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Old 02-15-2007, 09:25 AM   #1
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converter boils batteries, any answers?
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Old 02-15-2007, 09:25 AM   #2
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converter boils batteries, any answers?
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Old 02-15-2007, 11:26 AM   #3
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Hi ROADTREK,

Welcome aboard iRV2.

Regarding the electrical problem, the general answer is that to much charging current is being supplied to the batteries after they are completly charged. This overcharging is boiling them.

Typically single stage converters that supply a fixed current to the batteries have the problem but the newer style of 3 stage chargers automatically reduce the charging currents as the batteries approach full charge.

If you can advise what type of rig you have and the type of charger, someone might be able to give you specific advice regarding the problem.

Feel free to add your rig information to you signature so it will show up at the bottom of each post and you won't have to repeat the information all the time.
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Old 02-15-2007, 03:05 PM   #4
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What Joe-K says, though generally any late model converter-charger, regardless of the number of charging stages, should not boil the batteries. The availability of inexpensive electronics has made it practical for even low-priced chargers to do a halfway decent job of charging and power regulation, usually sufficient to avoid boiling away the electrolyte. A better grade of charger is still worth the extra money, though, since a quality three stage charger will both charge faster and extend the battery's useful life.
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Old 02-15-2007, 11:50 PM   #5
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If you have a bad battery, say a dead cell, the charger, converter or inverter/charger does not know this and will try to get the battery bank up the the set voltage. This can cause the other good cell to be overcharged thus boiling the water out of the entire bank. I would suggest that once the battery or bank is charged that you remove the surface charge and cheke the specific gravity in each cell with a hydrometer. If you find that you have a cell that is any more that a hundreth of a point less than the others the cell is at least weak and the battery is not optimum. If you find one or more cells that is really low in spacific gravity then the cell is dead and the batteries; all in that application need to be replaced. Again here are some links for those that want to know about batteries.
www.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/12volt/12volt.htm http://www.dcbattery.com/faq.html#1
http://www.usbattery.com/care.htm
http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Bat...ery%20Charging
http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/rvgraphs.php
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Old 02-20-2007, 02:34 AM   #6
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If you really mean boil all the previous are great answers. Be aware that it is normal for batteries to lose water when chargedd by the converter while plugged in to shore ower.
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Old 02-21-2007, 12:08 AM   #7
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A high grade three stage charger and good deep cycle batteries in the circuit with good electrical connections will rarely have to have water added to the cells. The caps of the cells are designed so that hydrogen can off gas but the water condenses on the cap and drips back into the cell. Although I check the water level monthly, I have only added water twice in five years to the 4 six volt deep cycle batteryies. I have equalized the batteries and this is when I loose some water, but even then not much.
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