete so fast. All batteries—six house 6v and two 12v Interstate truck—are new. "Salesman" switch off during the period.

There is 2 different stereo memories (if you have one in the bedroom)., and also the LP detector.The trans has a computer that draws. In this cold weather, and with a constant draw makes sense
Chris

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #5 – December 08, 2018, 12:21:33 am

Different battery types self discharge at different rates, Least self discharge as far as I studied is the oem mk gels and the redtop AGM engine batteries.

I ruined a set of new/good batteries in the same three week time frame.

The 6v house batteries if flooded cell or lifeline agm's may be restoreable. Non lifeline agm's and VRLA flooded cell batteries may not come back.

You can charge them up but a good percentage of their capacity is probably gone.

I replaced all of ours again and installed a combiner and a necessary amount of solar.

Ugly. If you travel power pedestal to power pedestal and/or run the gen always the lower capacity may not be a problem

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #6 – December 08, 2018, 10:05:15 am

This unfortunate episode points out the hazards of leaving a coach unattended, and without any source of shore power, in cold weather. Given the "right" set of circumstances, it doesn't take very long to ruin a set of batteries. If you can't park your coach where shore power is available, then it behooves you to find SOME strategy that will protect the batteries from damage. We have discussed several solutions on this Forum, including totally disconnecting the batteries to reduce phantom drain, auto-start generators, and solar panel charging systems. If none of these work for you, then you must find a way to at least monitor the battery bank state-of-charge. Stopping by the coach regularly is the simple solution, but not always possible. I believe Roger once spoke about a system that would allow remote monitoring of several different parameters at the coach via wireless technology. Can't find the post right now, but I'll keep looking.

The big coach batteries are too expensive, and too much work to replace, to let them be ruined by lack of care. Do SOMETHING to protect your batteries when the coach is in winter storage!

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #7 – December 08, 2018, 10:14:43 am

Chuck, it was one of these...
Amazon.com : 3G AC/DC Power Monitoring SMS Alarm Panel Power Lose/Failure...

Nice idea, I got one to see how it works. You need a SIM card and an account plan somewhere for it to work. I got a US Mobile SIM card (free) and a 40 text message a month plan ($3) PAYG but never got it to work. Instructions were terrible, web site for help was not in english. Amazon tech support tried but couldn't figure it out either. Sent it back for a full refund, paid the $3 to US Mobile.

Maybe it was US Mobile ... I don't know. I wish it would have been simple but it was not.
There must be something else out there for temp, water on the floor, power out that doesn't use a lot of power or need a land line or continuous internet access. I keep looking.

Roger

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #8 – December 08, 2018, 12:54:07 pm

Thanks to all. I now understand better how such depletion can occur when stored indoors with no solar.

I am going to charge the engine batteries, and then remove the coach from the parking garage and, hopefully charge the house batteries, as I figure out how to keep them charged before I leave. I am hopefull that with the engine batteries not completely discharged, and the hpuse batteries being new and also 6v golf cart batteries that frequently are discharged, I might save them but we shall see.

Thanks again for all of your very informative responses.

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #9 – December 08, 2018, 01:04:30 pm

Your coach is stored inside with no power available?
Any number of things could be draining your batteries. You need to charge them and either keep your coach plugged in with some kind of charging system or disconnect the batteries until you are ready to go.
Obviously, if any of them won't hold a charge you need to replace them. If they are new I presume they have a warranty. It's always better to do that where you bought them than to wait until you are 1,000 miles away.

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #10 – December 08, 2018, 01:16:01 pm

Quote from: RandallBrink – December 08, 2018, 12:54:07 pm

Thanks to all. I now understand better how such depletion can occur when stored indoors with no solar.

I am going to charge the engine batteries, and then remove the coach from the parking garage and, hopefully charge the house batteries, as I figure out how to keep them charged before I leave. I am hopefull that with the engine batteries not completely discharged, and the hpuse batteries being new and also 6v golf cart batteries that frequently are discharged, I might save them but we shall see.

Thanks again for all of your very informative responses.

No power in the garage Randall?

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #11 – December 08, 2018, 01:19:06 pm

Yes, 110 15a in garage.

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #12 – December 08, 2018, 01:22:46 pm

Randall,

15 amp 120 VAC is enough to keep the batteries charged-- just make sure all other 120 VAC loads are OFF, and if a high-amp charger, likely need to use a power share/power save option.

