Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying?
| [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying? [message #232206] |
Wed, 04 December 2013 14:19  |
Robin Hood
Messages: 1078
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 3
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I charge it, there's nothing on to drain it, and a few days later it's
dead. What am I missing? No lights, no fans, nothing.
--
Robin Hood
Jackson, MS
2013 Subaru Outback "Top Flight"
1968 Pontiac Catalina "The Cheshire Cat"
1978 GMC Royale motorhome "Pinto Bean"
1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome "Barn Queen"
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| Re: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying? [message #232207 is a reply to message #232206] |
Wed, 04 December 2013 14:31  |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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| Robin Hood wrote on Wed, 04 December 2013 13:19 |
I charge it, there's nothing on to drain it, and a few days later it's
dead. What am I missing? No lights, no fans, nothing.
--
Robin Hood
Jackson, MS
2013 Subaru Outback "Top Flight"
1968 Pontiac Catalina "The Cheshire Cat"
1978 GMC Royale motorhome "Pinto Bean"
1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome "Barn Queen"
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Is it an old battery? When you hook up the ground cable (last) does it draw a spark? If so, there is a drain on it. Just disconnect it when you are not using it to run anything on the coach, and re-connect it when you are. Then look for the current drain.
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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| Re: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying? [message #232208 is a reply to message #232206] |
Wed, 04 December 2013 14:33 |
jknezek
Messages: 1057
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 5
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Put a volt meeter on it and make sure there is no drain. If there isn't, then check the water cells. If those are fine, it's probably a bad battery.
My guess is there is a drain somewhere. There is almost ALWAYS a drain somewhere. For the chasis battery I put a disconnect on so I can shut it off when parked. For the house batteries, I have a PD charger so I leave it plugged in at the house. But if I didn't, I would have shut offs on it since I'm sure I could find a drain there too.
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
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| Re: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying? [message #232209 is a reply to message #232206] |
Wed, 04 December 2013 14:43 |
Otterwan
Messages: 946
Registered: July 2013
Location: Lynnwood (north of Seattl...
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| Robin Hood wrote on Wed, 04 December 2013 12:19 |
I charge it, there's nothing on to drain it, and a few days later it's
dead. What am I missing? No lights, no fans, nothing.
--
Robin Hood
Jackson, MS
2013 Subaru Outback "Top Flight"
1968 Pontiac Catalina "The Cheshire Cat"
1978 GMC Royale motorhome "Pinto Bean"
1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome "Barn Queen"
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Robin - Simple test. Disconnect it and charge it. Dead in two days? Bad battery. OK in two days? You've got a drain somewhere.
1977 Birchaven, Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
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| Re: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying? [message #232210 is a reply to message #232206] |
Wed, 04 December 2013 14:44 |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
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I have tried to chase down drains on mine too. with no luck, the drain is so small, it is hard to tell what direction it is coming from. sometimes it seemed to drain them fast, other times I thought I had it fixed, until it sat for a couple weeks.
I gave up, after I thought I found it a couple times, and now I just always have a battery tender hooked up. or I disconnect the battery when it is sitting.
If I know I am going to be dry camping for a full weekend, I will disconnect it too, just because I cannot rely on my house bank for a boost. but If i know I am plugged in, I will know the house bank will be charged up, so I do not worry.
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
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| Re: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying? [message #232212 is a reply to message #232206] |
Wed, 04 December 2013 14:59 |
scott cowden
Messages: 170
Registered: February 2004
Karma: 0
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Robin;
The first place to look is the battery. check it, or have it checked to ensure when fully charged its at something like 12.7 volts.
If the battery fails, replace it. If the battery is OK, then move on to look for 'parasitic' power loss.
Here's a great video to help you along:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-KfZvbjyBY
Good luck.
Scott
'74 x-Glacier
Newmarket ON
> Date: Wed, 4 Dec 2013 14:19:01 -0600
> From: loxley@gmail.com
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> Subject: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying?
>
> I charge it, there's nothing on to drain it, and a few days later it's
> dead. What am I missing? No lights, no fans, nothing.
>
> --
> Robin Hood
> Jackson, MS
> 2013 Subaru Outback "Top Flight"
> 1968 Pontiac Catalina "The Cheshire Cat"
> 1978 GMC Royale motorhome "Pinto Bean"
> 1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome "Barn Queen"
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying? [message #232218 is a reply to message #232206] |
Wed, 04 December 2013 16:25 |
sgltrac
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 1
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A simple diagnostic I learned from those on the list and another off is to install a test light between the battery and the chassis ground cable battery post. If the test light lights, disconnect circuits one by one until light goes out. The one that makes it go out is your drain.
