Battery maintenance frequency

[chuckftboy]

I am also an advocate of the Flow Rite system. My batteries are hard to check and fill without removing so I installed the Flow Rite. Now I check them every 2 months because it only takes 5 minutes to top off all 4 batteries.
Normally takes about 6 ounces total to top them off.

[vsheetz]

I check monthly. Water, connection tightness, signs of over charging or damage, etc.

[TonyDi]

I installed a Flow Rite watering system 2 years ago. Now I just take a bottle of distilled water put the tube in, and a few pumps later it's all done. I also have desulfators on my batteries.

[Tkel757]

Thanks for responses, I was just wondering since I needed to add about 1/2" of water in the house batteries after being plugged in and charging for the last 4 months. I figure for now quarterly and before taking off on a trip.

[wa8yxm]

How frequent depends on battery age and a host of other things including teh make/model of your converter

Mine is a Progressive Dynamics 9180 with wizard
My original battery bank was a pair of GC-2 215 AH Interstates
When New I checked nearly every month... but it was a year before I had to do anything.

As they aged it became more and more frequent.

Current converter... No change
Current batteries Upgraded to around 550 amp hours

It's been 3 years, I checked last month, I now am a bit lax (Did not add Distilled water).

But till you find out.. Monthly is a good schedule... Unlelss you have a Very old Magnetek converter, then every week.

[Ludmilla]

I refill the batteries as needed before every trip. I purchased a battery watering system since it was such a pain to get to the top of the batteries. The battery watering system was one of the best purchases I have made. Just connect a hose and top off with distilled water if needed.

[R2Home]

Our MH is plugged in 24/7 so I check them monthly. I figure it is a lot less expensive to check them a little more often then to let them get too low on fluid and have to replace them!

[John Jones]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

How ever often YOUR batteries need servicing. It varies a lot due to the charger and use. Adding mineral oil to the cells WILL cut the need to check for low water. Been doing it for over 10 years now in two different MH's.

I've heard of this before. How much mineral oil do you put in per cell?

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by John Jones

I've heard of this before. How much mineral oil do you put in per cell?

4 Oz per cell in a 6 volt battery and 2 Oz per cell in a 12 volt seems to be about right. You just need enough to fully cover the electrolyte in each cell.

[8TiresRollin]

Mr D - what brand is the mineral oil and where does one buy it please?

I see why it is used as it will stop water evaporation from the cells. What about sulphite? any issues?

[bobguigley]

I've also recently added mineral oil to our 4 deep cycle batteries....wonderful idea. The main reason for using the oil is to minimize corrosion in the battery compartment. Again about 4 oz per cell on a 6 volt battery, I purchased it from Amazon.com.....although I don't think that it reduces the amount of water that you must replace from electrolysis.

[tmw188]

Flo-Rite system is an accessory that works as designed and is the only way to go especially if they are hard to get to.

[Gary737]

Reference to the Flow Rite System is frequently mentioned here. I'm interested. How can I trust/verify ,that it really works without going thru the procedure then visually pulling the caps and checking? I suppose you check a couple of times then relax, forget about it, and have fun?

[tizzyfit]

One year ago, I replaced all 6 batteries, the 2 12V starter batteries and the 4 6V house bank. I check the water level once a month as well as wire brush any corrosion from the terminals.