GrammaAnn
Benbrook, Texas
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Joined: 06/08/2003
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Sounds simple - right?? Well, there are 2 house batteries, they are in a compartment without slideout capabilities. They are hooked together ( inline - parallel - ???? ) and there is VERY LITTLE ROOM in there.
I've tried a mirror, but can't see a thing. Plus there are these locking type bars attached to the fill holes. ( never seen these before, so cant describe very well )
Anyway. They are not charging with the MH hooked to shore power, so need to figure out if it is the charger, or the batteries.
Any suggestions?
Gramma Ann
The Texas Gypsy
New to us - 1988 Shasta 32ft with full handicap accessibility. Move over world Gramma and Grampa are on the road!!
One OLD Hubby, Logan the dog, and Baby the cat ( both left over from the granddaughter !!)
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hershey
Albuquerque,(fulltime) NM, USA
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Joined: 06/04/2003
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Pro Fill is a remote battery filler available at Camping World and some large sporting goods stores. Its available for both 6 volt or 12 volt batteries. Once installed, you just stick a hose in your bottle of distilled water and pump the bulb until hard and your water level is perfect.
I used it on two inaccessible 12 volt batteries in our previous coach and it works as advertised.
hershey - albuquerque, nm
Someday Finally Got Here
My wife does all the driving - I just get to hold the steering wheel.
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slowolf
Central Coast, CA
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Joined: 01/02/2007
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GrammaAnn wrote:Sounds simple - right?? Well, there are 2 house batteries, they are in a compartment without slideout capabilities. They are hooked together ( inline - parallel - ???? ) and there is VERY LITTLE ROOM in there.
I've tried a mirror, but can't see a thing. Plus there are these locking type bars attached to the fill holes. ( never seen these before, so cant describe very well )
Anyway. They are not charging with the MH hooked to shore power, so need to figure out if it is the charger, or the batteries.
Any suggestions?
Hi Gramma, Do you know how old the batteries are? The age may be an indicator of whether or not to just replace them. Lead acid batteries have a shelf life and if they are over 5 years old you should probably just replace them.
2005 Airstream Safari 28' w/slideout
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OnaQuest
Raleigh, NC
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Joined: 01/15/2006
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slowolf wrote:
Lead acid batteries have a shelf life and if they are over 5 years old you should probably just replace them.
Show us where it says this.
Lead acid batteries age with heavy use and misuse, not age.
* This post was
edited 08/07/08 09:13pm by OnaQuest *
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smkettner
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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If the battery is getting charged properly the converter/charger will have 13.2 to 14.4 volts on the battery terminals. 12.6 or less volts and it is not charging. As for water I suggest the filling system and/or removing the batteries for checking the water. Low water is one of the reasons batteries explode.
2001 F150 SuperCrew 5.4 Lariat Offroad 4x4 Tow Package 4.10 Truetrac
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
12K SuperGlide, KGE3000Ti 2.3kw rated 2.6kw max
Frank's voltage booster, Prosine 1800 powered by 4 GC2 batteries
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wilanddij
CA Desert
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Joined: 08/10/2004
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If you have had the coach for any length of time and they are not gel type "maintenance free" batteries, and you have never been able to check the water level you can probably expect they are dry and no longer serviceable. So, you're probably going to have to get them removed anyway, and when you do install some gels, which should be less ongoing worry for you.
Will & Di
2004 Southwind 32VS
Workhorse/8.1
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"We have met the enemy, and he is us" Pogo
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rolnrolnroln
WA
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Joined: 02/15/2004
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Do what I do: take them out. Look in the holes. Put them back. I only do that in the spring as they lose little water. As for the 5 years, that is not written in stone. My last set had 7 years on them and were going well. The current set has 5 years and act like I just bought them. I expect 10 years from them. Trojan T-105s.
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GrammaAnn
Benbrook, Texas
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OK Guys. I'm old, female, and not the strongest of people. I can't get them out - just not possible for me. We bought the MH in March. It has always had very good battery output, but just recently they are down and not charging from the shore power. There are 2 roof top solar cells. I think ( have no idea how to check their output) they are charging some.
I'm really getting tired of trying to figure out the previous owners mods. I guess I'll just either take it back to Camper World, or call the RV Dr again. Between the Generator work, replacement of AC and the work on the wheelchair lift, it seems something is going on.
So anyway thanks for the responses
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BFL13
Victoria, BC
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Joined: 02/15/2006
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If the batteries are in a place that will allow this, you can make/get a box or platform the right height and strength to take the weight and put it next to the battery compartment and just slide them out onto it and slide them back afterwards. If there is a lip at the edge of the compartment you have to lift the batteries over you can use a suitable piece of wood to go under the battery tilted up and slide the battery up the piece of wood and then let it onto the platform.
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younchem
Lafayette, LA
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Joined: 03/02/2006
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In simple terms: you will have to pull them out to check them properly. I believe that removing the batteries, cleaning them, cleaning the boxes that they are in, rotate them, re-attach and tighten the cables, check for corrosion, fluid levels, damage and cap condition, remounting them carefully checking all hardware for fit and corosion is part of the preventitive maintenance cycle.
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