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| replacement battery questions [message #323294] |
Mon, 04 September 2017 11:55  |
Deb
Messages: 349
Registered: October 2016
Location: Logan Lake, BC
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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Good morning. My coach (still waiting for that first real trip!) decided to die. The 10 year old starting battery (6/07!) discharged over a period of 2 weeks of no running and trying to troubleshoot the Onan (my bad!). I put her on the trickle charger but it will not take a full charge (NoCo Genius 1100 Charger - maintenance charger that works on everything else). Best I can get is up to the 75% mark on the LED's (100% flashing but never going solid). Checked the battery on the multimeter and came up with 11.8 V. Which from what I am reading is 25% charge at BEST or completely DOA (depending on whose page you read). That is after 4 days on the charger. Got just enough juice to by-pass & test the temperature sending unit (yes, it is dead & I have a replacement). But won't even consider trying to turn over (just growls at me! Briefly!). So it can RIP I think. I killed it.
I have a new Interstate AGM house battery in the generator bay that is holding a nice 12.9 V. I am considering dropping that in as my starter battery and getting 2 6V golf cart batteries for the house. The Interstate is a top post battery - my cables are side mount. Anyone have any experience with the adapters for side to top post cables? Canadian Tire here has some that are short cables - helps to eliminate the possibility of insufficient cable length when you add on the adapter.
There is also a disconnect lever switch attached to the positive post - (should be on the negative post?). I plan to try to check to see if there is some phantom power drain (once I have enough power to drain!) in case that is the reason that switch was installed.
Opinions on the move Interstate to starter and add 2 golf carts? Will be pricier than just getting a new starter battery but a good new battery will be about $150+ anyway. So I am not averse to dropping another $100+ for the golf cart batteries if that is worth it. And also - opinions on the adapter scenario.
Deb McWade
Logan Lake, BC, CAN
GMC Alumnus
It's Bigger on the Inside!
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| Re: [GMCnet] replacement battery questions [message #323296 is a reply to message #323294] |
Mon, 04 September 2017 12:00  |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Deb,
Always make sure the connections are good.
You should be able to use the Battery Boost button to start the engine.
That is one thing I love about that switch.
On Mon, Sep 4, 2017 at 9:55 AM, Deb McWade wrote:
> Good morning. My coach (still waiting for that first real trip!) decided
> to die. The 10 year old starting battery (6/07!) discharged over a period
> of 2 weeks of no running and trying to troubleshoot the Onan (my bad!). I
> put her on the trickle charger but it will not take a full charge (NoCo
> Genius 1100 Charger - maintenance charger that works on everything else).
> Best I can get is up to the 75% mark on the LED's (100% flashing but never
> going solid). Checked the battery on the multimeter and came up with 11.8
> V. Which from what I am reading is 25% charge at BEST or completely DOA
> (depending on whose page you read). That is after 4 days on the charger.
> Got just enough juice to by-pass & test the temperature sending unit (yes,
> it is dead & I have a replacement). But won't even consider trying to
> turn over (just growls at me! Briefly!). So it can RIP I think. I killed
> it.
>
> I have a new Interstate AGM house battery in the generator bay that is
> holding a nice 12.9 V. I am considering dropping that in as my starter
> battery
> and getting 2 6V golf cart batteries for the house. The Interstate is a
> top post battery - my cables are side mount. Anyone have any experience
> with
> the adapters for side to top post cables? Canadian Tire here has some
> that are short cables - helps to eliminate the possibility of insufficient
> cable length when you add on the adapter.
>
> There is also a disconnect lever switch attached to the positive post -
> (should be on the negative post?). I plan to try to check to see if there
> is
> some phantom power drain (once I have enough power to drain!) in case that
> is the reason that switch was installed.
>
> Opinions on the move Interstate to starter and add 2 golf carts? Will be
> pricier than just getting a new starter battery but a good new battery will
> be about $150+ anyway. So I am not averse to dropping another $100+ for
> the golf cart batteries if that is worth it. And also - opinions on the
> adapter scenario.
> --
> Deb McWade
>
> "Li'l Sister"
>
> '77 Kingsley, 403, EBL EFI;
>
> TZE167V101404
>
> It's Bigger on the Inside!
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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1-800-752-7502
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| Re: replacement battery questions [message #323297 is a reply to message #323295] |
Mon, 04 September 2017 12:15 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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The AGM battery is a starting battery and should be used for the engine. It supplies high current for a short time. The golf cart batteries are deep cycle with higher storage capacity and like longer term smaller loads like what you have in the house section of the coach. The disconnect switch can go on either side of the battery. Mine is on the positive side.