Tell us what converter or inverter/charger you have. Remote panel?

What means do you have to charge the chassis batteries (OE from factory, there is no means of charging them from shore power or generator-- only alternator)?

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #13 – December 08, 2018, 01:25:35 pm

Quote from: RandallBrink – December 08, 2018, 01:19:06 pm

Yes, 110 15a in garage.

Was it plugged in?

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #14 – December 08, 2018, 01:44:38 pm

Brett,

My charger is a Powersource model 75.

As to charging chassis batteries, I had no means or thought to do so externally, but now contemplating a Deltran Battery tender as easiest way to plug into storage unit 110v 15a power. Is this safe to leave unattended? I would use that to charge engine batteries, then run gen and or coach outside to recharge house batts, then disconnect for further storage.

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #15 – December 08, 2018, 01:48:21 pm

As long at the house bank is charged, the 15 amp shore power is plenty adequate to keep them charged AND have enough 120 VAC left over to run a smart trickle charger for the chassis batteries.

Only issue is whether the old 75 amp converter is smart enough to not OVER-charge the batteries. Check voltage after 24 hours. You want it around 13.2. If much higher, it will over charge the batteries. Easy solution-- buy a HD/20 amp 120 VAC timer from any box store and plug the converter into it. Set it to run an hour a day.

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #16 – December 08, 2018, 02:03:32 pm

Thanks Brett, will monitor and do that.

I think I still have a little confusion, in re chassis vs. house charging. If I now put the battery tender on a chassis battery, will that send charging power to house batteries? I initially only want to charge the chassis so I can start the engine, then charge house batteries. I'm trying to bootstrap my way padt this and then set up to prevent any further problem while still in storage.

p.s. Actually discovered a timer on the 115vac outlet.

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #17 – December 08, 2018, 02:13:35 pm

PLEASE be extremely careful, arcing a recently charged battery can cause the battery to explode, it is full of hydrogen gas !!! ASK me how I know, I arced the battery posts on my Dads , recently restored, 1926 Model T... I was extremely fortunate, the bottom blew out of the battery, not the top ... secondly that my Dad didn't skin me for blowing up the battery .... Please use a volt meter to test batteries......
MY THOUGHTS,
Safe travels
Dave

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #18 – December 08, 2018, 02:24:54 pm

I do worry about that, and always disconnect charger from power source before catefully disconnecting.

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #19 – December 08, 2018, 02:39:34 pm

As far as charging, the two banks are totally independent (at least from the factory).

For storage each needs its own charging source. Another option to a "stupid" 75 amp converter (that was state of the art in 1989) is to use a second smart charger and turn off the breaker to the 75 amp converter.

Be aware that no small amp smart charger will CHARGE the batteries-- they will, however do a fine job of maintaining them once they are charged.

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #20 – December 08, 2018, 02:58:45 pm

Thanks Brett. In that case, I may need to remove the chassis batts and charge them with the big charger tonight.

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #21 – December 08, 2018, 03:01:52 pm

Remove to charge or just plug in a stand alone charger where you are in the storage area.

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #22 – December 08, 2018, 03:43:09 pm

Thanks. I purchased a larger higher-output charger for this, and will hook it up now to charge the engine baterries. This unit also has a starting booster, but don't know if I should use it; attempting charging first.

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #23 – December 08, 2018, 03:47:33 pm

If possible, let it charge overnight (assuming it is a smart charger and will taper off charge voltage after fully charging).

Easier on the batteries, easier on the charger and easier on the starter.

Re: Odd Battery Behavior

Reply #24 – December 08, 2018, 04:13:38 pm

Quote from: RandallBrink – December 08, 2018, 02:58:45 pm

Thanks Brett. In that case, I may need to remove the chassis batts and charge them with the big charger tonight.

Randall

You can charge the engine batts with a smaller battery charger. Just separate them, and bring them up slowly separately.

Next time you have it over at my shop, we will install a manual battery disconnect for the engine batts, and go over your charging system with you. A physical picture is worth a thousand words.I know it's gets confusing. Just add it to the list.

The house timer on the converter where it plugs in, is a great idea, many older Foretravel had them installed.

We can also install a deal to maintain the engine batts from the house charger

LSL Products TRIK-L-START 5 Amp Starting Battery Charger

Several other brands to choose from

Chris

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