Start with a charged, disconnected battery and see if it stays charged as mentioned earlier in this thread first.
Todd Sullivan
Sully
77 royale
Seattle.
> On Dec 4, 2013, at 12:19 PM, Robin Hood <loxley@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I charge it, there's nothing on to drain it, and a few days later it's
> dead. What am I missing? No lights, no fans, nothing.
>
> --
> Robin Hood
> Jackson, MS
> 2013 Subaru Outback "Top Flight"
> 1968 Pontiac Catalina "The Cheshire Cat"
> 1978 GMC Royale motorhome "Pinto Bean"
> 1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome "Barn Queen"
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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Sully
77 Royale basket case.
Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list)
Seattle, Wa.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying? [message #232259 is a reply to message #232206] |
Thu, 05 December 2013 02:14 |
Mr ERFisher
Messages: 7117
Registered: August 2005
Karma: 2
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here is a slide from a talk i gave at coos bay
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6403/Listen_to_your_GMC1.pdf
the second slide shows the connection
that will let you hear a leak all over the coach
down to . 02 amps.
use the gmc meter to check the current across the sounder
and then go looking for the leak by ear
let me know if there is any more interest and i will describe
the technique
gene
On Wed, Dec 4, 2013 at 12:19 PM, Robin Hood <loxley@gmail.com> wrote:
> I charge it, there's nothing on to drain it, and a few days later it's
> dead. What am I missing? No lights, no fans, nothing.
>
> --
> Robin Hood
> Jackson, MS
> 2013 Subaru Outback "Top Flight"
> 1968 Pontiac Catalina "The Cheshire Cat"
> 1978 GMC Royale motorhome "Pinto Bean"
> 1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome "Barn Queen"
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
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| Re: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying? [message #232261 is a reply to message #232259] |
Thu, 05 December 2013 05:43 |
Burt and Faye curtis
Messages: 256
Registered: June 2012
Karma: 4
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Gene,
This little tester/buzzer is really cool and I am sure glad you did a
seminar on it at Coos Bay. Don't normally like warning buzzers, so te use
for a turn signal buzzer, etc. was not appealing, but as a leak detector,
it is right on!!
Fay Curtis
'76 Glenbrook
On Thu, Dec 5, 2013 at 12:14 AM, gene Fisher <mr.erfisher@gmail.com> wrote:
> here is a slide from a talk i gave at coos bay
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6403/Listen_to_your_GMC1.pdf
>
> the second slide shows the connection
> that will let you hear a leak all over the coach
> down to . 02 amps.
>
> use the gmc meter to check the current across the sounder
> and then go looking for the leak by ear
>
> let me know if there is any more interest and i will describe
> the technique
> gene
>
>
>
> On Wed, Dec 4, 2013 at 12:19 PM, Robin Hood <loxley@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I charge it, there's nothing on to drain it, and a few days later it's
> > dead. What am I missing? No lights, no fans, nothing.
> >
> > --
> > Robin Hood
> > Jackson, MS
> > 2013 Subaru Outback "Top Flight"
> > 1968 Pontiac Catalina "The Cheshire Cat"
> > 1978 GMC Royale motorhome "Pinto Bean"
> > 1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome "Barn Queen"
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
> “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
> -------
> http://gmcmotorhome.info/
> Alternator Protection Cable
> http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying? [message #232263 is a reply to message #232206] |
Thu, 05 December 2013 06:38 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Quick and dirty - charge it, leave the ground connection disconnected for a few days, then connect it and see if there's a charge. No charge, expired battery. Charge, thejn you go looking for the phantom drain. There's a myraid of possibilities, but eliminate the battery itself first.
--johnny
From: Robin Hood <loxley@gmail.com>
To: "gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org" <gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 4, 2013 3:19 PM
Subject: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying?
I charge it, there's nothing on to drain it, and a few days later it's
dead. What am I missing? No lights, no fans, nothing.
--
Robin Hood
Jackson, MS
2013 Subaru Outback "Top Flight"
1968 Pontiac Catalina "The Cheshire Cat"
1978 GMC Royale motorhome "Pinto Bean"
1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome "Barn Queen"
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Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying? [message #232265 is a reply to message #232263] |
Thu, 05 December 2013 06:42 |
Robin Hood
Messages: 1078
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 3
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I disconnected the POSITIVE, not the negative (ground). Is this a problem?
On Thu, Dec 5, 2013 at 6:38 AM, Johnny Bridges <jhbridges@ymail.com> wrote:
> Quick and dirty - charge it, leave the ground connection disconnected for
> a few days, then connect it and see if there's a charge. No charge,
> expired battery. Charge, thejn you go looking for the phantom drain.