That disconnect switch is what saved me when I had an engine fire many years ago.
I accidentally hit send in the previous posting before I had finished typing.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] replacement battery questions [message #323300 is a reply to message #323296] |
Mon, 04 September 2017 12:23 |
Deb
Messages: 349
Registered: October 2016
Location: Logan Lake, BC
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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Thanks Ken - It made sense to me, but what the heck do I know. I killed my other battery!
And Jim - yes, thank god for the batt boost. Started up just fine - Vroom! no hesitation even after sitting collecting dust for the last 2+ weeks. Connections on the battery are very good. Battery just wont' take a charge, and although I haven't checked it while "cranking", based on the fact that I get nothing, I'm pretty certain it is 0. The battery is 10 years old, so I guess it doesn't owe anyone anything. It just wouldn't handle the full discharge I threw at it after all those years.
Thank you for the input - off to Canadian Tire on my way home from work tomorrow to pick up a couple of golf cart batteries & cable adapters; and then next weekend I will swap things around.
Won't have time this week - The new semester starts tomorrow and the poop will be hitting the fan pretty steadily weekdays till December. I am hoping to get out to Harrison for one rally later in September, before the snow flies and before the insurance expires.
Deb McWade
Logan Lake, BC, CAN
GMC Alumnus
It's Bigger on the Inside!
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| Re: [GMCnet] replacement battery questions [message #323304 is a reply to message #323300] |
Mon, 04 September 2017 12:54 |
Hal StClair
Messages: 971
Registered: March 2013
Location: Rio Rancho NM
Karma: -12
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Senior Member |
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Deb wrote on Mon, 04 September 2017 11:23Thanks Ken - It made sense to me, but what the heck do I know. I killed my other battery!
And Jim - yes, thank god for the batt boost. Started up just fine - Vroom! no hesitation even after sitting collecting dust for the last 2+ weeks. Connections on the battery are very good. Battery just wont' take a charge, and although I haven't checked it while "cranking", based on the fact that I get nothing, I'm pretty certain it is 0. The battery is 10 years old, so I guess it doesn't owe anyone anything. It just wouldn't handle the full discharge I threw at it after all those years.
Thank you for the input - off to Canadian Tire on my way home from work tomorrow to pick up a couple of golf cart batteries & cable adapters; and then next weekend I will swap things around.
Won't have time this week - The new semester starts tomorrow and the poop will be hitting the fan pretty steadily weekdays till December. I am hoping to get out to Harrison for one rally later in September, before the snow flies and before the insurance expires.
At 10 years, I don't think you 'killed' that battery. You did very, very well indeed.
I'm with Ken on going to the twin 6 volt's also, good plan.
Hal
"I enjoy talking to you. Your mind appeals to me. It resembles my own mind, except you happen to be insane."
1977 Royale 101348,
1977 Royale 101586, Diesel powered,
1974 Eagle Bus 45',w/slideout,
Rio Rancho, NM
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| Re: replacement battery questions [message #323305 is a reply to message #323297] |
Mon, 04 September 2017 12:56 |
Deb
Messages: 349
Registered: October 2016
Location: Logan Lake, BC
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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Ken Burton wrote on Mon, 04 September 2017 10:15The AGM battery is a starting battery and should be used for the engine. It supplies high current for a short time. The golf cart batteries are deep cycle with higher storage capacity and like longer term smaller loads like what you have in the house section of the coach. The disconnect switch can go on either side of the battery. Mine is on the positive side.
That disconnect switch is what saved me when I had an engine fire many years ago.
I accidentally hit send in the previous posting before I had finished typing.
Good to hear Ken. I won't bother trying to switch the disconnect. Just what i saw when reading about them. Cdn Tire has deep cycle 6V for $200 each - the AGM 12V I was looking at was $160. So - I will be putting up an extra $250-ish but I think worth it in the long run - especially since my Onan still isn't running. I'd like to give myself as much house juice as possible!
Well, although I can't get in to shop today, I can take out the old and pull out the Interstate in preparation for the switch. Not going anywhere right now anyway.  Plus I can eliminate one of the core deposits by bringing the DOA in when I get the 2 6V's
Deb McWade
Logan Lake, BC, CAN
GMC Alumnus
It's Bigger on the Inside!
