Hot Batteries

[Michael Hannan]

My coach power cut out twice so far today and came back on before I could get the error code.  I'm fairly confident that it was a battery temperature issue as when I went out to check the water level in the batteries I noticed that despite having topped up the water 3 days ago, one battery was in need of water and had vapour coming out of it when I removed the cell covers.  The fluid was indeed low.  Is my Inverter/charging system malfunctioning? For what it's worth the battery in question is the first (or last) in the group as the negative terminal has a wire coming from the charger.  It is also making a bubbling kind of noise.

MJ

[Steve Huber]

Michael,
Sounds like the boiling battery is bad. A shorted cell will cause this condition. Suggest you have the batteries checked. If it's bad and the others have been in use for a few years, consider replacing all of them as a set.
Steve

[Michael Hannan]

Thanks Steve.  Just to confirm, I'm looking for 6 volt deep cycle batteries?  I've read about Groups regarding batteries.  Not sure what that is all about.  Group 27?

MJ

[Steve Huber]

Michael,
That's correct. Essentially they are 6V golf cart batteries. One of the best you can buy (IMHO) is the Trojan T105. They have more lead (heavier) than most and seem to last longer. They have a 20 amp hour rating of 225 amps which is in the range you should be looking for.  One installed,  be sure to check the water monthly and equalize every month or so. For checking water I find this real handy and inexpensive.
http://www.amazon.com/Cycle-Battery-Water-Filler-Bottle/dp/B00NB808P0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1462309566&sr=8-2&keywords=Battery+filler
Steve

[Michael Hannan]

Michael,
That's correct. Essentially they are 6V golf cart batteries. One of the best you can buy (IMHO) is the Trojan T105. They have more lead (heavier) than most and seem to last longer. They have a 20 amp hour rating of 225 amps which is in the range you should be looking for.  One installed,  be sure to check the water monthly and equalize every month or so. For checking water I find this real handy and inexpensive.
http://www.amazon.com/Cycle-Battery-Water-Filler-Bottle/dp/B00NB808P0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1462309566&sr=8-2&keywords=Battery+filler
Steve

My coach batteries are Heinz 57 with at least one being a rebuilt one (that's how I got the coach).  This is my first venture with a vehicle with more than one battery.  How long should I expect to get out of new batteries (ballpark). Not sure I can swing the Trojans right now.  I've seen some in my price range with 80 amp hours.  Is more not better in this case?  Also, am I looking for group size 27?

Thanks
MJ

[Steve Huber]

Michael,

IMHO you will be throwing $ away getting 80 amp/hour batteries for your Marquis. The coach puts a significant demand on the batteries and 80amp won't hold up. I don't think a Group 27 will physically fit in any case as it is 12 1/2" long vs a golf cart unit that is about 11" long.
House batteries should last 5 years or more if they are taken care of. If the Trojan is too pricey, check with either golf cart shops or Costco / other warehouse stores etc. Some on the Forum have reported very good results with the Costco battery. This may be of help in your decision. http://beaveramb.org/forum/index.php/topic,4923.0.html

I can't vouch for the golf cart batteries but the Everstart auto batteries that Wal Mart sells have been very reliable for me and get good ratings in Consumer Reports. Interstate are also good but they've gotten pricey, at least here  in AZ.

Another option is to test all 6 batteries and replace only the ones that fail or are weak. This will get you through in the short term but IMHO, you should replace all as soon as possible, especially if you have a mix of brands, etc. since you've probably got batteries of differing ages that will fail at different times. Concern here is that one failed battery can cause the others to overload and subsequently fail.
Steve

[LaMonte Monnell]

Michael, I recently had to replace my chassis batteries and all four of the house batteries. The house batteries were 6 years old and using excessive water and two were getting hot. After removing them I noticed that they were bulged around the terminals too. I found Trojan T 105's at a local golf cart store here in Florida for $87 each. I also found some NAPA chassis batteries that were on sale and replaced both of them. Now they hardly use any water and stay cool when charging and charge a lot less sitting at the house plugged in.

