mikeleblanc413
Sour Lake, Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 07/17/2010
View Profile
 Online
|
Under a separate post I have "Chassis Battery Question". I've learned that the pull-out steps are operated off of the chassis battery and that some owners use various charging units attached to their chassis battery to accomodate this situation. Given that my battery is 4 years old, I think I'll look for a new one. I'd appreciate recommendations of possibles and those to stay away from.
Now that I know the step situation, I'll correct it with the new battery. THANKS!!!
Mike LeBlanc, "The Digital Guy"
Professional Photographer, Retired Art Educator
Sour Lake, Texas
"Digital Guy"
Facebook
Flicker
|
jauguston
Bellingham, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/03/2005
View Profile
 Offline
|
Your chassis battery is the battery that starts your engine. It also powers the step. What problem are you trying to fix?
Jim
2005 Coachman Sportscoach Elite 402 40'
350hp Cat C-7 w/MP-8
7500w Onan quiet diesel generator
6-Kyocera 130w solar panels SB3024i MPPT controller
Pressure Pro TPMS
1987 Suzuki Samurai tintop Toad w/VW 1.6 turbo diesel power
|
mikeleblanc413
Sour Lake, Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 07/17/2010
View Profile
Online
|
jauguston wrote:Your chassis battery is the battery that starts your engine. It also powers the step. What problem are you trying to fix?
Jim
Jim...I'm still able to start with auxillary start...once or twice I wasn't sure it would start...given that the battery is 4 years old...I'm thinking to replace it...now knowing that the steps draw from the chassis battery, I would address that situation with a new battery. Your thoughts....THANKS.....
|
Bordercollie
Garden Grove, CA, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 03/07/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Your chassis/starting battery may be near it's end of usefullness. You could have it tested.If you do not drive for some distance at least once every two weeks it may just need charging and being kept charged by a Battery Minder smart trickle charger.The battery minder can be kept connected indefinitely and has a desulphation feature that may restore your battery to near full capacity.
http://www.batterymart.com/p-batteryminder-plus-12v-1_3a-battery-charger.html
If your battery is shot, I would install the same capacity new battery and use the battery minder on it while rig is not in use. Using a battery minder on your house battery is also a good idea.
|
mikeleblanc413
Sour Lake, Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 07/17/2010
View Profile
Online
|
In Bordercollie's reply, it read, "...You could have it tested.If you do not drive for some distance at least once every two weeks it may just need charging..." Does a battery recharge differently under a load as compared to simply idling in the driveway?
THANKS!!!!
|
|
|
Bordercollie
Garden Grove, CA, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 03/07/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Idling in driveway may not input as high amp charge rate as when at cruising rpm. You could check this with a clamp ampmeter on the positive or negative cable. Seem to recall that starting an engine requires some 10 miles(?)of driving to replenish the charge that starting took out. Modern alternators do input a higher charge rate when idling than old type generators would at idling rpms. New batteries seem to hold enough charge to start after a month of sitting with only the load from radio memory and engine electronics, etc. Older batts seem to die quicker in motorhome use. Your starter battery voltage should read around 13.4 when fully charged and 14.4 volts with engine running.
|
devildog1971
Rome
Senior Member
Joined: 12/07/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
The best coach battery I have found is the sears 100 amp hour agm battery it is a little pricey but what other deep cycle battery do you get three year free replacement and the one I have is almost 7 years old
2005 Dodge 3500 CTD DRW Crew Cab 4x4 6 speed, 2007 Winter Creek TC Rancho shocks,Firestone Air Bags, One Extra Leaf Spring on Rear.
|
jauguston
Bellingham, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/03/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Deep cycle batteries are not intended for starting battery service.
Jim
|
NewsW
US
Senior Member
Joined: 02/06/2012
View Profile
|
Deep cycle batteries can be used for starting (if the volt / amp meets specs).
But starting batteries cannot be used for deep cycle --- or last very long deep cycled.
Starting batteries come in 2 flavors.
"Northern" batteries are generally sold north of the Mason-Dixie line, and "Southern" batteries sold south.
Northern batteries used in the south can last as little as one season of heat.
Always avoid the top CCA rated battery in any particular line --- that battery will have much shorter life than the 2nd lower CCA one.
* This post was
edited 05/01/12 12:52pm by NewsW *
|
smkettner
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
All batteries last longer if kept fully charged.
Consider adding a Trik-L-Start combiner and low charge on the chassis battery will be a thing of the past.
Otherwise for superior CCA consider the Sears Platinum.
http://www.lslproducts.com/TLSPage.html
* This post was
edited 05/01/12 10:48pm by smkettner *
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
675 watts solar
Send a PM if I missed something
|
|
|