[Updated on: Mon, 04 September 2017 13:00] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] replacement battery questions [message #323306 is a reply to message #323304] |
Mon, 04 September 2017 12:58 |
Deb
Messages: 349
Registered: October 2016
Location: Logan Lake, BC
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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Hal StClair wrote on Mon, 04 September 2017 10:54Deb wrote on Mon, 04 September 2017 11:23Thanks Ken - It made sense to me, but what the heck do I know. I killed my other battery!
And Jim - yes, thank god for the batt boost. Started up just fine - Vroom! no hesitation even after sitting collecting dust for the last 2+ weeks. Connections on the battery are very good. Battery just wont' take a charge, and although I haven't checked it while "cranking", based on the fact that I get nothing, I'm pretty certain it is 0. The battery is 10 years old, so I guess it doesn't owe anyone anything. It just wouldn't handle the full discharge I threw at it after all those years.
Thank you for the input - off to Canadian Tire on my way home from work tomorrow to pick up a couple of golf cart batteries & cable adapters; and then next weekend I will swap things around.
Won't have time this week - The new semester starts tomorrow and the poop will be hitting the fan pretty steadily weekdays till December. I am hoping to get out to Harrison for one rally later in September, before the snow flies and before the insurance expires.
At 10 years, I don't think you 'killed' that battery. You did very, very well indeed.
I'm with Ken on going to the twin 6 volt's also, good plan.
Hal
Maybe I didn't kill it outright - just put it out of it's misery! Maybe a new battery might give me better luck starting the Onan too. Can only hope. 
Deb McWade
Logan Lake, BC, CAN
GMC Alumnus
It's Bigger on the Inside!
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| Re: [GMCnet] replacement battery questions [message #323308 is a reply to message #323305] |
Mon, 04 September 2017 13:18 |
johnd01
Messages: 354
Registered: July 2017
Location: Sacrameot
Karma: -1
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Senior Member |
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I would shop a little harder if I were you. That is about twice as much
as I paid for group GC2 at Costco for the two I got last month even after
doing the canaidan to us conversion. The prices in the US seem to be
fairly stable.
This is not me and he is mixed up on how to hook these up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y07Q5P_HbM
On Mon, Sep 4, 2017 at 10:56 AM, Deb McWade wrote:
> Ken Burton wrote on Mon, 04 September 2017 10:15
>> The AGM battery is a starting battery and should be used for the engine.
> It supplies high current for a short time. The golf cart batteries are
>> deep cycle with higher storage capacity and like longer term smaller
> loads like what you have in the house section of the coach. The disconnect
>> switch can go on either side of the battery. Mine is on the positive
> side.
>>
>> That disconnect switch is what saved me when I had an engine fire many
> years ago.
>>
>> I accidentally hit send in the previous posting before I had finished
> typing.
>
>
> Good to hear Ken. I won't bother trying to switch the disconnect. Just
> what i saw when reading about them. Cdn Tire has deep cycle 6V for $200
> each
> - the AGM 12V I was looking at was $160. So - I will be putting up an
> extra $250-ish but I think worth it in the long run - especially since my
> Onan
> still isn't running. I'd like to give myself as much house juice as
> possible!
>
> Well, although I can't get in to shop today, I can take out the old and
> pull out the Interstate in preparation for the switch. Not going anywhere
> wight now anyway. :)
> --
> Deb McWade
>
> "Li'l Sister"
>
> '77 Kingsley, 403, EBL EFI;
>
> TZE167V101404
>
> It's Bigger on the Inside!
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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Johnd01
John Phillips
Avion A2600 TZE064V101164
Rancho Cordova, CA (Sacramento)
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| Re: [GMCnet] replacement battery questions [message #323309 is a reply to message #323305] |
Mon, 04 September 2017 13:18 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Deb,
That price for golf cart batteries sounds at least twice as high as it
should be -- I take it you're in Canada, but even then, that sounds STEEP!
Aren't you close enough to the border to buy them at a USA Sam's Club or
some such? Even Sam's best EGC-2 is only $118; GC-2 is only $85:
https://www.samsclub.com/sams/duracell-golf-car-battery-
group-size-egc2/prod3590220.ip?athcpid=prod3590220&athena=
true&athpgid=pdp&athmtid=VaV&athznid=sams_ip_VaV&parentpid=
prod3590228&xid=pdp:carousel:people-who-viewed-this-item-also-viewed:2
Oh yeah, you asked earlier about terminal adapters: There are top terminal
to stud adapters readily available cheap; you should be able to use those
with no problem. I'm not familiar with the extension/adapters you
mentioned, but the idea doesn't appeal to me -- I see no need to add
additional potential problem connections.
