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[GMCnet] Replacing Batteries [message #326773] Tue, 05 December 2017 20:53 Go to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
My 23' is not an ideal battery hauler. Since there's no place for them in
the rear, they have to ride up front. I use a 3-battery Ragusa aluminum
tray at the right front. That's very convenient for carriage, but NOT for
maintenance. With other mods I've done in that area, it's might' nigh
impossible to R&R the 2 golf cart batteries and completely impossible to
R&R the chassis battery without removing those two. Checking the water in
the golf cart batteries is difficult; in the chassis battery, might' nigh
impossible -- only possible with a mirror to check levels.

So, over the years I've developed a way to remove them through the wheel
well with the tire removed. WIth the inner 1/2 of the wheel well liner
left out
(http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g3609-2-piece-wheel-well-liner.html),
as I've run for many years, there is a way: A simple ramp from the back of
the battery tray to the top suspension A-arm gives me an easy way to get
each battery slid into a sort-of-manageable position. I was able to remove
all 3 last week without dropping one or taking a sulfuric acid bath.

Putting batteries back in isn't nearly as easy because the HEAVY batteries
don't slide uphill nearly as easily as downhill. So, a couple of years ago
I devised a battery lift for putting them back in (I'll probably have to
learn to use it for removal too for the next cycle). Here's an album
showing the lift and how it works in case anyone has a similar problem.
Granted, without a lift or ramp, as I have, redesign will be necessary --
maybe using a transmission jack? Or even a regular floor jack?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/yk4CDKzsfUIWteGw1

Ken H.
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Replacing Batteries [message #326783 is a reply to message #326773] Tue, 05 December 2017 22:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
Senior Member
Ken,

I'd suggest:

For the 12VDC battery ($28.39): https://www.rvupgradestore.com/Single-Battery-Watering-System-p/55-8755.htm

For the two 6VDC batteries ($44.84): https://www.rvupgradestore.com/RV-Battery-Watering-System-p/55-8752.htm

Hand Pump ($18.03): https://www.rvupgradestore.com/Flow-Rite-Hand-Pump-p/55-8753.htm

Total: $91.26 plus shipping.

Bottom line: for a hundred bucks you won't have to remove them to service them. BTW I have the same setup up front on Double Trouble
and have been happy with it for YEARS! Sorry no photos.

However, I have the same setup on the two 6 VDC batteries under the bed on the drivers side.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/xantrex-inverter-installation/p56751-xantrex-2-a.html

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808


-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces@list.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Ken Henderson
Sent: Tuesday, December 5, 2017 8:53 PM
To: GMC Mail List
Subject: [GMCnet] Replacing Batteries

My 23' is not an ideal battery hauler. Since there's no place for them in
the rear, they have to ride up front. I use a 3-battery Ragusa aluminum
tray at the right front. That's very convenient for carriage, but NOT for
maintenance. With other mods I've done in that area, it's might' nigh
impossible to R&R the 2 golf cart batteries and completely impossible to
R&R the chassis battery without removing those two. Checking the water in
the golf cart batteries is difficult; in the chassis battery, might' nigh
impossible -- only possible with a mirror to check levels.

So, over the years I've developed a way to remove them through the wheel
well with the tire removed. WIth the inner 1/2 of the wheel well liner
left out
(http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g3609-2-piece-wheel-well-liner.html),
as I've run for many years, there is a way: A simple ramp from the back of
the battery tray to the top suspension A-arm gives me an easy way to get
each battery slid into a sort-of-manageable position. I was able to remove
all 3 last week without dropping one or taking a sulfuric acid bath.

Putting batteries back in isn't nearly as easy because the HEAVY batteries
don't slide uphill nearly as easily as downhill. So, a couple of years ago
I devised a battery lift for putting them back in (I'll probably have to
learn to use it for removal too for the next cycle). Here's an album
showing the lift and how it works in case anyone has a similar problem.
Granted, without a lift or ramp, as I have, redesign will be necessary --
maybe using a transmission jack? Or even a regular floor jack?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/yk4CDKzsfUIWteGw1

Ken H.
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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: [GMCnet] Replacing Batteries [message #326787 is a reply to message #326783] Wed, 06 December 2017 04:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Olly Schmidt is currently offline  Olly Schmidt   United States
Messages: 1265
Registered: February 2014
Location: Germany and Scottsville, ...
Karma: 8
Senior Member
I hopefully have no more needs to maintain and/or replace the house
battery in my 23' - I went ahead and bought LiFePo4 batteries. Mighty
expensive initial investment at around 8-10x the price of my old
batteries, but with two, for me, big advantages: No maintenance needed,
and you can put them anywhere *inside* the coach. Which is helpful in
the 23'.

--
Best regards

Peer Oliver Schmidt
PGP Key ID: 0x83E1C2EA

'76a Eleganza II 26', VA
'73 Sequoia 23', Germany, SH


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Best regards

Olly Schmidt
PGP Key ID: 0x18a9 3a1f 4196 bf22
'76a Eleganza II, VA
'73 Sequoia, SH, Germany
Re: [GMCnet] Replacing Batteries [message #326790 is a reply to message #326783] Wed, 06 December 2017 06:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Rob,

Those are exactly what I installed last week. I didn't find prices quite
that good, but wish I'd spent the money 15 years ago! :-)

Ken H.

