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03-16-2013, 06:04 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 59
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Confused by house batteries
I'm new to the whole RV thing so I apologize if this sound like a stupid question. When we bought our coach last fall the dealer told us it had two new house batteries but they hadn't been charged. As things sometimes happens I didn't get around to charging the batteries until this week. The batteries are US Battery 2200 xc and I'm using a Deltran international battery tender dual charger. After letting them charge for 5 days the charger never showed them as charged. When I drop a multimeter on them I get a reading of 8.7 volts. After doing some research tonight I discovered that these batteries are in fact 6 volt batteries. Are my batteries toast now? Will they damage my coach if I reinstall them?
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2003 Georgie Boy Pursuit.
Served U.S.A.F
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03-16-2013, 06:18 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Cumming, GA.
Posts: 103
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Sounds like they are in a highly over charged state. Don't cause any sparks around them.
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03-16-2013, 06:45 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake County, IL
Posts: 1,584
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In RVs, it is not uncommon to have two 6V batteries wired in series to provide the needed 12V output.
If yours are wired in series, then they are not getting very charged at all. If they are in parallel, then they are seriously overcharged, but this does not seem at all likely.
Joel
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Retired electronics engineer. Avid paddler & birder.
2011 Silverado 2500HD, diesel, 4x4,crew cab, 8' bed
Palomino Puma 253FBS (27' 5er) & '94 19' Class B
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03-16-2013, 06:47 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 59
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J Birder
In RVs, it is not uncommon to have two 6V batteries wired in series to provide the needed 12V output.
If yours are wired in series, then they are not getting very charged at all. If they are in parallel, then they are seriously overcharged, but this does not seem at all likely.
Joel
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They're not in the coach. I pulled them to put them on a tender to get a good initial charge. So each battery is showing over 8 volts.
Anyone have a suggestion on how to drain them to a safe level?
__________________
2003 Georgie Boy Pursuit.
Served U.S.A.F
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03-16-2013, 07:05 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Union City, Ca.
Posts: 553
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As long as you have them out of the M.H. let then sit on the ground for a weak or so that way they will run down.
At least that was what I was told that you never put them on the concrete or bare ground or they will go dead on you.
Note: Most M.H. have 6V Batteries for the house and a 12v one for the engine.
Just a thought.
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03-16-2013, 07:12 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Union City, Ca.
Posts: 553
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From what I remember the reason for the two 6V batteries was that the 6V batteries last longer then the 12V ones.
Just an after thought.
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03-16-2013, 07:22 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Tasmania now, USA/Canada/Alaska in April
Posts: 2,473
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Put them on wet ground or cold concrete or wherever and it won't make much difference to how quickly the discharge. Old wives tale.
If that battery tender is only capable of putting a couple of amps into the batteries, it probably hasn't done them a lot of harm unless they are fully sealed and even then maybe not.
If they are flooded cell batteries, first immediate concern is to check the electrolyte level in each cell and top it up with distilled water to the bottom of the split ring.
Then let them sit for an hour or so the battery voltage gets back closer to 7 volts (you can speed up the process by hooking a load - a 12v trouble light or any 12V bulb would do - across the battery) and then reinstall them in the coach exactly as they were before and switch on a few lights and see what happens. Waiting until they get back to around 7 volts (7.5V maximum) will ensure they can't damage any 12V gear in the RV. (NOTE - switch on lights that are the old-fashion incandescent type first, rather than LEDs or fluoros)
Each battery voltage should drop immediately to about 6.3 volts and then slowly start dropping (but measure across both batteries - about 12.6 - since you have a 12V system). How fast depends on how big the batteries are and how many lights you have on. Stop the test once the battery voltage gets down to 12V. If that takes several hours then you are probably OK, but if it happens in under an hour then the batteries are likely had-it and best course then would be to take them to a specialist battery store for proper checking.
If voltages seem OK then plug the coach into shore power and let the on-board charger do its job.
Then you need to bone up on keeping batteries in good condition during long lay-ups - and that will include not leaving discharged batteries over-winter because they will freeze and be destroyed - and the suitability or otherwise of your on-board charger or converter for maintaining batteries in a safe float mode for long periods. etc etc
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Tony Lee - International Grey Nomad. Picasa Album - Travel Map
RVs. USA - Airstream Cutter; in Australia - MC8 40' DIY Coach conversion & OKA 4x4 MH; in Germany - Hobby Class C; in S America - F350 with 2500 10.6 Bigfoot camper
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03-17-2013, 07:19 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: ...East Texas
Posts: 5,325
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Quote:
Put them on wet ground or cold concrete or wherever and it won't make much difference to how quickly the discharge. Old wives tale.
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And the old wives were absolutely correct in their day when batteries had rubber cases that were a bit porous and the acid would leak through the rubber. Today's plastic cases don't have that problem.
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Paul (KE5LXU) ...was fulltimin', now parttimin'
2022 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
towing 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
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03-17-2013, 09:15 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Green Cove Springs Fl
Posts: 220
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AFChap
And the old wives were absolutely correct in their day when batteries had rubber cases that were a bit porous and the acid would leak through the rubber. Today's plastic cases don't have that problem.
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Actually the cases were wood. And if the batteries were that dead you probably really gave them the coupe de grace by waiting so long to charge them. They are more than likely sulfated.
Batteries don't die we kill them.
Dave
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03-17-2013, 09:16 AM
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,563
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Tony Lee gave good advice.
Make sure they are in series when you re-install them. If you don't know what that means, ask more questions before attempting it.
In the future when you remove the batteries for charging, leave them hooked together in series and charge both batteries together as one 12v battery. That way they will get the proper charge.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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03-17-2013, 09:42 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,599
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Hi JackBurton,
I'm a bit behind here. Web research says we have 6 VDC batteries. However, I am not able to determine if the charger is for 6 VDC batteries or you kept the batteries connected (in series) and charged them as one 12 VDC battery. Jack can you tell us if you charged the batteries separately or they were connected, when charging? If they were connected, can you tell us if they were in series or parallel connection?
__________________
Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
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03-17-2013, 09:56 AM
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
Nor'easters Club Workhorse Chassis Owner iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 30,785
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03-17-2013, 10:20 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake County, IL
Posts: 1,584
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry Walter
As long as you have them out of the M.H. let then sit on the ground for a weak or so that way they will run down.
At least that was what I was told that you never put them on the concrete or bare ground or they will go dead on you.
Note: Most M.H. have 6V Batteries for the house and a 12v one for the engine.
Just a thought.
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That is an old, outdated concept from the distant past when battery cases did not insulate very well. Batteries manufactured the last 75 years or so can not be harmed by placing them on the ground or on bare concrete.
Joel
__________________
Retired electronics engineer. Avid paddler & birder.
2011 Silverado 2500HD, diesel, 4x4,crew cab, 8' bed
Palomino Puma 253FBS (27' 5er) & '94 19' Class B
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03-17-2013, 10:38 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Auburn, CA, Havasu, AZ & Mulege, BCS
Posts: 5,385
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Jack-
007's link in post#12 is a great place to start for a good foundation in all things 12 volt. Read both parts.
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Baja-tested '08 2-slide 36'
Alpine: The Ultimate DIY'er Project
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