House Batteries

[dennis45]

Originally Posted by tmw188

The one that has the chassis lead going to it. The negative end of your battery series.

Yes. See attached drawing.

[Sbrownstein]

No, you need to put it on the negative lead that goes to the chassis ground. That way all of the batteries are isolated .

[rccrafters69]

I store my motorhome in a heated facility for 4 months in the winter. I keep it plugged in. Is this detrimental to the batteries? Should I discommect and have them put maintainers on them?

[Ocean Mist]

Originally Posted by rccrafters69

I store my motorhome in a heated facility for 4 months in the winter. I keep it plugged in. Is this detrimental to the batteries? Should I discommect and have them put maintainers on them?

Good question...

[BrianGlenn]

If you have an intelligent/smart charter (3 or 4 stage charger) there is no concern with leaving it plugged in. The smart chargers drop the charge rate and voltage down to 0/13.2V on float stage.

I am on tablet so cannot see your signature and thus if you have a motorhome with combination inverter/charger - these are all smart chargers.

This is better than disconnecting batteries and putting minders on them, IMHO.

Brian

[dennis45]

Originally Posted by rccrafters69

I store my motorhome in a heated facility for 4 months in the winter. I keep it plugged in. Is this detrimental to the batteries? Should I discommect and have them put maintainers on them?

I also Park inside and have had mine plugged in 27/7 unless we are traveling. My batteries are going on 7 years and doing well. Just make sure to check the water level every 6-8 weeks and you'll be fine.

[rccrafters69]

thanks for all the answers. I'll keep it plugged in. Yes it has a good charging system. Unfortunately, after 1 1/2 years 3 out of 4 batteries are bad. I'm replacing now. So was checking what everyone does. The batteries were supplied by Worlwide batteries out of Indianapolis. They are absolutely one of the worst people I ever dealt with. Battery warranty starts at manufacture date!!. I had a 3 month warranty!

Anyway I got new golf cart interstate batteries from Costco. I want to be sure I get more than 1 1/2 years life out of these.

[Woody57]

I keep my rig plugged in 27/7. Today just replaced my 4 house 6 volt bats that I had installed in April of 09. They actually were still fine but figured it was time. Just take care of what you have.

[tmw188]

Originally Posted by BrianGlenn

If you have an intelligent/smart charter (3 or 4 stage charger) there is no concern with leaving it plugged in. The smart chargers drop the charge rate and voltage down to 0/13.2V on float stage.

I am on tablet so cannot see your signature and thus if you have a motorhome with combination inverter/charger - these are all smart chargers.

This is better than disconnecting batteries and putting minders on them, IMHO.

Brian

Touch his screen name and it will take you to his signature and other options

[ByeTheWay]

Originally Posted by madmaxroi

I store my RV with no access to electricity. I hit the disconnects when I leave the coach. I can't be the only one that is a battery slave that needs to come down once a week to run the generator for 20 minutes, or am I?

Why with hitting the battery disconnects does the draw take the 4 6V batteries down below 12.2 Volts? I don't see anybody else running their generator.

When storing outside, my solar panels keep all my batteries charged daily.

[757driver]

Originally Posted by rccrafters69

thanks for all the answers. I'll keep it plugged in. Yes it has a good charging system. Unfortunately, after 1 1/2 years 3 out of 4 batteries are bad. I'm replacing now. So was checking what everyone does. The batteries were supplied by Worlwide batteries out of Indianapolis. They are absolutely one of the worst people I ever dealt with. Battery warranty starts at manufacture date!!. I had a 3 month warranty!

Anyway I got new golf cart interstate batteries from Costco. I want to be sure I get more than 1 1/2 years life out of these.

I would check the charge settings in your inverter panel for proper setup. Improper setting could have killed the other ones.

[tommar]

The house batteries (4 6v) went bad in my RV. My RV technician recommended that I replace them with 2 automotive type batteries since a previous owner had removed the inverter. So far, this has been working out very well. If I ever get another inverter, I would not use 6v batteries. Instead I will use either 2 8D or 2 4D commercial 12v batteries. Also, when my current chassis (starting) batteries need to be replaced I will replace them with 1 8D battery. I used to have a 49' Grand Banks trawler and this is the battery configuration it had with a 2000 watt Heart Inverter. Those batteries lasted 8 years! I don't understand the 6v battery preference. They are costly and don't last that well. IMHO.

[tmw188]

Your Grand Banks was always plug into shore power though. All i could ever get out of my wet cells were 3 yrs. and I took care of them and I was plugged into shore power. They were only on a converter charger.

[ladagobago]

my boat had batteries replace every three years. the six volt batteries often overcharged with the heart inverter. I'm not a big fan off that product. My staring batteries on the other hand were the biggest deep cycle agm and they are now 12 years old. they spent the first 4 years or so starting my 454's instantly. when We sold the old tub and switched to a MH. I put them in the MH. They are still in there and still start my ISB instantly. I mean 3-4 seconds.

now for my house batteries. I use 4 6 volt flood batter. golf carts. The are charged by a progress multi stage charger, converter that has the wizard attached. They go through an equalization daily and never really need water.

Previously I tried 12 volt deep cycle and the suck. Found that one shorted out and took out the other too. just a bad scene. My GC batteries are now at least 4 years old and work just great.

I am not one to argue with success.