On Tue, Dec 5, 2017 at 11:33 PM, Rob Mueller
wrote:

> Ken,
>
> I'd suggest:
>
> For the 12VDC battery ($28.39): https://www.rvupgradestore.
> com/Single-Battery-Watering-System-p/55-8755.htm
>
> For the two 6VDC batteries ($44.84): https://www.rvupgradestore.
> com/RV-Battery-Watering-System-p/55-8752.htm
>
> Hand Pump ($18.03): https://www.rvupgradestore.
> com/Flow-Rite-Hand-Pump-p/55-8753.htm
>
> Total: $91.26 plus shipping.
>
> Bottom line: for a hundred bucks you won't have to remove them to service
> them. BTW I have the same setup up front on Double Trouble
> and have been happy with it for YEARS! Sorry no photos.
>
> However, I have the same setup on the two 6 VDC batteries under the bed on
> the drivers side.
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/xantrex-inverter-
> installation/p56751-xantrex-2-a.html
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Replacing Batteries [message #326792 is a reply to message #326787] Wed, 06 December 2017 08:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
RF_Burns is currently offline  RF_Burns   Mexico
Messages: 2276
Registered: June 2008
Location: S. Ontario, Canada
Karma: 3
Senior Member
Peer,
I'd like to hear more about your LiFePo4 battery installation. Did you need to replace your converter/charger? or could you modify it for LiFePo4 battery charging. Also how did you handle the engine charging alternator to make it compatible? or did you just disconnect the engine charging.

I'm leaning towards LiFePo4.


Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
Re: [GMCnet] Replacing Batteries [message #326793 is a reply to message #326773] Wed, 06 December 2017 08:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
Senior Member
I cheated.

My coach had a 4D and a Grp27 engine battery. All were on a rotted wood support. As I had to rebuild it, went with a pair of GC2s that are in front where they can be tended, and a Grp25 engine battery is aft of them and quite in accessible, but it is service-proof, so who cares. When I put them in, I could actually life the GC2 out the front hatch. That was then, this is now. Not happenin, so I took the page from ken and a 2x6 and slid them all out to the top of the tire. Still a bear.

If Mary hits to lottery, maybe so new technology. Until then, we are stuck with lead.

Matt


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: [GMCnet] Replacing Batteries [message #326795 is a reply to message #326793] Wed, 06 December 2017 08:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GMCWiperMan is currently offline  GMCWiperMan   United States
Messages: 1248
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 1
Senior Member
On Dec 6, 2017 9:12 AM, "Matt Colie" wrote:

> I cheated.
>
> My coach had a 4D and a Grp27 engine battery. All were on a rotted wood
> support. As I had to rebuild it, went with a pair of GC2s that are in front
> where they can be tended, and a Grp25 engine battery is aft of them and
> quite in accessible, but it is service-proof, so who cares. When I put them
> in, I could actually life the GC2 out the front hatch. That was then,
> this is now. Not happenin, so I took the page from ken and a 2x6 and slid
> them
> all out to the top of the tire. Still a bear.
>
> If Mary hits to lottery, maybe so new technology. Until then, we are
> stuck with lead.
>
> Matt
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
> Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
> OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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Re: [GMCnet] Replacing Batteries [message #326797 is a reply to message #326792] Wed, 06 December 2017 09:57 Go to previous message
Olly Schmidt is currently offline  Olly Schmidt   United States
Messages: 1265
Registered: February 2014
Location: Germany and Scottsville, ...
Karma: 8
Senior Member
Bruce Hislop schrieb/wrote
> Peer,
> I'd like to hear more about your LiFePo4 battery installation. Did you need to replace your converter/charger? or could you modify it for LiFePo4
> battery charging. Also how did you handle the engine charging alternator to make it compatible? or did you just disconnect the engine charging.
>
> I'm leaning towards LiFePo4.
>
The batteries are on order, leaving CZ today, and should arrive her in
Germland by next week. I have a new charger/inverter (Victron Energy
MultiPlus 30-2000-80 (already in) plus a Lynx VE.can in a week or so),
but the batteries themselves have a BMS installed. At the moment, my
plan is to keep the existing charging in place, ie. keep the engine
charging alternator connected.

https://www.ev-power.eu/Winston-40Ah-200Ah/12V-2-4kW-LiFePO4-yacht-set-with-200Ah-cells-BMS-mobile-monitoring.html?cur=1

is the battery I got, in case someone wonders.

--
Best regards

Peer Oliver Schmidt
PGP Key ID: 0x83E1C2EA

'76a Eleganza II 26', VA
'73 Sequoia 23', Germany, SH


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Best regards

Olly Schmidt
PGP Key ID: 0x18a9 3a1f 4196 bf22
'76a Eleganza II, VA
'73 Sequoia, SH, Germany
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