Community Forums

Excursion04 · 02-21-2017, 09:29 AM

We are parked and connected to shore power. I have been checking the water level on house batteries regularly. I did notice water overflowing on couple of cells. Is this something I should be concerned about?

Skip426 · 02-21-2017, 09:36 AM

Biggest issue is ; it's not water !

From the battery cells it's a mild acid solution, and you'll get corrosion on anything the fluid touches . Wash the liquid off with a warm solution containing baking soda. Then check the cells for being overfilled.

F76Marion · 02-21-2017, 09:51 AM

YES, as Skip said it is acid. And not really a mild acid. After you get things neutralized and rinsed off, feel the side and see if only those cells are warm. I suspect you have some shorted cell and the bank may (just a guess) be toast.
The only other answer is that they were significantly over filled at the last service.

Frank

Rickndebw · 02-22-2017, 08:41 AM

We have the same problem as Excursion4. This being our first Motorhome and first time out on a long trip/learning curve prior to yesterday I relied on the panel's report to check them. I had purchased a hydrometer when I read of that method of testing so tested and found a couple three cells read discharged.. I bought some distilled water and will check fluid levels today, but what do y'all think

BrianGlenn · 02-22-2017, 08:58 AM

Battery fluid level should just be covering the plates, typically 1/4 inch under the vent tube.; too high and the degassing when charging will "boil" the liquid out the vents in the cell caps.

Here is an online article with some pictures and information.

Hope this helps,
Brian

Woodchopper · 02-22-2017, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excursion04

We are parked and connected to shore power. I have been checking the water level on house batteries regularly. I did notice water overflowing on couple of cells. Is this something I should be concerned about?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickndebw

We have the same problem as Excursion4. This being our first Motorhome and first time out on a long trip/learning curve prior to yesterday I relied on the panel's report to check them. I had purchased a hydrometer when I read of that method of testing so tested and found a couple three cells read discharged.. I bought some distilled water and will check fluid levels today, but what do y'all think

Excursion04 & Rickndebw
The most common causes of "battery electrolyte overflow" are:
1.) Overfilling
2.) Overcharging.. (by an incorrectly set, or faulty, inverter/charger).
3.) A bad battery

BrianGlenn · 02-22-2017, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickndebw

We have the same problem as Excursion4. This being our first Motorhome and first time out on a long trip/learning curve prior to yesterday I relied on the panel's report to check them. I had purchased a hydrometer when I read of that method of testing so tested and found a couple three cells read discharged.. I bought some distilled water and will check fluid levels today, but what do y'all think

A battery hydrometer measure specific gravity (SG) or density of the electrolyte (online reference click here)). Rare for one or two cells of a good battery to have different SG vs other cells (6 cells in 12V battery, 3 cells in a 6V battery).

Sometimes an equalization step (large voltage for 15 minutes) supports "equalizing" fluid across all cells. If you have the ability to initiate an equalization step with your factory battery charger that may help.

If not i would recommend a good long charge (+72 hours) and 30 minute rest - i.e. no battery usage and retest before making a decision to replace batteries.

You do not mention the age of the batteries or if you are having issues right now....

Brian

Rickndebw · 02-22-2017, 11:17 AM

I love learning. Thanks Brian and Mark Polk ( I had purchased some of his educational materials including the one on batteries and read it this am.). So went back in with a voltmeter and the hydrometer. Only one of the cells on one of the 6 volt house of batteries reads discharged. What is curious to me is the voltage on that battery read 6.57! We have an inverter capable of the 3 kinds of charging, but I don't know yet if it will do an equalization charge- I'll have to do some more learning

Rickndebw · 02-22-2017, 11:22 AM

The whole equalization charge thing sounds a little scary and hard. Bubbling and gassing indeed!

MTK46 · 02-22-2017, 12:09 PM

If you do find a battery bad you will need to replace them all at the same time. As they are in series different ages of batteries will cause problems. If the batteries are 3-4 years old just replace them all. They aren't long for this world any way.

Rickndebw · 02-22-2017, 12:21 PM

These batteries are approximately 1 year old

Rickndebw · 02-22-2017, 04:03 PM

Well, I watched a couple Utoobs, one of which was for an identical coach, albeit 1 year older. Read the inverter/charger manual so now I think I know how to do an equalization charge which I will do tomorrow a.m. & see if it works.

wa8yxm · 02-22-2017, 04:20 PM

You need to clean the batteries and the area around them first with a baking soda water mix (as much soda as you can disslove) then when it stops fizzing hose it down with a garden hose.. I'm not kidding, flush well.

You may need to do this several times over the next few months.

The problem will do one of two things, Solve itself ro the battery will need replacement,,,, Odds favor the "Solve itself" solution by the way.

Now how to discourage this in the future

As you know flooded wet cells need to have distilled water added from time to time... Many people.. INCLUDING SOME BATTERY MAKERS, say to fill to the bottom of the filler tube... I was taught 1/8 to 1/4" BELOW the bottom of the tube... And that's the solution.

Rickndebw · 02-22-2017, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

You need to clean the batteries and the area around them first with a baking soda water mix (as much soda as you can disslove) then when it stops fizzing hose it down with a garden hose.. I'm not kidding, flush well.

You may need to do this several times over the next few months.

The problem will do one of two things, Solve itself ro the battery will need replacement,,,, Odds favor the "Solve itself" solution by the way.

Now how to discourage this in the future

As you know flooded wet cells need to have distilled water added from time to time... Many people.. INCLUDING SOME BATTERY MAKERS, say to fill to the bottom of the filler tube... I was taught 1/8 to 1/4" BELOW the bottom of the tube... And that's the solution.

Clarify please. Do you mean wash tham with the the baking soda first, then do the equalization, then wash them again. And then do the equalization again in a month?