Community Forums

69RoadRunner · 10-08-2009, 06:09 AM

Last winter, my chassis batteries went completely dead at one point. Now, if the coach sits a couple of weeks, I have to use the battery boost button to get power from the house batteries to start the engine.

I always use the battery disconnect on the interior panel, but I think there might still be a parasitic draw. I bought a couple of quick disconnects to put on the house and chassis batteries to prevent this from happening again.

Most likely I will need to replace the 2 chassis batteries soon. Optimas have a reputation for withstanding longer periods of no use than than other batteries. Is it worthwhile to get a couple of them from Costco?

sknight · 10-08-2009, 06:31 AM

Wow you just opened a can of worms. In my opinion, yes by a wide margin. The blue tops in my camper have had their share of abuse with no issues in the past five years, the red tops in my diesel truck have been there for six with no trouble.

Optimas are worth every penny.

69RoadRunner · 10-08-2009, 06:54 AM

I know it can be a heated debate. Perhaps next I'll ask if anyone every overnights at Wal Mart.

wa8yxm · 10-08-2009, 10:57 AM

All lead acid batteries, If they go COMPLETLY dead, don't often recover well.. That said, a Deep Cycle is more likely to recover than a starting battery.. but it is still not a good idea to test that theory.

And it's worse in the winter when (if) the battery can freeze

I suspect the battery is history and the discharge is... internal

Now.. what to do about it (Beyond, the obvious replace the battery)

Xantrex makes a product called an Echo Charger

Or a rivel product (Bit cheaper) is the Trick-L-Start

Put either Xantrex Echo Charge -or- Trick l Start RV

Into Google's fine search engine and you can read up on 'em

Both are simple 3 wire hookup.. Chassis hot, House hot, Ground.

What do they do? They allow the house converter/charger to charge teh CHASSIS battery on a rig not so equiped from the factory.

69RoadRunner · 10-08-2009, 11:03 AM

The problem is I store the MH at a storage lot with no electric hookup. If/when I move and can keep it at my house, I'll be able to keep all the batteries charged.

Gary RVRoamer · 10-08-2009, 11:14 AM

If you want an AGM battery for the chassis, I think you can get more battery for the dollar with Lifeline or Trojan than with Optima. But you are going to pay a big premium for an AGM and you could get two sets of flooded cell batteries for the price of the AGM, so the cost per year works out to be similar.

69RoadRunner · 10-08-2009, 11:34 AM

Yeah, the Sears Platinum AGM has 930 CCA vs. the Optima 750. I think that will be the way I go.

DAN L · 10-09-2009, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69RoadRunner

Yeah, the Sears Platinum AGM has 930 CCA vs. the Optima 750. I think that will be the way I go.

i have had the sears platinum agm starting battery for about 3 years and 2 6v lifeline gpl-6ct batteries from bd batteries online for 2 years. both are performing well.