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Old 02-07-2017, 12:43 PM   #15
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Yep, Id remove that bat and have it load tested. And also static voltage checked. Something sounds amiss.
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Old 02-07-2017, 01:11 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by 411jeff View Post
So the breaker I turned off that allowed the generator to idle down looks to be the one that feeds AC current to the RV. I was thinking it was just the A/C (air conditioner) breaker.
So now I assume AC power (Generator or shore power) goes through this breaker and then feeds the inverter/charger. Would that be correct?

As Twinboat stated: If one of the batteries is shorted, it will call for a lot of amps. That will make the charger draw more AC amps.

Now does this make sense that the generator was idled up due to the battery short and the inverter/charger needed more power?

If that is a YES then I'm down to why the battery overheated.
Faulty battery or an inverter/charger issue? Since I have two house batteries and only one looks to be overheated, I guess it was just the battery?
I've never had a battery just over heat. The water level as of one week ago when I checked it was fine. And only 2 chambers are low on water now after being overheated.

Once again, thanks for everyone's advice.
Remove both batteries and have them tested...I'm sure one is shorted and the other may/may not be OK...this is why your gen is idling up as the charger is trying to charge the bad battery. My guess is that the one that is leaking acid is the good one. I'd wear eye protection when messing with them and get them unhooked from each other before moving them around. Batteries can explode so take reasonable precautions.
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Old 02-07-2017, 01:17 PM   #17
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I have a Onan HDKAJ1145D generator in my '98 Monaco Dynasty. After start up it goes into high idle then to medium idle but will not drop to low idle. Nothing in the coach is on. I can turn the microwave on and it jumps to high idle and then back to medium when the microwave goes off. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks
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Because the Onan HDKAJ1145D generator is computer controlled...the engine speed automatically varies to "match engine speed to load demand".

The Onan HDKAJ1145D has no specific "idle" speed).
See this pdf: http://www.rvtechlibrary.com/generat...0specsheet.pdf
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Old 02-07-2017, 01:20 PM   #18
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My guess is that the one that is leaking acid is the good one. .
My guess is the opposite. It boiled out 2 of the 6 cells. That is where the shorted cells are.
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Old 02-07-2017, 01:51 PM   #19
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I'm taking the leap that the OP has a diesel powered, inverter generator. Maybe 1800 RPMs at full load. It runs near 1000 RPm and as the loads increase, so does the RPM.

If one of the batteries is shorted, it will call for a lot of amps. That will make the charger draw more AC amps.

Of course that also happens when plugged in to shore power but not noticeable, like the generator.
Usually the only Onan 10 and 12.5K units are 1800 rpm units at idle up to full load, they do not idle down. The others use variable speed and run up to 3600 rpm.
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Old 02-07-2017, 01:57 PM   #20
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What's the average lifespan on a 4D battery? These are 2 years old.
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Old 02-07-2017, 02:12 PM   #21
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If you let them die while in storage, store them for long periods discharged or run them down below 10 volts more then a few times, about two years.

If you charge them to 100% and disconnect them, while stored, and seldom let them discharge below 50%( 12.0 volts ) while using them, 4 to 7 years.

Another issue is the type of charger you have. Some are better at charging them others.

If you have an inverter/charger, it should be a good 3 stage charger. You do need to check the charger setting to make sure it's set for wet cell batteries.
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Old 02-07-2017, 05:49 PM   #22
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Since I need to replace the house batteries (I have two Interstate 4D) I'm wondering about options. I don't boondoggle. I either have shore power or run the generator. I guess the only time I really use the batteries is if I'm driving without the generator on which isn't too often since I in the south and run the Air Conditioner most of the time.

Do I really need two batteries? How about one 12v Deep cycle?
Can I use two 6 volt golf batteries? (I don't have room for four 6 volts)
Will not having two 12v cause a problem with the inverter/charger?

Thanks
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Old 02-07-2017, 06:57 PM   #23
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While this thread could well be a "boondoggle"--think what you are concerned about is battery power for "boon-docking" [smile]. You may still have a battery / inverter issue, you need to focus on the 120v-related items in your initial post. Your A/C units don't run thru the inverter, yet you claimed the A/C breaker caused the genset to idle up. Its not rotten eggs but so far, this thread doesn't smell right to me.
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Old 02-07-2017, 07:08 PM   #24
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While this thread could well be a "boondoggle"--think what you are concerned about is battery power for "boon-docking" [smile]. You may still have a battery / inverter issue, you need to focus on the 120v-related items in your initial post. Your A/C units don't run thru the inverter, yet you claimed the A/C breaker caused the genset to idle up. Its not rotten eggs but so far, this thread doesn't smell right to me.
He explained his confusion between " AC " and " A/C " .
Did someone say Boondoggle ????
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Old 02-07-2017, 08:02 PM   #25
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I'm taking the leap that the OP has a diesel powered, inverter generator. Maybe 1800 RPMs at full load. It runs near 1000 RPm and as the loads increase, so does the RPM.

If one of the batteries is shorted, it will call for a lot of amps. That will make the charger draw more AC amps.

Of course that also happens when plugged in to shore power but not noticeable, like the generator.
To mechanically generate 60 Hz power from a 2 pole generator the rotor needs to spin at 3600 RPM. For every 600 RPM change will result in a 10 Hz change. At 1800 RPM the generator frequency would be down to around 30 Hz and at 1000 drops to 16 Hz. The Onan HDKAJ1145D is a two pole mechanical AC generator with an electronic governor to regulate engine RPM.

With battery if a cell or cells short circuit the short will generate heat and slowly boil the water out of the cell. The OP can certainly go with a single deep cell 12 volt as long as he understands the limitations.

Now for why was the generator loading? Even with everything off in the coach the AC to DC convertor/charger will still be on unless the breaker for it was tripped. With a shorted battery there's going to be a high power demand on the converter. Something such as a 70 amp convertor could demand as much as 1200 watt load or about the same as portable heater or hair dryer.
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Old 02-07-2017, 08:43 PM   #26
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This generator, according to the specs, has a variable speed engine, operating between 1600 and 3200 RPMs.

It is not a 3600 RPM generator. They don't specificity state it's a inverter generator but it operates like one.
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Old 02-07-2017, 08:49 PM   #27
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What's the average lifespan on a 4D battery? These are 2 years old.
That varies by use, my 4 - 8D AGM's were toast when we bought the rig in 2015. That was only 7 years on $2000 worth of batteries.
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Old 02-08-2017, 08:55 AM   #28
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Sorry about "boondoggle". And I don't do any boondocking either.

I'm going to confirm that the bad battery was the cause of the additional load. If that's the case, I'll move on to the battery replacement.

Thanks for all the help.
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