Batteries life span

[Ozman24]

So since I am new to this Diesel coach thing had mine for 3 weeks my question is should my coach batteries struggle to start every damn morning or are they weak and need to be replaced. I have to use the battery boost even if I have been plugged in. My old gasser never had issues. Any thoughts. I do know they house batteries have 4 brand new ones.

[twinboat]

Coach and house are the same thing. Your talking about the chassis batteries.

It being a 2007 rig, I would get them tested. You don't know the history of the ones in it. Many owners let them drain all the time and just boost them to start. If the sit discharged, they fail rather quickly.

You could also have something drawing them down while parked, but that's not a concern until you know that they are tested and good.

[Mhcorrigan]

Battery life is dependent on several factors such as quality of batteries, abuse and are they charged while the coach is sitting. Look in your owners manual and it will tell you the CCA requirement for your starting batteries. Never go below this number when purchasing new. If you can afford AGM replacements, go hat way as they are sealed and require no maintenance except keeping terminals clean.

[dennis45]

If batteries are properly maintained they will easily last for 6-8 years or more.
From what you describe, it sounds like your problem is not necessarily a battery issue but rather a charging issue.

First off, have the batteries load tested to confirm their condition.

At the same time you need to familiarize yourself with the charging system in your coach. It is possible your Monaco does not have provision to charge the chassis batteries when plugged into shore power as I recently discovered on a friends coach of the same vintage as yours.

If that is the case, you can add a device such as an Echo Charger that will sense the chassis battery state of charge and send a small current to the chassis batteries to maintain them while plugged into shore power.
When the engine is running, the batteries are being maintained by the engine alternator.


https://www.amazon.com/Xantrex-82-01...v+echo+charger

[Ozman24]

Thanks guys appreciate the info heading to get them tested

[Smitty77]

A follow up on Dennis's post. If you are not able to confirm via your documentation and or visual inspection, that the chassis battery is being charged while on Shore Power - post a question under the Monaco Owner's section and network with those that have similar coaches to yours.

If no chassis charge is in your mix, also look at the Magnum Smart Battery Combiner (SBC) - as another option like the Echo.

And spot on advise to also validate via load testing your battery health. Do both the Chassis and also the House/Coach. This way you have a baseline to go from.

I have a now ~7 year old CAT 8D Maintenance Free Chassis battery, still going strong... As noted in this thread, this would be a higher quality Chassis battery, and other then two times where I had some charging problems, has never been abused. I'm hoping to get another year, maybe two out of it.

And I'm in the school that likes to pro actively change Chassis battery on my schedule, and location. So if I do get to year 9 without problems, I'll replace it always... As I sure would not want to do so on the road, and not be able to shop for the battery and price that I want... It's sort of like those, me too, that changes tires in the 5-7 year range... Safe then sorry, and again, on my schedule and with people I know and trust in the mix!

Best of luck to you,
Smitty

[Pusherpilot]

Originally Posted by dennis45

If batteries are properly maintained they will easily last for 6-8 years or more.
From what you describe, it sounds like your problem is not necessarily a battery issue but rather a charging issue.

First off, have the batteries load tested to confirm their condition.

At the same time you need to familiarize yourself with the charging system in your coach. It is possible your Monaco does not have provision to charge the chassis batteries when plugged into shore power as I recently discovered on a friends coach of the same vintage as yours.

If that is the case, you can add a device such as an Echo Charger that will sense the chassis battery state of charge and send a small current to the chassis batteries to maintain them while plugged into shore power.
When the engine is running, the batteries are being maintained by the engine alternator.


https://www.amazon.com/Xantrex-82-01...v+echo+charger

My coach, 04 Imperial has a solar panel that only keeps the chassis batteries up. It was an option when the coach was new. I've never had a problem running them down but the batteries typically never go much past 4 yrs.
Ron

[RockyMtnRide]

I have a 2006 Diplomat and it did not charge the chassis batteries when on shore power. I added a lambert industries charge unit that connectors house and chassis batteries together when on shore power. Lambert is no longer in business but other companies are around that do the same thing. That’s the first thing I would check

[windsorbill]

Originally Posted by Ozman24

So since I am new to this Diesel coach thing had mine for 3 weeks my question is should my coach batteries struggle to start every damn morning or are they weak and need to be replaced. I have to use the battery boost even if I have been plugged in. My old gasser never had issues. Any thoughts. I do know they house batteries have 4 brand new ones.

I don't believe your coach is wired to charge the engine (chassis) batteries when you're on shore power. do a little research, but I believe you'll need to add an Echo Charger to something similar.

[RobRoy]

Originally Posted by Ozman24

Thanks guys appreciate the info heading to get them tested

How long do batteries last? ........ Depends? .......just waaay to many variables.



Lots of good info thus far and I like # 4 in particular


Before "I" removed the batteries from the coach I would want to know a few things that are cheap and easy to check with a $ 10.00 Multimeter

To get started ere the batteries spec'd right for your application? and filled to the proper level with distilled water ( if applicable) and the connections at the battery posts clean and tight?

What is the open circuit battery voltage? It should be 12.6 vdc min. and if not? I would want to know why not? things like, are they being charged properly while the coach is stored and while engine running. In most cases that voltage will be @ 1.0 volt over open circuit voltage @ 13.6 and If not? it has to be corrected and they also need to have the charge rate maintained properly one way or another and as already suggested perhaps while in storage an aftermarket battery maintainer may be required to do so.

If they are charged properly and the Open circuit voltage is 12.6 I would now want to know the battery voltage while the engine is cranking over.

Connect the meter directly to the battery posts and crank over for 15 seconds ...any reading less than 9.5 vdc? the batteries being tested are suspect and further testing will be required.

IMO the best way to test batteries is under a load and real-world conditions and that is done either with your starting system on your coach or a carbon pile load tester that has the proper load capacity to do so.

Capacitance types testers ( Digital testers ) are good and have their place but are not the be-all end-all of battery testing and why many companies like Interstate test their warranty return batteries in-house by both carbon pile load testing and Capacitance type testing both.


So after the batteries have been tested properly and if they pass all the tests you can now go on to things like testing cable connections and proper starter cranking RPM's and current draw.

The first thing you need to know is ....are the batteries capable fo doing their job properly?

Happy Hunting

ps it took me longer to type this, than it will take you to test what had been suggested.

[deSanford]

I just ordered two new chassis batteries as the old still working ones are 7 years old. I just like to get new ones so I don't have a problem in some campground in a small city looking for a special heavy duty battery to fit my "battery box".