Community Forums

vicsryd · 07-17-2006, 04:35 PM

I installed a Xantrex Echo-Charge some months ago and ever since we get a buildup of white sulfuric powder on battery tray components but not the batteries themselves. It only shows up where there is unpainted metal including a paint chip or two. So far I've cleaned it up with baking soda and water.

The biggest offender has been the threaded mounting stud at the front of the chassis batteries. I hadn't checked it in a month or so and this time there was so much powder it looked like some alien fungus.

The batteries are clean, no sign of boiling over or other leaks or any trace of corrosion.

There was no problem before the Echo-Charge was installed. It functions to spec every way I can measure. It's almost as if the battery tray has become charged somehow. I double checked all the ground wires and tray isolation and all seems okay. I could not measure any voltage between the trays and earth ground.

Anyone have any ideas?

vicsryd · 07-17-2006, 04:35 PM

I installed a Xantrex Echo-Charge some months ago and ever since we get a buildup of white sulfuric powder on battery tray components but not the batteries themselves. It only shows up where there is unpainted metal including a paint chip or two. So far I've cleaned it up with baking soda and water.

The biggest offender has been the threaded mounting stud at the front of the chassis batteries. I hadn't checked it in a month or so and this time there was so much powder it looked like some alien fungus.

The batteries are clean, no sign of boiling over or other leaks or any trace of corrosion.

There was no problem before the Echo-Charge was installed. It functions to spec every way I can measure. It's almost as if the battery tray has become charged somehow. I double checked all the ground wires and tray isolation and all seems okay. I could not measure any voltage between the trays and earth ground.

Anyone have any ideas?

Ed Gardiser · 07-17-2006, 04:49 PM

I would think the corrosion is from battery acid,and since it only appears where there is no paint,remove the batteries clean the tray and repaint it.
Ed Gardiser
Escondido,Ca.
04 Vectra
87 Nissan PickUp
FMCA

DavidMc · 07-17-2006, 05:09 PM

Jon, What is the primary charging device from which this new "charger" is receiving its power? Are the batteries needing to be refilled more often?

The description of the Echo-Charge includes " the echo~charge will follow the charge modes of the source".

Perhaps the source charger is pushing the 14.+ voltage range or is even running an equalization cycle. This could account for more 'boiling off' of extra acidic vapors.

vicsryd · 07-19-2006, 03:50 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by DavidMc:
What is the primary charging device from which this new "charger" is receiving its power?

Are the batteries needing to be refilled more often?

The description of the Echo-Charge includes " the echo~charge will follow the charge modes of the source".

Perhaps the source charger is pushing the 14.+ voltage range or is even running an equalization cycle. This could account for more 'boiling off' of extra acidic vapors. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
The source is the house batteries and the target is the coach batteries so it could be vaport from the chassis batteries. The house batteries wil typically charge around 14v. I've seen the house current go past 14v when in conditioning mode on 50 amp shore or gen power.

If it's working properly then according to the literature the Echo-Charge shouldn't deliver more than 13.5 volts to the target. I will verify actual operation though.

The house batteries need only a little water every couple of months. I don't see any way to open/inspect the Freightliner Alliance batteries.