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Let's talk about Batteries [message #147562] Sun, 23 October 2011 18:46 Go to previous message
Chr$ is currently offline  Chr$   United States
Messages: 2690
Registered: January 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
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Senior Member
I have a regular cranking/deep cycle marine type battery in my engine compartment. It pulls double duty between the coach and my boat, as I never use them together. One battery, less fuss.

My boat is an 85 HP Johnson V4 Outboard, 1976 vintage. Runs like a top. Not sure it even has any sort of charging for the battery.

My Coach House batteries are Two "Outrageously Reliable" model 100RC Group Size GC2 Interstate 6V golf Car batteries. I have had them since May of 2010. I have camped three times with them. I have a Progressive Dynamics PD45 charge converter with a charge wizard. They are on a JimK SST/plastic slide and I keep them well wetted.

My engine battery has seemed to give up the ghost, and would not crank the coach this weekend while camping. I used the handy-dandy GM installed battery boost switch. It started, two different times. The third time I tried to start it today, to move it a little farther up my driveway, no dice. This is after running the Macerator to dump the coach. The Macerator runs on the house bank. I ran the fresh water pump and the macerator alternatively as I always do to flush and drain the black tank to ensure it is squeeky clean.

Since the coach would not start with boost, I took the engine battery out and only read 9V or so. It's a 2008 battery, so OK, only three years on this one vice 6 on the last, but I can deal with that. It's on the charger in the garage, but I don't think it is any good anymore.

I still had some issues in the coach, so I decided to do a little battery maintenance and check things out. I found the Positive post of the Positive feed battery (The one that feeds + to the coach, the other one feeds -) melted, with the stud and the post popped out. Good thing it didn't short to anything since PD 45 was plugged in at the time.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=41240&title=battery-problems&cat=3625

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=41240&title=battery-problems&cat=3625

I'm going to bring them back to costco, where they came from, but I am now concerned that I will have the same problem. What these batteries lack is a full automotive style lead post. they only have the wing nut terminal. I may swing by Interstate with them first to see what they have to say, but they want 2X the price in that store for the same battery. If I get no Joy, I'll ask for the owner, he happens to be a neighbor and I'll talk to him through the shop, don't want to bother him at the house. We have met, but don't know each other.

Anyone have similar issues?

I'm going to try to get them both changed out to ones with regular posts, or I will go to 12V Deep Cycle units instead. I really don't want mismatched aged batteries in my coach in series.

Comments?

-Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
Scottsdale, AZ

77 Ex-Kingsley 455 SOLD!
2010 Nomad 24 Ft TT 390W PV W/MPPT, EV4010 and custom cargo door.
Photosite: Chrisc GMC:"It has Begun" TT: "The Other Woman"

[Updated on: Sun, 23 October 2011 18:48]

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