Community Forums

bevandtomH · 08-08-2016, 05:47 PM

So, the first of many... We will be driving some more coaches in the next 30 days. There has been a lot of good advice as to battery condition, and I've booked marked where to educate myself with regards to battery basics. But....is there a salesman proof way to verify the batteries have been properly maintained versus abused by a poor sales/service department?
We've already experienced the 'somebody must have left the lights on....' Jump start the house or coach to do a test drive or see the light on routine to know they've probably abused them to the point of having new batteries as a condition of sale.
Can I find out by scrolling through the coach systems and see/verifying?
I think I have an idea(dangerous, ask the DW) but you guys are years and know-how beyond me at this point.
Thanks in advance.
Tom

Lv2Roam2 · 08-08-2016, 05:59 PM

My thoughts are:
- Are the battery cases and all connections clean and tight?
- When you pull the caps (if possible) is there water up to the fill levels?
- Does the in-house monitor show voltages of > 12.6 up through 13+?
- Can you turn on all the lights in the coach without them 'dimming out?'
- Do the date stamps (sometimes illegible - which may tell you something) show the battery age as less than 4 - 5 years?
- Is there evidence of unconnected / cut / spliced wiring in the battery compartments going to / from nowhere?

In the end if you have any doubts about the condition of the batteries you can sure make it part of the negotiation - but be very specific about what type / ratings of the new batteries you want.

I'm sure others will chime in on this topic ... Good luck!

brobox · 08-08-2016, 06:32 PM

Here is a tip I was just given by PJ on testing batteries:

Go on inverter, turn everything on in the coach you can including a hair dryer.

Read each battery with a volt meter. They will read low..5.9 volts but if one is bad it will read lower, maybe 5.2 volts.

He said it works, it's a built in load tester.

bevandtomH · 08-09-2016, 04:38 PM

Thanks, good advice.

brobox · 08-09-2016, 05:40 PM

Tom,
I purchased my coach new and my AGM batteries didn't make it a year. Even on a new coach there is no way to be 100% sure the batteries are OK. That is where Entegra's 2 year warranty is a big plus. The battery manufactures warranty is one year.

I am envious of those that live in cooler climates and get 6+ years out of batteries. I live in the battery eating heat of FL and my wet cells would last about 3 years. I have stored plugged in for the past 15 years, cleaned and maintain my batteries perfectly.

vsheetz · 08-09-2016, 05:48 PM

I just figure any coach I buy will need batteries soon and budget for it. Checking dates, water levels and such, etc. can provide negotiationing positioning.

AspireDoug · 08-10-2016, 08:31 AM

I was driving to Plano when my 2014 Aspire was on order (August 2013) and I stopped at MHSRV to use their bathroom. My salesman saw me and said my coach had come in and if I wanted he would show it to me. We went to the back lot and they had just pulled the coach into the shop. The coach batteries were completely dead. Would not even turn on a light or open the step, I mean completely DEAD! I assume the batteries had been sitting there dead for a day at least or maybe two or three. I tried to get new batteries and I guess I should have fought for it because at the two year mark (with the coach staying plugged in all the time while stored) we could not make it through the night with just the fridge and two small fans running. Now at the three year mark they will only last about five or six hours when dry camping. I usually run the generator until we turn off the TV's so just the fridge and two small fans are running. Will four new AGM's make it through the night?

Doug

BrianGlenn · 08-10-2016, 08:51 AM

Purchase a simple battery load tester, or if money is no object, purchase a more expensive digital one.

Brian

FreshAir · 08-10-2016, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AspireDoug

I was driving to Plano when my 2014 Aspire was on order (August 2013) and I stopped at MHSRV to use their bathroom. My salesman saw me and said my coach had come in and if I wanted he would show it to me. We went to the back lot and they had just pulled the coach into the shop. The coach batteries were completely dead. Would not even turn on a light or open the step, I mean completely DEAD! I assume the batteries had been sitting there dead for a day at least or maybe two or three. I tried to get new batteries and I guess I should have fought for it because at the two year mark (with the coach staying plugged in all the time while stored) we could not make it through the night with just the fridge and two small fans running. Now at the three year mark they will only last about five or six hours when dry camping. I usually run the generator until we turn off the TV's so just the fridge and two small fans are running. Will four new AGM's make it through the night?

Doug

Doug, I changed to 4 AGM's and am happy with them. They make it through the night, 9 or 10 hrs., w/o a problem when properly charged.
I went with 4 Lifeline 300 ah GPL-6CT. 600 ah total. They fit my battery tray perfect. I considered the larger GPL-L-16T but they would have required a tray modification and been a really tight squeeze in my Aspires battery compartment.

https://www.batterystuff.com/batteri...s/gpl-6ct.html

AspireDoug · 08-10-2016, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreshAir

Doug, I changed to 4 AGM's and am happy with them. They make it through the night, 9 or 10 hrs., w/o a problem when properly charged.
I went with 4 Lifeline 300 ah GPL-6CT. 600 ah total. They fit my battery tray perfect. I considered the larger GPL-L-16T but they would have required a tray modification and been a really tight squeeze in my Aspires battery compartment.

https://www.batterystuff.com/batteri...s/gpl-6ct.html

Thanks for the info.