Ken H.
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: replacement battery questions [message #323312 is a reply to message #323294] |
Mon, 04 September 2017 14:24 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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I would just get the correct Group 78 engine battery. Addapting from top to side is hoakey and an invitation for more exposed positve to short to something grounded.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: [GMCnet] replacement battery questions [message #323319 is a reply to message #323317] |
Mon, 04 September 2017 15:06 |
Deb
Messages: 349
Registered: October 2016
Location: Logan Lake, BC
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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Thanks Bruce. But I have side mount cables and I am needing to fix onto a top-post battery (the Interstate) I wish it was the other way around. Would be a bit easier with those adapters!
Deb McWade
Logan Lake, BC, CAN
GMC Alumnus
It's Bigger on the Inside!
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| Re: replacement battery questions [message #323332 is a reply to message #323294] |
Mon, 04 September 2017 17:49 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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Keep in mind any add on addaptor stuff WILL cause voltage drop. When clean it will not be much but as connections degrade it gets worse. The GM guys knew what they were doing with side terminals as junk is less likely to collect on the side of the case and cause parasitic drains. Some hate em, some love em
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: [GMCnet] replacement battery questions [message #323335 is a reply to message #323333] |
Mon, 04 September 2017 17:56 |
Don A
Messages: 895
Registered: October 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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and by the way, you might want to hold off on getting those house batteries until closer to Spring, so they are not just sitting around.
Don Adams Dallas, TX
'76 26' Glenbrook, '90 Sidekick
rebuilt by R Archer, powered by J Bounds, Koba
[IMG]http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6109/G2.jpg[/IMG]
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| Re: [GMCnet] replacement battery questions [message #323340 is a reply to message #323333] |
Mon, 04 September 2017 18:16 |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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Senior Member |
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Get a 34/78 battery. It has BOTH sets of terminals. That's what I use in my 99 GMC Sierra 2500 pickup. Side-mount terminals came with the truck but I use the top terminals to run my ham radio and other accessories by using clamp battery terminals like the ones shown in the message below for the extra wires.
D C "Mac" Macdonald
Amateur Radio K2GKK
Since 30 November '53
USAF and FAA, Retired
Member GMCMI & Classics
Oklahoma City, OK
"The Money Pit"
TZE166V101966
'76 ex-Palm Beach
k2gkk + hotmail dot com
________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Don Adams
Sent: Monday, September 4, 2017 17:50
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] replacement battery questions
Deb wrote on Mon, 04 September 2017 15:06
> Thanks Bruce. But I have side mount cables and I am needing to fix onto a top-post battery (the Interstate) I wish it was the other way around.
> Would be a bit easier with those adapters!
Hi Deb
This is probably the easiest, cheapest thing you will ever fix on your GMC.
Any shop that sells batteries should have a battery terminal adapter, 5 to 12 bucks American for a pair.
Welcome to the group and many happy miles.
http://www.autozone.com/batteries-starting-and-charging/battery-terminal-end-and-adapter/duralast-battery-terminal-end-and-adapter/257145_0_0
[http://contentinfo.autozone.com/znetcs/product-info/en/US/azb/DL06071/image/3/]
Duralast Battery Terminal End and Adapter - AutoZone.com
www.autozone.com
Shop for Duralast Battery Terminal End and Adapter DL06071 with confidence at AutoZone.com. Parts are just part of what we do. Get yours online today and pick up in ...
Don Adams Dallas, TX
'76 26' Glenbrook, '90 Sidekick
rebuilt by R Archer, powered by J Bounds, Koba [IMG]http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6109/G2.jpg[/IMG]
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| Re: replacement battery questions [message #323343 is a reply to message #323294] |
Mon, 04 September 2017 19:21 |
kingd
Messages: 592
Registered: June 2004
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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Deb, I have not seen golf cart batteries at Costco in the
Toronto area.
I was in a Canadian Tire in Perth Ontario and they had a big AGM
Deep cycle for 450 dollars (cdn)
DAVE KING
lurker, wannabe
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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I'm about 4 hours from a border crossing. Not worth it for a battery (even 2). Now if I could find a few other items to make it worthwhile..... 