> There's a myraid of possibilities, but eliminate the battery itself first.
>
> --johnny
>
>
> From: Robin Hood <loxley@gmail.com>
> To: "gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org" <gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 4, 2013 3:19 PM
> Subject: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying?
>
>
> I charge it, there's nothing on to drain it, and a few days later it's
> dead. What am I missing? No lights, no fans, nothing.
>
> --
> Robin Hood
> Jackson, MS
> 2013 Subaru Outback "Top Flight"
> 1968 Pontiac Catalina "The Cheshire Cat"
> 1978 GMC Royale motorhome "Pinto Bean"
> 1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome "Barn Queen"
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Robin Hood
Jackson, MS
2013 Subaru Outback "Top Flight"
1968 Pontiac Catalina "The Cheshire Cat"
1978 GMC Royale motorhome "Pinto Bean"
1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome "Barn Queen"
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| Re: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying? [message #232266 is a reply to message #232265] |
Thu, 05 December 2013 06:51 |
C Boyd
Messages: 2629
Registered: April 2006
Karma: 18
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Robin, it is just a safety thing. If unhooking the positive first you could spark the wrench to ground and possibly blow the battery up in your face. When unhooking the battery do the negative first, when hooking the battery up do the negative last.
C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee
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| Re: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying? [message #232267 is a reply to message #232266] |
Thu, 05 December 2013 07:06 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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You can disconnect either terminal and accomplish the same thing.
As chuck stated, disconnecting the negative first is a safety thing just in case the wrench you are using should touch something and short to ground.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying? [message #232271 is a reply to message #232265] |
Thu, 05 December 2013 07:49 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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Not for checking the battery is it a problem.
As a safety concern, yeah. Consider this - you have a wrench on the terminal to disconnect it. The wrench touches the frame or some other metal part of the coach. If the wrench is on the negative terminal, no problem. The negative is connected to the frame anywway. If the wrench is on the positive perminal, bad things will happen. You have just used the wrench to connect the piositive and negative terminals together. You have done so wtih a large conductor (the metal wrench) and you have done so in a circumstance where there is no fuse to limit currewnt through the battery and wrench. At the least there will be arcs and sparks and loud noises and the wrench will heat bright red. At the worst the battery qwill undergo what several government agencuies now refer to as 'rapid dissassembly' which means it may ex[plode.
Now consider the reverse of this. You disconnect the negative terminal. The wrench touches the frame or some other metal part of the coach. Nothing happens, because the negative terminal is already connected to the frame. Remove the negtative connection from the battery. Now touiching the positive terminal to the frame or other metal parts of the coach doesn't do anything - they are no longer connected to the battery negative terminal. Nothing is connected to it since you removed it first.
That's the explanation. The Rule is:
ALWAYS DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE OR GROUND TERMINAL FIRST< AND RECONNECT IT LAST.
Follow the Rule, and he explanation doesn't matter.
--johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
From: Robin Hood <loxley@gmail.com>
To: "gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org" <gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 5, 2013 7:42 AM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying?
I disconnected the POSITIVE, not the negative (ground). Is this a problem?
On Thu, Dec 5, 2013 at 6:38 AM, Johnny Bridges <jhbridges@ymail.com> wrote:
> Quick and dirty - charge it, leave the ground connection disconnected for
> a few days, then connect it and see if there's a charge. No charge,
> expired battery. Charge, thejn you go looking for the phantom drain.
> There's a myraid of possibilities, but eliminate the battery itself first.
>
> --johnny
>
>
> From: Robin Hood <loxley@gmail.com>
> To: "gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org" <gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 4, 2013 3:19 PM
> Subject: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying?
>
>
> I charge it, there's nothing on to drain it, and a few days later it's
> dead. What am I missing? No lights, no fans, nothing.
>
> --
> Robin Hood
> Jackson, MS
> 2013 Subaru Outback "Top Flight"
> 1968 Pontiac Catalina "The Cheshire Cat"
> 1978 GMC Royale motorhome "Pinto Bean"
> 1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome "Barn Queen"
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Robin Hood
Jackson, MS
2013 Subaru Outback "Top Flight"
1968 Pontiac Catalina "The Cheshire Cat"
1978 GMC Royale motorhome "Pinto Bean"
1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome "Barn Queen"
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying? [message #232285 is a reply to message #232206] |
Thu, 05 December 2013 10:46 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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You could have a bad battery and a drain
In that case your new battery will also soon be bad.
