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06-16-2021, 03:20 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 262
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Replacing House Batteries - Any Gotchas?
After reading about the unnatural acts required before changing out the Spartan chassis batteries, thought I had better ask before I cause problems.
I need to replace my house batteries. 8 AGMs (wired in 4 pairs of 6v series connected). I assume set main coach battery disconnect to Store (Off). Make a diagram of current wiring and take a picture for reference.
Have done this on a sailboat before and know my way around electrical stuff.
Anything peculiar to the '07 Essex that I should watch out for?
__________________
Mark
'07 Essex
'21 Jeep GC dinghy
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06-16-2021, 03:27 PM
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#2
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,953
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If you have a Magnum inverter they say to disconnect the positive lead FIRST to avoid burning out some of the electronics that will seek a path to ground if you disconnect the negative post first.
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06-16-2021, 04:16 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Watertown NY USA
Posts: 5,762
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If you have a battery disconnect switch you should turn the switch to off before disconnecting any cables. Do not have the shore power cord plugged in.
Making the diagram and taking pictures is a wise idea.
I have all my positive cables marked with red tape and all my negative cables marked with black tape to prevent any mix up.
__________________
2002 Fleetwood Storm 30H on Workhorse P32 chassis 8.1 gas.
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06-16-2021, 05:08 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,315
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I would also turn off the inverter and charger before disconnecting batteries. This way you’ll minimize power being drawn from the batteries. The charger shouldn’t matter if you have disconnected from shore power, but it doesn’t hurt.
The other thing is whether you have bars that connect the two 6V batteries together as a 12 pair. If so, check to see if the terminal position are the same and if the bars are going to fit.
My batteries are supposed to arrive on Monday and I’ll be doing the swap out.
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2018 Newmar Mountain Aire 4531
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06-16-2021, 05:32 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FL
Posts: 11,005
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Print the pictures and write on them voltages before disconnecting anything. Watch for small wires that you might drop out of sight. Often you can zip tie those together before removing the posts.
Too many people drop wires or put in incorrect batteries. Make sure you count the water holes if they are not sealed batteries. You don't want to put 12 volters in series.
You asked, this was recently done.
__________________
Certified Senior Electronic Technician, Telecommunications Engineer, Telecommunications repair Service Center Owner, Original owner HR 2008
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06-16-2021, 07:06 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Not Sure, but I think I should have turned left at Albuquerque
Posts: 817
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flyboy013
I would also turn off the inverter and charger before disconnecting batteries. This way you’ll minimize power being drawn from the batteries. The charger shouldn’t matter if you have disconnected from shore power, but it doesn’t hurt.
The other thing is whether you have bars that connect the two 6V batteries together as a 12 pair. If so, check to see if the terminal position are the same and if the bars are going to fit.
My batteries are supposed to arrive on Monday and I’ll be doing the swap out.
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Let me know how your battery change over goes. I will probably do it when I get back to FLA. You said you got your LifeLines in FLA, where did you get them from?
__________________
Marc & Jennifer + 8 paws (Oliver & Charlie)
2018 DSDP 4327 Spartan
2015 Jeep Wrangler JKU Willy
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06-16-2021, 07:56 PM
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#7
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Member
Newmar Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 39
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Turn the generator breaker off.
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2021 London Aire 4579
2019 Dutch Star 4362
2016 Dutch Star 3734 Sold
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06-17-2021, 03:13 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,315
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlaRider
Let me know how your battery change over goes. I will probably do it when I get back to FLA. You said you got your LifeLines in FLA, where did you get them from?
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I was trying to get my batteries in MD, but after waiting for them to get their shipment, they told me that they received fewer than they had planned and after filling backorders they only had 4 remaining.
I decided to order online from Battery Guys. They were very responsive to my inquires and shipped the batteries the first business day after ordering. They are scheduled to arrive from AZ on Monday.
