house battery overheating

[radd226]

The propane gas detector kept sounding. Turned off propane detector kept sounding. Finally found the house battery was overheating and was too hot to touch. The battery was not maintaining a charge before the weekend. Also lighting strike and at least one camper lost a TV. Should I start with the battery or converter looking for the problem? We have a 2002 Coachman class c>

[Billieg]

If one battery overheats (over charges) that means that another is dead and the charger is trying to still charge it. Have all your batteries checked to see which one is bad. After locating the bad one, place the new one in the middle of the pack so it doesn't affect the rest and all charge evenly.

[radd226]

We only have one battery in our class C

[Airtool]

Checking the batteries is a good place to start, They are about 8 years old if OEM. Just wounder if you have been keeping an eye on the water levels? I need to add (Distilled) water to mine about every 4 to 6 months.

Dick.

[She and I]

Quote:

Originally Posted by radd226 The propane gas detector kept sounding. Turned off propane detector kept sounding. Finally found the house battery was overheating and was too hot to touch. The battery was not maintaining a charge before the weekend. Also lighting strike and at least one camper lost a TV. Should I start with the battery or converter looking for the problem? We have a 2002 Coachman class c>

Welcome!.....Let the battery cool before you add water if you can....lead melts and water will wash loose or hot lead off the plates,causing plates to short or sulfate...Check the voltage at the battery plugged in to power, should be around 13.8 Volts or higher if OK you may need a battery
Richard

[ahicks]

If somebody has been messing with the coach wiring lately there's also a possibility that there's an unregulated wire from the converting leading (somehow) to that battery. As the wire is unregulated it would lead to full time charging - which would lead to a situation similar to what you're describing.

[Elkhartjim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billieg If one battery overheats (over charges) that means that another is dead and the charger is trying to still charge it. Have all your batteries checked to see which one is bad. After locating the bad one, place the new one in the middle of the pack so it doesn't affect the rest and all charge evenly.

The OP has only one battery which needs to be replaced. The converter/charger is trying to charge a battery that is defective and will continue to boil the water.

If you do a forum search you will find that you should never replace only one battery. If you have two, replace both. If four, replace four.

[ga traveler]

Quote:

Originally Posted by radd226 The propane gas detector kept sounding. Turned off propane detector kept sounding. Finally found the house battery was overheating and was too hot to touch. The battery was not maintaining a charge before the weekend. Also lighting strike and at least one camper lost a TV. Should I start with the battery or converter looking for the problem? We have a 2002 Coachman class c>

. If the battery got too hot to touch, the cell seperators are damaged and the battery should be changed.

[radd226]

Thank you for the advice. We are going to the campground now to bring it home. I did not feel it was safe with the fumes so we came home last night, glad we were close for the weekend. I disconnected the battery and power just for safety.

[RickO]

Welcome to the forum! I agree that the battery is probably toast and you should probably replace it and take the voltage reading while charging as mentioned.

I'm not familiar with your coach... what type of inverter/charger do your have? If it is the Dimensions unit (like mine) they are notorious for over charging batteries and the AC current draw often times needs to be limited lower than the 25 amps which is the default setting.

Best of luck...

Rick