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Old 01-22-2017, 03:25 PM   #1
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House Battery Maintenance

I have 4 x L16HCS (Interstate) House batteries that need to be replaced (froze and bust). Looking for some practical info relative to storage tips so I can avoid it happening again. Dealer said they must have lost their charge and therefore no warranty coverage. Batteries were less than 3 years old

Should have gone to Arizona!!!
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Old 01-22-2017, 03:30 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by K Wingenbach View Post
I have 4 x L16HCS (Interstate) House batteries that need to be replaced (froze and bust). Looking for some practical info relative to storage tips so I can avoid it happening again. Dealer said they must have lost their charge and therefore no warranty coverage. Batteries were less than 3 years old

Should have gone to Arizona!!!
If you can not keep it plugged into shore power, when the batteries have a good full charge, disconnect the negative terminal's on all the batteries, house and chassis.
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Old 01-22-2017, 04:01 PM   #3
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The best battery maintenance is to keep the coach plugged in to shore power 24/7 and the converter maintaining a surface charge of 13.2 - 13.8 VDC.
If 120V shore power is not an option, the next best as Palehorse says is to make sure they are fully charged and the remove the Negative cable to isolate the battery bank from any parasitic load. A fully charged battery will not freeze.
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Old 01-22-2017, 05:23 PM   #4
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First off welcome to the Forum!

Sorry your first post is about such an expensive problem. You may want to look at AGM replacement batteries. They are a little less maintenance. Also if you can't keep your unit plugged, consider exercising the generator more to charge the batteries.

Good luck!
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Old 01-22-2017, 06:02 PM   #5
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Thanks for the advice. I am not able to have it plugged in. AGM sounds interesting and I will be making further enquiries. Any suggestions on brand's
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Old 01-22-2017, 06:15 PM   #6
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You can shop for AGM batteries online at Walmart dot com or Amazon. The prices are the same at either and shipping is free.

Look for the most amp hours for the lowest price and verify the dimensions will fit your application.
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Old 01-22-2017, 07:07 PM   #7
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Set up your auto-generator-start to start up and charge them if the battery voltage drops.

OR....pull them out and bring them home and put on a trickle charger in your garage.

OR....put a solar panel up to keep them topped off.
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Old 01-23-2017, 03:39 AM   #8
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We have always put a solar panel on to keep things charged up. Find this is the easiest way for us.
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Old 01-23-2017, 06:12 AM   #9
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Disconnecting them, after a full charge, is the safest thing. They can sit like that for a few months, AGMs longer.

AGM won't freeze but they will fail fast, if left in a run down state. So you should still remove the cables.

A solar panel may work but if you have cold enough temps to split your batteries, you probably have snow. That will block the solar panels and you will still have whatever draw killed the last set of batteries.

The AGS could work but then if it don't, your back in the same boat.

IMOH, go there once a month or so, hook them up, start the generator and hang out for an hour or so.
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Old 01-23-2017, 08:39 AM   #10
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Any lead-acid battery (even an AGM) will freeze if the charge level gets too low in sub-freezing weather, so you really need to make sure the battery(s) get charged periodically if left in a cold climate. Here is a chart of freeze temps vs battery SOC:
http://www.trojanbattery.com/pdf/WP_...orage_0512.pdf

Disconnecting the batteries slows down the rate at which charge is depleted, but doesn't stop it, so you have either re-charge periodically or remove the batteries to a warmer place for the winter. Even if kept warm, the batteries still need occasional charging to keep them healthy.
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Old 01-23-2017, 09:58 AM   #11
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Quote:
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IMOH, go there once a month or so, hook them up, start the generator and hang out for an hour or so.
I go there once a month, start up the coach, start the generator, run the heat pumps and refrigerator (to put a load on the gennie), and take it for a 60 mile drive.

Keeps everything in working order and gives me a good look-see at how everything is faring.
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Old 01-23-2017, 12:35 PM   #12
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Batteries with a full charge are able to withstand -40, your choice of C or F. However as they run down the freezing point goes up.. To around 20 or even 30 (F) So the best way to prevent freezing is to keep 'em charged, but wait there is more.

A battery can "Stratify" when this happens you have water on top and sulfuric acid on the bottom. So the bottom is good to -40, but the top. closer to 20..

So a Progressive Dynamics WIZARD controlled converter, used as a battery charger.... Takes care of that.
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