Community Forums

Elkhartjim · 03-14-2010, 06:56 PM

Well dang it! Its the chassis batteries not the coach batteries.

I have reason to believe my chassis battery (s) have gone to their happy hunting ground.

Whats the recommendation on chassis batteries? I currently have (had) the alleged maintenance free batteries. It would be almost impossible to check the water level in the wet cell batteries without disconnecting and removing them.

What do y'all think?

DriVer · 03-14-2010, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elkhartjim

What's the recommendation on chassis batteries?

Elkhartjim, For the most bang for the buck I would restore the old flooded lead acid cells batteries with new ones. Brand name is all in the eye of the beholder but some batteries are garbage. make sure you match the ratings and just replace what you have with the same type of battery (not necessarily "brand" )

openpro · 03-14-2010, 10:12 PM

I just had to make the same choice and went with AGM batteries. They are a lot of money but are truly maintenance free. I mounted them in a hard to get to spot but I won't have to even look at them for at least 5 years. Also this new spot is in a heated area of the coach so I won't have to deal with the efficiency loss in freezing weather.

RV Wizard · 03-15-2010, 03:37 AM

Jim, the maintenance free batteries are fine for your needs. You probably have group 31 cranking batteries. You would have also gotten more life out of them if you do not let them discharge in storage. Check into how you can keep them charged and they should last about 7 years or more. I got 8 years out of mine and they were still pretty good but my system keeps them charged when plugged in, generator is running or driving the coach.

wa8yxm · 03-15-2010, 09:16 AM

I think Workhorse uses a Group 78 Maintenance free, as I recall

I'd replace it with one of the same size and type.. Just pull it out, haul it to your favorite battery place and say "NEW ONE PLEASE"

Elkhartjim · 03-15-2010, 10:01 AM

Just got back from the local Interstate battery distributor. Two Group 31 950 CCA installed for 115.95 each.

Mike, my rig is always either plugged in or running. They (Interstate) thought it was just probably a defective battery. Good to go again...

Thanks for the help.

RV Wizard · 03-16-2010, 04:41 AM

Jim, you may want to check your chassis battery bank voltage when and when not plugged into shore power. I doubt the Bounder has a charging circuit for chassis side from shore or generator power. You could add an echo charger or similar device to keep the chassis bank charged up.

Elkhartjim · 03-16-2010, 05:09 AM

It does charge both banks when plugged to shore. I don't know about when running the genset, but I would assume it would also charge the chassis batteries. The chassis batteries had never given me any problems until Sunday. It wasn't until I unplugged the shore power did the chassis battery stop boiling. That would also indicate they were getting power from being plugged to shore power. Albeit, that ain't the way to test.
I appreciate your input.