I hate it at car shows where they tell you to disconnect the POSITIVE cable. Battery explosion may be the last thing your eyes ever see on this earth. If you have ever witnessed a lead acid wet type battery explosion you would use caution and respect
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying? [message #232286 is a reply to message #232206] |
Thu, 05 December 2013 10:50 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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And in a way the negative is the "hot" as electricity flows from the negative to the positive. This has nothing to do with which cable to disconnect, but rather the wrench sequence explanations above are spot on for negative ground system.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying? [message #232287 is a reply to message #232271] |
Thu, 05 December 2013 10:59 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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| Johnny Bridges wrote on Thu, 05 December 2013 07:49 |
Not for checking the battery is it a problem.
As a safety concern, yeah. Consider this - you have a wrench on the terminal to disconnect it. The wrench touches the frame or some other metal part of the coach. If the wrench is on the negative terminal, no problem. The negative is connected to the frame anywway. If the wrench is on the positive perminal, bad things will happen. You have just used the wrench to connect the piositive and negative terminals together. You have done so wtih a large conductor (the metal wrench) and you have done so in a circumstance where there is no fuse to limit currewnt through the battery and wrench. At the least there will be arcs and sparks and loud noises and the wrench will heat bright red. At the worst the battery qwill undergo what several government agencuies now refer to as 'rapid dissassembly' which means it may ex[plode.
Now consider the reverse of this. You disconnect the negative terminal. The wrench touches the frame or some other metal part of the coach. Nothing happens, because the negative terminal is already connected to the frame. Remove the negtative connection from the battery. Now touiching the positive terminal to the frame or other metal parts of the coach doesn't do anything - they are no longer connected to the battery negative terminal. Nothing is connected to it since you removed it first.
That's the explanation. The Rule is:
ALWAYS DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE OR GROUND TERMINAL FIRST< AND RECONNECT IT LAST.
Follow the Rule, and he explanation doesn't matter.
--johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
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In our standard issue IBM tool bag we had what was called a 60 amp screwdriver. I was a large square shank screwdriver and 60 amps is what it took to burn off the end of it.
I wonder how many amps a box end across a battery will take before it melts?
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying? [message #232396 is a reply to message #232206] |
Fri, 06 December 2013 01:47 |
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Jerry Sitzlar
Messages: 206
Registered: February 2013
Location: Lenoir City, TN
Karma: 4
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Senior Member |
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Robin, I had the exact problem when I first got my coach. The PO had it checked at a large RV center. $600+ later they couldn't fix it so they installed a battery disconnect switch. I talked to Jim B and replaced the isolator and boost relay with no more drain issues and I got rid of that disconnect switch. Also on Jim B's advice, I slipped a piece of water hose over the positive battery cable that runs from the isolator across the frame behind the grill over to where it turned and started back toward the rear. Just as Jim had predicted, that cable section behind the grill had the insulation cracking and only a matter of time before it shorted out wit lotza spitzennsparkin. Also as advised, negative off first and last. A 12 volt battery has enough amps to ruin your wrench and possibly your battery, scarce the crap out of you, and burns to yourself and vehicle. Years ago when I was a technician on space track radar I had to do some preventive maintenance in the high voltage power supply in the transmitter section. When power was first removed it had a relay that quickly released the stored voltage in a bank of filter capacitors that had at least 35,000 volts in them, then before you went into the cabinet, you touched a grounding rod to the buss that connected all of the capacitors together as a final safety precaution. The grounding relay was bad and the voltage was still present when I touched that grounded rod to the buss. I didn't try to figure out how much amperage passed through that grounding rod hook, but it was a 1/2 inch diameter rod and a section of it along with a section on the high voltage buss evaporated. I was not shocked but I was temporarily blinded by the flash and bruised when I threw myself backward. Have I ever got an arc from a car battery? Yes , I have and it hurts.
Jerry Sitzlar..... 77 Eleganza II, Twin bed, dry bath...... Lenoir City, TN (near Knoxville)
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| Re: [GMCnet] Why is my battery dying? [message #232402 is a reply to message #232206] |
Fri, 06 December 2013 05:08 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| Robin Hood wrote on Wed, 04 December 2013 12:19 |
I charge it, there's nothing on to drain it, and a few days later it's
dead. What am I missing? No lights, no fans, nothing.
|
How old a battery?
How was it taken care of?
-- If you can not answer the above, I bet the battery is bad.
Still go through the motions of testing and checking for parasitic drains, as I have been known to be wrong.... rare but it does happen! 
I use the test light trick on the ground then across the fuses after removing them.
Chassis or house battery? (I have been assuming chassis...)
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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