Community Forums

Dwd40 · 08-01-2017, 05:55 PM

While having my dash A/C hose repaired over a 6 day period, the service center did not turn off the coach batteries while doing their work, and caused the batteries to discharge down to just over 7 amps. When I picked up the coach, I noticed that equalizer system, interior lights, and other electrical would either not work, or barely work, i.e., slide outs wouldn't operate. I drove home with the inverter/converter turned on, and plugged in to shore power upon arriving home. The system is charging, but auto level on equalizer system still won't work. Individual legs will extend, but not on auto. I checked the manual, and it was stated that allowing the batteries to discharge below 11 point something could damage the batteries. I'm now waiting to see if the system will operate normally after several hours charging. Any advice or comments from those of you with knowledge about any of this?

vsheetz · 08-01-2017, 06:01 PM

Allowing batteries to that low a SOC (state of charge) may damage them, and if not damaged overtly the life expectancy will likely be shortened. Try to charge them over a day or two, then if wet batteries check their specific gravity to get an idea of current condition. I would put the shop on notice - they should know better.

BTW, this is one of the reasons I like solar system as it can avert such issues when in for service. Given not serviced indoor if course - but usually if indoors not for an extended period of time.

Arch Hoagland · 08-01-2017, 06:02 PM

I'd let them charge at least 24 hours and also make sure they are full of water.

Mine have run down once or twice over the years for various reasons and are still functioning just fine.

dave&ginny · 08-01-2017, 06:05 PM

Sorry to hear you have problems. Even with the power switch off, the batteries will drain due to the draw from a few items in front of the switch. I had a similar problem and once I got the batteries fully charged, everything was fine.

It does damage the batteries to let them get below the 12 volts but I'll let smarter people on this forum explaine that.

brobox · 08-01-2017, 07:30 PM

I am not the battery expert, but it seems a lot of the installed 2014 batteries are reaching the end of the life cycle from what has been posted in the last week. Mine were replaced last year. Keep a close eye on them after they are charged or preform a battery load test.

757driver · 08-02-2017, 09:18 AM

As mentioned earlier fully charge them to the point that they are in Float mode (shown on the inverter panel) for at least 4 hours. Check the electrolyte level in each cell and top up as necessary with distilled water. Then Equalize the batteries for 2-3 hours by pushing and holding the charge button on the Magnum inverter panel. Pushing and holding again for several seconds will turn Equalize off. Monitor the batteries while this process is going on.

Discharging a battery shoves the acid into the lead plates. If the acid stays in the plates too long it can crystallize (sulfate the battery) and eventually cannot be removed which is lost capacity. Charging pushes the acid out of the lead plates. What you are trying to do now is get as much of that acid out of the lead plates and back into solution by giving the batteries an over charge for a few hours.

bevandtomH · 08-02-2017, 02:44 PM

Dwd40- hope you get a satisfactory resolution.

Not to hijack this thread but with regards to over discharged batteries - how would you recommend someone protect themselves from less than conscientious service people?
Sure seems like one could by s.o.l. in pretty short order with a lot of finger pointing.

MRUSA14 · 08-02-2017, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bevandtomH

Not to hijack this thread but with regards to over discharged batteries - how would you recommend someone protect themselves from less than conscientious service people?
Sure seems like one could by s.o.l. in pretty short order with a lot of finger pointing.

This is a huge problem that is widely overlooked. There are RV's sitting in storage and repair lots all over this country with their batteries being killed by neglect. If your coach is sitting for more than a few days, the batteries must kept on charge or you will suffer battery damage. This is because of so-called "phantom loads" which are circuits that are still alive and drawing current even after you switch everything off. After a few days at a low state of charge, the battery starts to sulfate, which is an often irreversible process of internal deterioration of the battery.

The only ways to avoid this are to:

1) Disconnect the batteries at the battery itself, which kills the phantom loads and extends the safe storage time to weeks (or months in the case of AGM batteries), or

2) Keep the batteries on charge, either by being plugged into shore power or a substantial amount of solar power (not just the insignificant tiny 5-10W solar panels that some coaches come with).

Unfortunately, dealers and repair shops, who should know all of the above, regularly neglect to do anything to address it. Everywhere you look you will see coaches in storage lots that are not plugged in for charging, and the vast majority are not being solar charged and do not have their batteries disconnected.

Dwd40 · 08-02-2017, 08:44 PM

Good luck with having much recourse with damages created by inattentive service personnel in a repair center. I pointed out that they had allowed my batteries to discharge after I had specifically reminded them that they should switch off the main power while the coach was awaiting service. They assured me that they had when in fact, they hadn't. My auto level function still isn't working, and the batteries are at 12.7 amps. I'm not sure what's going on there.

Winepress · 08-02-2017, 08:52 PM

Just curious, but when in service for six days, what are the batteries powering? I would think that you would shut everything down and power down the inverter and disconnect the battery switch. Do you think they will follow the RV around with a power cord?

MRUSA14 · 08-02-2017, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dwd40

Good luck with having much recourse with damages created by inattentive service personnel in a repair center. I pointed out that they had allowed my batteries to discharge after I had specifically reminded them that they should switch off the main power while the coach was awaiting service. They assured me that they had when in fact, they hadn't. My auto level function still isn't working, and the batteries are at 12.7 amps. I'm not sure what's going on there.

You batteries are at 12.7 Volts, not Amps.

Dwd40 · 08-02-2017, 09:19 PM

See above comment in regard to disconnect switch. They were going to have to use power to entry steps and put slides out, etc. while doing their work. They were expected to switch the power off when it was not being worked on over the weekend or awaiting parts.

hawgguy · 08-02-2017, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bevandtomH

Dwd40- hope you get a satisfactory resolution.

Not to hijack this thread but with regards to over discharged batteries - how would you recommend someone protect themselves from less than conscientious service people?
Sure seems like one could by s.o.l. in pretty short order with a lot of finger pointing.

When I had my coach turned over for a week for body work, I anticipated this and emptied the fridge then shut down everything I could think of. All of the 12 v system, the inverters etc. I was still worried about parasitic draw but had no problems after a week.

I would not rely on service folks to know my coach well enough to shut things down.

Dwd40 · 08-02-2017, 09:28 PM

I stand corrected....volts, not amps. What I'm wondering is what the charge should be for the auto level to operate. Does anyone have an answer for that?