Went with new Group 4D Lifeline AGM batteries and installed in June. They sat until last weekend and show 13.8 volts. They are very clean and require no filling and can't boil dry. Very pleased
Went with new Group 4D Lifeline AGM batteries and installed in June. They sat until last weekend and show 13.8 volts. They are very clean and require no filling and can't boil dry. Very pleased
Did you disconnect them during the several months they sat? I'm thinking about things like switching them off, disconnecting, etc. Or did you leave them connected to your coach systems the whole time. Also, was your rig plugged into a shore line or left totally without connections? Sounds impressive, especially if you were not connected to shore power the whole time.
Thanks,
__________________
Tim
No More MoHo
1989 34X
2003 Suburban 2500 AIR # 5648
Was connected to shore power. I use the battery rotary switch on the front firewall to turn them off, while leaving them connected. I'm not sure this is a standard feature or not, but the switch controls the juice from either coach battery individually or both combined. Saw the same switch at West Marine last week so this might have been a later addition by previous owner(s) who were boat people. When I connect to shore power after 24 hours I switch the batteries to the off position. I don't know if this is necessary, but I really don't trust the Magnatech inverter just yet to not over charge the units. It may do just fine, but at $380 for each battery, dont want to fry them.
I suspect the rotary switch was added on by the previous owners. My 94 LY has knife switches on the battery posts - one for the coach set in the front and one for the chassis set in the back. The switch to put both sets on for starting is part of the switch panel on the center of the dash (along with the aisle lights, docking lights, etc) in my LY.
When I got my LY last September, it also had a problem with the batteries holding a charge. When I had the unit checked out at a diesel specialty shop, they ran a load test on the batteries and found that the chassis set were weak. I had two new commercial truck grade batteries installed, and have never had a problem since. One thing, though, if the LY is going to be stored (i.e., parked and not used) for any period of time exceeding a few days, then you have to open the knife switches, or the batteries will run down (this is clearing stated in the manual). I had that happen when I stored the LY last winter, and in trying to start it, I drained the batteries flat, to the point that even the genrator wouldn't start. I had to run several extention cords from the nearest building to the motorhome to plug it into the shore line for several hours until the batteries had sufficient charge to start the engine.
__________________ WBCCI #5957
VE3JDZ
1994 Land Yacht 34 diesel
Went with new Group 4D Lifeline AGM batteries and installed in June. They sat until last weekend and show 13.8 volts. They are very clean and require no filling and can't boil dry. Very pleased
Glad that they worked for you. Next step might be a new inverter like a Xatrex with 3 stage battery charging, or a separate AGM-specific charger from Lifeline .
Most three stage chargers float the batery at 13.2VDC - to foce 5 to 6 Millamps, no more, through the battery, this keeps from boiling the electrolitic. Only problem with then is this. The use the internal resistance change in the batery to tell when to float it. This works good on one battery, but with 2 or 3 on the same setup it fakes out the unit and you will never get a full charge. They do make some for multiple batteries in parallel but they are very expensive. I use 3 Shumacher Battery Companions they are a little beifer than the battery tinder and I havent had to top off my batteries in over two years.
Something to consider...I have a 12V switch on the hot side of my control panel. I got it at NAPA, it is a good heavy duty switch. While I have tested my panel for phantom loads (and have none ) I still shut off the system when I am not using it or actively charging it. I did leave a light (led panel)on for a week one time, it did not seem to cause a problem, but I too the lesson to hart & installed a switch.
Lewster,
If you are keeping up, I finally installed a Xantrex Prosine 2.0 this past weekend and all I can say is WOW! Worth every penny. Did away with the Magnatek and the pissy little inverter. I wired it into the GFCI circuit already in place under the bonnet and used 4/0 cables to the batteries via 300A fuse block. Grounded everything and let-er-rip. I watched the olympics for sever hours last evening on new 20" flatscreen with shore power disconnected and only pulled batteries down to 12.9 volts. I mounted the prosine on a shelf in the hole which used to house the old Audiovox TV. I will upload installation photos this weekend time permitting. Many thanks for the suggestion. Big improvement on battery performance.
Lewster,
If you are keeping up, I finally installed a Xantrex Prosine 2.0 this past weekend and all I can say is WOW! Worth every penny. Did away with the Magnatek and the pissy little inverter. I wired it into the GFCI circuit already in place under the bonnet and used 4/0 cables to the batteries via 300A fuse block. Grounded everything and let-er-rip. I watched the olympics for sever hours last evening on new 20" flatscreen with shore power disconnected and only pulled batteries down to 12.9 volts. I mounted the prosine on a shelf in the hole which used to house the old Audiovox TV. I will upload installation photos this weekend time permitting. Many thanks for the suggestion. Big improvement on battery performance.
GW,
Glad you are happy with your new apparatus. You sure have a bunch of power at your disposal now!!!!
Next step should be a solar charging system from AM Solar (assuming that you will be off the grid for any extended periods). I have a 400 watt/300 amp-hour system in my service van (along with a Magnum 2000 watt sine wave inverter/charger) and it works great!
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