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11-20-2011, 12:51 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 441
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Battery concern
In the process of cleaning the corrosion in the chassis battery compartment I pulled both batteries and noticed that both were bulging a little on the sides. The batteries are not quite 4 years old. I have had a considerable problem with off-gassing. I know the AGM batteries would solve that problem but there is not an extra $600.00 in our budget so guess I will replace the existing batteries with like batteries. When not in use the coach is normally plugged into shore power.
Questions are: What could have caused the batteries to swell/bulge? Is a little swelling normal? I have put the coach up for the winter and don’t plan on using it again for probably 3-4 months. (StaBil, oil change done, etc). I had rather not buy two batteries now if I’m not going to use the coach but I do need to be able to run the propane heater when it freezes. It will be plugged into shore power unless plugging to shore power without batteries will cause a problem. Can I run the propane heater without the chassis batteries in the coach and if so will being connected to shore power without batteries do any harm? Also, weather permitting; we normally try to drive it once a month but am concerned about any damage that might happen if there are no batteries in the coach.
Advise and suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks,
RJ
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11-20-2011, 12:59 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 441
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Battery concern correction
In my post I said chassis battery but I meant to say the house batteries. Sorry.
RJ
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11-20-2011, 01:14 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Phx, Arid~zona
Posts: 11,106
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My Centennial house batteries were made in April of `11 and already show slight bulging. I bought my MH the last day of May and they have been properly charged. I don't remember if they were bulging then I got it, but noticed it yesterday.
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11-20-2011, 01:27 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Dallas,OR
Posts: 4,584
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Considerable out gassing? I think you could have a converter problem. What brand of converter do you have? You might check the voltage from the converter to see what it is putting out.
__________________
Don and Lorri
Resident Dummy.
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11-20-2011, 03:06 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Golden Village Palms, CA
Posts: 1,988
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RJ,
I could not find any info in your profile as to what type of RV you have.
I suspect you either have a faulty or outdated voltage converter. Newer style converters have 3-4 charging stages to minimize out gassing and overheating of the batteries/cases.
__________________
John
'98 Gulf Stream Sunsport 325, 7.5L Banks Power Pack, Koni FSD's, Air Bags, ReadyBrute Elite,
2000 Honda Accord
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11-22-2011, 10:20 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 4,654
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Check voltage
Some swelling us normal over time
Over charge will kill page batteries
13.5 mean float charge
__________________
Tony & Lori
1989 Country Coach Savannah SE
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11-22-2011, 10:31 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Clovis, CA, USA
Posts: 13,138
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Check them with a hydrometer. About $10 or less. Tells you if all the cells are OK.
__________________
2004 Monaco La Palma 36DBD, W22, 8.1, 7.1 MPG
2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
Criticism is easier than Craftsmanship
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11-22-2011, 11:08 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Bluff Dale, TX
Posts: 624
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Off gassing and bulging are signs of overcharging. If you just replace the batteries you will be in the same spot 3 or 4 years from not. You should use a good three stage charger.
Most people do not have to cleanup their battery compartment and work to prevent corrosion on their batteries.
The batteries are not the problem. The problem is the charging system you are using.
__________________
Most RV batteries live a long and useful life, some are murdered.
2000 National Sea Breeze F53
1998 CRV Toad
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11-23-2011, 03:52 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Debary Fl
Posts: 465
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Your furnace is powered by the 12v house batts/converter I would imagine, so no batts it will not run. As others have said your converter is more than likely over charging you batterys, causing your issues. As far as the swelling goes that doesn't mean the batts are bad the only way you will know that is with an inexpensive hydrometer. AGM's will not solve the problem, you will just burn them up until you check/fix the overcharge issue.
__________________
Bruce Linda and Zoey
1999 ForeTravel U295
012 orange Jeep Wrangler
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