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11-16-2014, 05:33 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 190
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Battery question
How would I know if my battery fluid is low without opening the battery itself. I have a inside monitor and it shows full halfway and so on. But how would I actually know when the Battery would need water without opening it. Does it drain faster or take longer to charge. Thanks
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11-16-2014, 05:56 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 508
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I can't think of any way to check the water except pulling off the cell caps and looking in.
__________________
2014 KZ Durango Goldrush
2018 Chevy 2500 HD Duramax/Allison
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11-16-2014, 06:15 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 190
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That's what I thought it's just a pain in the butt getting the caps off with the cables in the way. When I have time I need to put together a better option
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11-16-2014, 06:20 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Federal Way, Wa.
Posts: 2,901
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You can purchase a Pro fil battery watering system. I have one and it completely eliminates this problem. You replace your caps with the ones provided with hoses running to them. Then using a squeeze pump you simply pump water until it stops, then your batteries are all full in one motion. No removing tops etc.
I hesitated for a long time before getting one because they seem expensive for what yo get. I finally installed them and kick myself for not doing it sooner.
__________________
I do all my own stunts
03 Dolphin LX 6355, Workhorse W22, 8.1 vortec, 04 CR-V, Blue Ox, Brake Pro----Norm, Barb and
Doc(He's a PhD)
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11-16-2014, 06:22 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
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Install a watering system. Makes it sooo easy to fill the batteries. A manifold system installs to the batteries, you connect a hose to the system and use a squeeze bulb to fill the batteries. When the bulb won't squeeze all the batteries are full. Takes me longer to get out the hose and bottle of water than it does to do the actual filling.
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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11-16-2014, 06:26 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: The Bluegrass State
Posts: 8,889
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__________________
Good Luck, Be Safe and Above All, Don't Forget To Have Fun 
Pete
Central Kentucky
2006 Fleetwood Discovery 35H, 2014 Honda CR-V, M&G Engineering Braking System
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11-18-2014, 04:10 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Kansas City, MO./Pollock, LA.
Posts: 1,556
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Old school and cheap.
http://www.amazon.com/Plews-75-030-C...y+water+filler
Check them once a month.
Remember, Use only distilled water, not tap water.
__________________
06 Hurricane 34FT WH W20 Chassis 8.1L 132K, Steersafe, Koni Shocks, DIY Trac Bar, Tri-Metric 2025RV Battery Monitor, 4-6V Batteries, Scan Gauge 2, Crossfires, 735W Solar Morningstar MPPT-60, WG T4 In-Motion Sat, XM Radio, 07 Chevy Malibu Maxx Toad, Falcon 2, Brake Buddy, Escapee
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11-18-2014, 10:12 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Northern California
Posts: 5,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cola ny
How would I know if my battery fluid is low without opening the battery itself. I have a inside monitor and it shows full halfway and so on. But how would I actually know when the Battery would need water without opening it. Does it drain faster or take longer to charge. Thanks
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I suspect the inside monitor is displaying the state of charge of your batteries, not the water level inside the battery.
If half full, it will be at about 12.0 dcv and needs to be recharged to 12.6 dcv.
Routinely operating the battery at levels below 12.0v (or half full) will likely shorten the life of the battery.
__________________
Dean
1995 38' CC Magna #5280 **** Sold after 21 years of enjoyment.
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11-18-2014, 10:43 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 1,111
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Does the water in the tube freeze (Pro fil battery watering system)?
__________________
Mark
1999 Bounder 32H Ford V10, 2012 Ford Focus, Pretty DW, 1 cat. Retired USAF
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11-18-2014, 06:28 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Newcastle West, Ireland
Posts: 396
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrt_1111
Does the water in the tube freeze (Pro fil battery watering system)?
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Only when the air surrounding the tubes filled with water goes below 0°C or 32°F
__________________
'98 Southwind 34L, too many cameras, old hat, young heart.
May the light be with you.
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11-19-2014, 09:54 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Kansas City, MO./Pollock, LA.
Posts: 1,556
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mentor
Only when the air surrounding the tubes filled with water goes below 0°C or 32°F
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Duh!
__________________
06 Hurricane 34FT WH W20 Chassis 8.1L 132K, Steersafe, Koni Shocks, DIY Trac Bar, Tri-Metric 2025RV Battery Monitor, 4-6V Batteries, Scan Gauge 2, Crossfires, 735W Solar Morningstar MPPT-60, WG T4 In-Motion Sat, XM Radio, 07 Chevy Malibu Maxx Toad, Falcon 2, Brake Buddy, Escapee
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11-19-2014, 10:01 AM
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Litchfield Park, Arizona
Posts: 10,530
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deandec
I suspect the inside monitor is displaying the state of charge of your batteries, not the water level inside the battery.
If half full, it will be at about 12.0 dcv and needs to be recharged to 12.6 dcv.
Routinely operating the battery at levels below 12.0v (or half full) will likely shorten the life of the battery.
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Ditto. I know of no remote gauge which displays water levels.
I'd suggest coming up with a viable option soon because once you let your batteries' water level drop below the plates, some degree of damage has probably already been done.
Rick
__________________
Rick, Nancy, Peanut & Lola our Westie Dogs & Bailey the Sheltie.
2007 Itasca Ellipse 40FD
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11-19-2014, 10:58 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,581
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mgscott4
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That container won't work on the inner two batteries on my RV. I bought one set of pro fill (or similar brand?) for those two batteries and it made it so easy and quick to fill the batteries I bought a second set for the other two batteries.
__________________
 Bob & Sandi, dogs Tasha a Frenchie and Tiki a Skipperkey
SW OREGON 2005 34 foot DolphinLX
If towing: a bright red 2016 Mini Cooper on a tow dolly.
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11-19-2014, 11:37 AM
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#14
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,199
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cola ny
That's what I thought it's just a pain in the butt getting the caps off with the cables in the way. When I have time I need to put together a better option
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Completely up to you...but AGM type batteries never need the water checked.....one less thing to worry about!
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