[Gerald Farris]

Michael,
You are definitely describing a bad battery.

As for your question about how long good quality house batteries should last. The original Interstate batteries that came in my coach were replaced by me at 7 years of age with T105 Trojans. I plan to replace those batteries this summer at 9 years of age.

Gerald

[Michael Hannan]

Is this the kind I need to get?  http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/everstart-marinerv-battery-deep-cycle-power/6000195362523

I found Trojan T-105s at a golf shop for $180 CAN or about $140. US.

[Gerald Farris]

Michael,
No, the Walmart battery that you listed is a 12 volt marine battery, and it will not last in your house battery bank anywhere near as long as a good 6 volt golf cart battery, and your will have to rewire your battery bank to change it to use 12 volt batteries.

You can get a good Interstate 6 volt golf cart battery from Costco for about $84 each.

Gerald   

[Steve Huber]

Michael,
I'm pretty sure that is a12V battery. You need 6 volt for the house batteries. Also, I think the DP designation indicates dual purpose which usually means starting in addition to other type loads. This will probably shorten the life.
You should be looking for a Golf Cart battery (6 volt) with 200 amp hours.
Steve

[Dale Walker]

I would warn you guys about taking your coach to Sam's to have the batteries replace. A friend stopped at Sam's on the way to AZ. to change his batteries because they were shot. The guy at Sam's changed them out, but the coach only lasted 150 ft. and quit. He got out to see what was going on and the whole engine compartment was on fire. He ran back got his fire extinguisher and got the fire out. Long story short, it totaled the coach. Sam's tried to buy him off, and fix the coach, but what they offered was nearly an insult, so he called his insurance company, and they totaled it. Told him they would get the money back from Sam's. So be forewarned, before you sail into changing your batteries, take a picture, smartest easiest way to be sure you have them right.

I have been looking at batteries to, I have Duracell's in my coach, I have one that's FUBARED, but I think it will get me home. The battery that are in my coach are $108.00 apiece.

[Bill Sprague]

I'm going out on a limb to make a suggestion and ask a question as well!
 
-If one is on a tight budget....
-If one never "dry camps" or "boondocks"....
-If one normally keeps his Beaver plugged in....
-If a one starts his Onan during a power outage...
-If one never runs the Microwave, coffee pot or TV on the inverter....
-If one does not have a residential refrigerator....
-If one does not run the Hydro/AquaHot with (all the fans and circulating pumps) when not plugged in...

Why does a Beaver need 4 golf cart batteries?   

The only time our Monterey (with 4 T-105s) showed anything more that a 5% discharge was when we were at Quartzsite, Mt Rainier, Oshkosh or Sun 'n Fun dry camping.   Twice we were in campgrounds with crappy power and unplugged.   Running the Onan, instead of living off the batteries, keeps them charged anyway.   How many have left the Onan running 24 hours a day when their batteries were, wanted air conditioning or were relying on a breathing machine?

My sister and brother in law have a brand new class C and it was delivered with a single 12 volt deep cycle.  It works!  I've had a boat and two fifth wheels that had two 12 volt deep cycles.  They had a switch that kept the second battery as a rarely used backup.  Our new motorcabin has two 12 volt deep cycle Interstates for house batteries and it is plenty.  Except for dry camping one would be plenty. 

If one is not a "dry camper" I would suggest a single Walmart 12 volt deep cycle house battery would work fine!  A little beefier set up would be two golf cart 6 volts.  Or two 12 volts like our motorcabin.  But four T-105s?

[David T. Richelderfer]

I would ask with all those "ifs", why have a Beaver?  Get a tent camper and go thrifty.

[Bill Sprague]

I would ask with all those "ifs", why have a Beaver?  Get a tent camper and go thrifty.

David,

You are right of course!  But, my suggestion is based on a personal observation.  I sense that a portion of our members are second or third owners who have bought into bargain priced Beavers for full time living.  They may be focused on thrifty full time living rather than thrifty full time camping.  Deep battery reserves for an annual week at Quartzsite may not be needed.