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07-21-2019, 12:11 PM
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#1
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4 Rivet Member 
2019 23' International
Portland
, Oregon
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 457
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Should I make longer cables so I can actually check the battery level?
You'd think they didn't think of it. 
__________________
2019 International Signature 23FB "Cecil"
2020 RAM 1500 Laramie
Former coach: 2015 Bambi 16 "Beanie"
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07-21-2019, 12:17 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master  
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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Should I make longer cables so I can actually check the battery level?
I would. That’s not at all convenient.
Amazon sells premade battery cable assemblies with marine grade cable and lugs with adhesive shrink tubing already installed. They make them in various lengths and wire sizes.
Happy customer...
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it. 
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07-21-2019, 12:41 PM
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#3
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4 Rivet Member
2019 23' International
Portland
, Oregon
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 457
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rmkrum
I would. That’s not at all convenient.
Amazon sells premade battery cable assemblies with marine grade cable and lugs with adhesive shrink tubing already installed. They make them in various lengths and wire sizes.
Happy customer...
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Thanks
__________________
2019 International Signature 23FB "Cecil"
2020 RAM 1500 Laramie
Former coach: 2015 Bambi 16 "Beanie"
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07-21-2019, 02:18 PM
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#4
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Registered User
2016 25' Flying Cloud
Fairfield
, California
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 905
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I just rotated my batteries so the caps face outwards and is so much easier to check the water levels.  
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07-21-2019, 02:18 PM
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#5
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Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,736
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Hi
Probably cheaper to replace the cables than convert the batteries to AGM's so you don't have to check them 
Bob
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07-21-2019, 02:25 PM
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#6
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4 Rivet Member
2019 23' International
Portland
, Oregon
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 457
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I'll try that first. Not sure if there are trays at the bottom
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattirs
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__________________
2019 International Signature 23FB "Cecil"
2020 RAM 1500 Laramie
Former coach: 2015 Bambi 16 "Beanie"
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07-21-2019, 02:27 PM
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#7
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4 Rivet Member
2019 23' International
Portland
, Oregon
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 457
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Although I don't love the proximity of the + & -
Quote:
Originally Posted by leedav
I'll try that first. Not sure if there are trays at the bottom
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__________________
2019 International Signature 23FB "Cecil"
2020 RAM 1500 Laramie
Former coach: 2015 Bambi 16 "Beanie"
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07-21-2019, 02:33 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,101
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our victron system give us remove access to the battery , solar and Ac status
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07-21-2019, 03:03 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Walnut Creek
, California
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 3,952
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Any AS trailer that is stored should have a battery disconnect switch. The wiring for a switch requires modification of existing cables. If you think you want to improve access to the batteries for better electrolyte checking and filling, any mods should include the addition of a disconnect switch.
Now, if your batteries are near end of life, the upgrade of the bank would have value. AGM, more wet cell capacity, 12V to 6V transition, or the ultimate move to lithium .... so don't just look at a set of battery cables. Look at what upgrade would make your coach most valuable to your RVC use.
Nails in the nails soup is a parallel consideration. Pat
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07-21-2019, 03:51 PM
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#10
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4 Rivet Member
2019 23' International
Portland
, Oregon
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 457
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Why do I need a disconnect switch? I just undo the negative cable when I store
__________________
2019 International Signature 23FB "Cecil"
2020 RAM 1500 Laramie
Former coach: 2015 Bambi 16 "Beanie"
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07-21-2019, 03:56 PM
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#11
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Registered User
2016 25' Flying Cloud
Fairfield
, California
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 905
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Quote:
Originally Posted by leedav
I'll try that first. Not sure if there are trays at the bottom
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There is a tray underneath the batteries, but all you are doing is rotating one battery 180 degees, it sits right back down in the same place.
Matti
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07-21-2019, 04:45 PM
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#12
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4 Rivet Member
2019 23' International
Portland
, Oregon
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 457
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Doh!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattirs
There is a tray underneath the batteries, but all you are doing is rotating one battery 180 degees, it sits right back down in the same place.
Matti
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__________________
2019 International Signature 23FB "Cecil"
2020 RAM 1500 Laramie
Former coach: 2015 Bambi 16 "Beanie"
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07-21-2019, 05:04 PM
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#13
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New Member
2019 Interstate Lounge Ext
Grand Ledge
, Michigan
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 1
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2019 Airstream Interstate
Where is the coach or house battery located. The manual does not show it. We bought the vehicle 3 weeks ago and the battery is dead inside the coach. Battery is still working for the vehicle. Help
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07-21-2019, 05:11 PM
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#14
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4 Rivet Member
2019 30' Flying Cloud
Grass Lake
, Michigan
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 280
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My new AS looked identical from the factory. I complained at delivery and the dealer made longer cables so I could check water levels. Unfortunately, they overfilled the batteries and spilled acid inside the box and it rusted. She’s at JC now for several warranty issues and they are repainting the battery box.
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07-21-2019, 05:53 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 7,653
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Quote:
Originally Posted by leedav
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I did when I made my battery disconnect.
Since I was starting over, I used 2 AWG wire, and crimped new terminals using a hydraulic crimper. Added two layers of adhesive heat shrink.
I made the new cables just long enough to clear the filler caps.
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07-21-2019, 08:24 PM
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#16
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4 Rivet Member
2019 23' International
Portland
, Oregon
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 457
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Hydraulic crimper? New tool? Ooh.
__________________
2019 International Signature 23FB "Cecil"
2020 RAM 1500 Laramie
Former coach: 2015 Bambi 16 "Beanie"
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07-22-2019, 05:35 AM
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#17
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4 Rivet Member
2019 30' Flying Cloud
Grass Lake
, Michigan
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 280
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Hyddraulic crimper is the way to go. Got one when I added a second battery bank for 2kW inverter. Think it was only ~$30 or so on Amazon. Harbor Freight sells them as well.
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07-23-2019, 07:47 AM
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#18
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Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,736
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Hi
If you are going to do 12V electrical work on your RV, a hydraulic crimper is indeed a useful tool to own. The Amazon cheap versions are not perfect. They do win the "bang for the buck" contest. The big advantage is being able to crimp to the end of a wire in fairly tight places. (Think in terms of a cable you have just pulled behind the wall ....).
Bob
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07-23-2019, 08:20 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Walnut Creek
, California
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 3,952
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Easier to just order the cables pre-made from pkys.com. Order on Monday and they show up on Friday. Pat
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07-23-2019, 08:21 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 7,653
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Here's mine. Amazon $54. 16 ton.
It's effortless.
I considered the HF, and maybe they come down the same assembly line in China. The HF reviews complained the dies were marked in no particular standard. The Amazon is marked in Square MM, which is a European standard but can be converted easily to AWG. When in doubt, I went with a larger die and then went smaller if possible.
This is not for small gauge wire. The SMALLEST dies are for 6AWG!
The largest will do 4-aught, which is welding cables or Locomotive wiring.
A little research and you quickly discover you can't afford the nice US made professional crimpers. (and you don't need them to do a good job once in a while)
Quote:
Originally Posted by PKI
Easier to just order the cables pre-made from pkys.com. Order on Monday and they show up on Friday. Pat |
You're right, but I was changing the terminals on wiring that went into the Airstream, like the converter.
I heard some local battery places would do a crimp on site, so I went to Interstate Battery's big facility, and they looked at me like I was nuts.
Besides, I love tools, so.....
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