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2018 Newmar Mountain Aire 4531
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06-17-2021, 07:42 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 262
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Thanks for all the replies!
__________________
Mark
'07 Essex
'21 Jeep GC dinghy
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06-17-2021, 07:57 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Watertown NY USA
Posts: 5,762
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LETMGROW
If you have a battery disconnect switch you should turn the switch to off before disconnecting any cables. Do not have the shore power cord plugged in.
Making the diagram and taking pictures is a wise idea.
I have all my positive cables marked with red tape and all my negative cables marked with black tape to prevent any mix up.
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EDIT to my post. I got interrupted while typing my post.
I was going to add I have each battery numbered. I also have each cable numbered as well. With the color code on each cable and the number on each cable it would be difficult to hook the batteries up incorrectly.
I write on the red tape with a black magic marker and on the black tape with a white marker.
If you need to remove or replace the batteries simply draw a diagram of the orientation before removal and use the diagram to install the batteries. Renumber the batteries if you have replaced them.
__________________
2002 Fleetwood Storm 30H on Workhorse P32 chassis 8.1 gas.
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06-17-2021, 09:40 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Canton, MI
Posts: 1,004
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flyboy013
I would also turn off the inverter and charger before disconnecting batteries. This way you’ll minimize power being drawn from the batteries. The charger shouldn’t matter if you have disconnected from shore power, but it doesn’t hurt.
The other thing is whether you have bars that connect the two 6V batteries together as a 12 pair. If so, check to see if the terminal position are the same and if the bars are going to fit.
My batteries are supposed to arrive on Monday and I’ll be doing the swap out.
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When I replaced all my wet cell batteries with agm I also replaced all the battery cables. Several were corroded but I went ahead and replaced all except the main leads. I also removed the battery tray and refinished it and the battery compartment with truck bed liner spray. Good time to do it while you have the batteries out.
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Tigerfan1
2016 DSDP 4369, Freightliner Chassis, AF One brake system, 2016 Chevy Equinox
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06-30-2021, 05:47 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 229
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Quote:
Originally Posted by YC1
Print the pictures and write on them voltages before disconnecting anything. Watch for small wires that you might drop out of sight. Often you can zip tie those together before removing the posts.
Too many people drop wires or put in incorrect batteries. Make sure you count the water holes if they are not sealed batteries. You don't want to put 12 volters in series.
You asked, this was recently done.
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I recently worked on my house batteries. In the past I have been amazed at how people on this forum do not know some basic things. Fortunately, I only think this, don't say it. But in doing a simple removal of the positive battery cable, I knew I didn't need to make notes or take pictures.
Then I reconnected every thing. And, eating a bit of crow, I found this wire I forgot. Then I found that wire I forgot. After a while, I finally got everything right, but the moral here is, wires surely DO drop out of site and there can be many more connections than anticipated. Not to mention, I am one of the people on this forum that does not know very much!!
Good luck. Lot's of pictures, take your time.
Pete
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WVPete
2005 Dutch Star
2014 Nissan Frontier drive shaft disconnect
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06-30-2021, 07:36 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: FL
Posts: 1,280
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlaRider
Let me know how your battery change over goes. I will probably do it when I get back to FLA. You said you got your LifeLines in FLA, where did you get them from?
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Why on earth would you be changing AGM's in a 2018? Your original AGM should be good for at least three or four more years.
__________________
Vinny, Sandy, JD (10.01.13 - 06.20.20) and our present Portuguese Water Dog "Viking"
Motor Homeless
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06-30-2021, 10:22 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Naples, FL
Posts: 501
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Just replaced my 8 batteries with 2 Battle Born lithium. ME-ARC 50 handles the change just fine. Battle Born gives you the settings for charging. Very easy and lightens the load. Ordered from Amazon and got them in 4 days.
__________________
Paul & LeAnn Toth
The Doodles Kiki and Baxter
2022 Dutch Star 4369
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