2015 19 ft. Bambi batteries overheating

[Lets go]

Here are the details:
We are newbies. We have a New 19 ft Bambi. Took our first trip from Dallas to Ft. Pickens for a week last week. We were plugged in to shore power and had the use/store switch in the "use" position. My on board battery meter was reading 13.6. Opened the battery box the next day and opened the battery caps and both Interstate batteries were bubbling and both batteries were very, very hot to the touch. Switched to store and the meter dropped to immediately to 12.3 and continued to drop; 12.0, 11.7 all the way down to 9.5. Let the batteries cool down and added distilled water(water never got below the plates) and switched back to "use". Meter went up to 13.6 and started bubbling in about an hour and both batteries got hot again. Switched back to "store" and meter dropped down to 12.0, 11.5 to 9.5. Any ideas? Are the batteries shot? Am I doing something wrong? Thanks for any and all advice.

Mark

[HowieE]

Check the batteries with a hygrometer. The charging voltage from the charger seams OK but if the batteries were dead that may have drawn the charger down. Check the open circuit voltage from the charger, not connected to the batteries. If higher than 13.7 the charger may be shot. Sounds like you are buying new ones.

[alano]

Sounds like one or both of the batteries could have a internal cell that's shorted. When an internal cell is shorted, the remaining cells are exposed to excessive voltage and the battery will dissipate heat. This is confirmed by the fact that when you disconnect the battery from the converter the battery voltage quickly drops to 9.5 V. If it's a new Bambi, I'd lobby the dealer to replace them. They might have ruined the batteries by leaving them connected to shore power for an extended period.

[Zil]

I agree it sounds like a bad battery. Do not charge! Until you get them checked for sure. My friend had a battery explode in the same situation. As well as the possibility of a bad battery, your charger could be over charging, causing the whole failure.

[weber.roger]

Someone suggested that they may overheat due to an extended period being connected to shore power. I plan on being connected at the jersey shore from May 1 to Nov 1.
Is this a problem?

[TomKirk]

Batteries are over-charging. Charge going in is either too hot or too long; or a combination of both.

When batteries attain a charge of 13.5 volts (or thereabouts) charger should shut off. If not, the result could be an explosion.

As a matter of routine maintenance, get a hydrometer and test fluids in individual battery cells; it's all about specific gravity in each cell.

Tom

[GandW]

From my actual experience, (the same as yours) I believe that the trailer sat on the dealer's lot without being charged regularly. They got too low. When you picked up the trailer, it was plugged in so everything looked great. When you charged the batteries that already had a cell or 2 bad, they started boiling. I found that it was much less hassle and not have to try and schedule with the dealer, (mine told me they could look at in about 3 months) just bring the batteries to an Interstate dealer. They will charge them overnight, tell you that they are bad and give you new ones. No problem after that.

[HowieE]

Originally Posted by weber.roger

Someone suggested that they may overheat due to an extended period being connected to shore power. I plan on being connected at the jersey shore from May 1 to Nov 1.
Is this a problem?

If you have not replaced the original converter with a 3 stage one by now you had better before you plug in for that period of time. The supplied converter is a piece of junk.

[Lets go]

Thanks all. I had batteries checked and both batteries were dead or just about dead. I am going to check with Interstate Battery and see if I can get any warranty relief. I think they are only a one year warranty however. Bummer!!

Thanks again,
Mark

[TBRich]

Originally Posted by Lets go

Thanks all. I had batteries checked and both batteries were dead or just about dead. I am going to check with Interstate Battery and see if I can get any warranty relief. I think they are only a one year warranty however. Bummer!!

Thanks again,
Mark

Being a 2015, any dealer should be fine with replacing them under warranty. You shouldn't have to go through Interstate to get them replaced.