Battery problem

[Pusherpilot]

My house batterys have failed and I am in a position where I can't change them till one day next week. The house batt VDC is jumping around all over the place and I'm concerned about dmamging the inverter or other components. We are connected to 30a shore power now and I'm curious to know if it's OK to disconnect the batts altogether. Anyone with expewrience in this area?
Thanks, Ron

[mfire1339]

Ron, If it were me I'd give it a try.

Mike

[RickO]

I'm not sure what inverter you have but on my Dimensions, when connected to shore power the inverter turns itself off... however, the batteries still need to be in place to provide 12vdc to the coach, even though connected to shore power...

Where are you measuring the voltage? Does it look like it could be a corroded connection on the batteries that's making the voltage jump around?

Good luck...

rick

[SCVJeff]

Whats your config.?
If you are running multiple 12V batteries and you know which one is bad, then disconnect it.

If you're running the typical 4ea GC battery arrangement, and again you have identified the problem child, take those 2 series'd (is that a word?) 6V batteries out of line.

While it's possible that you won't have any trouble with pulling the batteries, many inverter/ chargers (I assume thats what you have?) don't play well when the batteries are totally missing.

[Pusherpilot]

Hi guys, Thanks for the quick response!!
The inverter is a Xantrex with RC7GS controller. EMS is a intellitech 50a The batts are 6v u2200s I noticed dead cells when I filled them a couple of weeks ago before hitting the road. We're at destination now.
One of the batts has one cell that has leaked out, it is apparently cracked, the tray uder it is wet. All but one of the other batts show dead cells except one. I can't get 12v that way if I remove the dead wood! Right now The voltage variations have stopped and I've worked around the genny not starting by getting another 30a leg off an adjacent unused 30a outlet. I now have to watch the power draws since I'm running both a/c for a change and the intellitec is fooled, thinking I have 50a service. We need both a/cs here it's 108 on the patio right now.
Ron

[SCVJeff]

Sounds like you're obviously due for a complete changeout. Word of caution: before pulling those batteries, fill ALL of the cells with water. Since they are all dead, just use a hose. Anyway the point of this is to make sure that you have purged all of the explosive gasses out of the batteries. Low or empty cells that arc can really ruin your day

[Dr4Film]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pusherpilot My house battery's have failed and I am in a position where I can't change them till one day next week. The house batt VDC is jumping around all over the place and I'm concerned about damaging the inverter or other components. We are connected to 30a shore power now and I'm curious to know if it's OK to disconnect the batts altogether. Anyone with experience in this area? Thanks, Ron

Ron,

It is perfectly OK to remove the batteries altogether although if you have an Aqua-Hot system, that will not run. It is directly wired to your house battery bank. The 120 Volt assist heaters will heat some hot water but the diesel burner will not function as it needs direct current from your battery bank.

I have the same inverter, and removed all of the batteries for one day as I needed to clean up the two slide-out trays, let them dry and repaint. It was the next day before I got them back in. I did not lose 12 Volt DC as the converter supplied that for me and I didn't need my AH as it was summertime.

Certainly sounds like your batteries are history.

Dr4Film ----- Richard.

[RJay]

Also, before changing the batteries be sure to shut down the inverter and open the feed breaker.

[RickO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJay Also, before changing the batteries be sure to shut down the inverter and open the feed breaker.

Excellent point. A couple of days ago while installing new coach batteries and connected to shore power I turned off my 12v cut off switch and proceeded to begin removing the old batteries. I got one of those nasty little surprises with the positive cable touched the battery tray.

Rick

[Pusherpilot]

Thanks for all the valuable info guys, I hadn't thought about the A/H. As hot as it is here we're not running the diesel burner at all, we'll just keep on the electric element for the day or two it'll take to clean out the compartment. Did the chassis batts a couple of years ago so that one is good.

I'm waiting for the stepson to come around with his truck to take the batts over to Sams and get the new ones, possibly tuesday. I don't want to carry leakers in the back of the car!! As hot as it is I'm going to wait till the afternoon sun is on the other side of the coach and I have a bit of shade to work in. Right now it shows 115 outside the slide out windows in the shade. I'll relate the experience if anything notable happens.
Thanks again,
Ron

[Pusherpilot]

Update: I was concerned for the wildly fluctuating DC readings reported by the Aladdin system so I disconnected the positive lead to the batt bank. I first turned off the house batt disconnect switch then disconnected the pos lead. I insulaed the lead with tape. At that point I was getting really high readings on the house DC and the Solar array DC. It was running from 14.5 to 16.5 vdc on both. I turned on the house DC switch and it settled at 14.5 and has since gone to 13.3. While it may be inconsequential, I'm curious as to why the solar system output voltage went high as well as the house reading. Another fun thing is the "phantom" battery bank is being charged at 1a but I suspect that may be usage in the coach not charge rate!!
Ron

[wa8yxm]

I know of only one converter (Though I am sure it's not the only one) where you should not run w/o batteries.. and it's not a Xantrex product.. Far as I know the worst you might get running a xantrex w/o batteries is a bit of hum in a 12 volt radio, and I doubt that.

[Pusherpilot]

Changed the batts today. Had a strange experience last nite tho. I had unhooked the batts and was going along just fine. The wifey went back to the b/r to get ready for bed about 10 p/m and when she turned the lites on the whole dc circuit went dead!! After digging around trying to find why the inverter shut down I simply hooked the batts back up and everything came back on.

This a/m we went to Sams ang got 4 new batts, cleaned out the tray and repainted it with rustoleum black and put the whole thing to bed. For $79. each those 6vdc GC2 batteries can't be beat.
Ron

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

Solar panels put out as much as 18 volts or so if not connected to a battery. Maybe this is what you were seeing when you disconnected the pos. lead.