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Old 09-07-2019, 09:58 PM   #1
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THOR #11781
Battery Compartment

Can someone point me in the right direction for an easy way to keep the battery compartment clean? Every month I have to remove the batteries and clean out all the white fuzz. It is getting old and I would rather spend the time doing other things. I'm also wondering how long the steel floor of the compartment is going to last. On my last coach the battery compartment was under the entry steps and made of a composite material that didn't corrode. The batteries didn't require monthly cleaning either. Any suggestions?

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Old 09-07-2019, 10:17 PM   #2
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Whenever we take a box of baking soda out of the 'Fridge (After it's done doing it's job in there...): The Missus has me dump it around the batteries. I then take a spray bottle of S-100, and spray things down. A quick and careful aiming of the water hose, and things seem to stay pretty clean and white "fuzz-less".
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Old 09-07-2019, 11:31 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by Lt Keefer View Post
Can someone point me in the right direction for an easy way to keep the battery compartment clean? Every month I have to remove the batteries and clean out all the white fuzz. It is getting old and I would rather spend the time doing other things. I'm also wondering how long the steel floor of the compartment is going to last. On my last coach the battery compartment was under the entry steps and made of a composite material that didn't corrode. The batteries didn't require monthly cleaning either. Any suggestions?
Monthly??
How has the water level been in the batteries?
Are you plugged in all the time?
If so, is your converter dropping to a float charge? Or cooking the batteries?
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Old 09-07-2019, 11:54 PM   #4
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Yes, it's plugged in all the time. I check the water level monthly, distilled water, and maintain it at the desired level, below the notch in the filler. The cable connections are clean, they are treated with a dielectric grease. The fuzz seems to be coming from the bottom of the front battery in the compartment. I have cleaned with baking soda, coca cola. even a spray cleaner I found at Autozone.
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Old 09-08-2019, 12:02 AM   #5
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I've had decent luck using battery terminal spray... goes on like a really thin red translucent varnish. seems to keep things coated and corrosion free.
If you're getting leakage around the posts that much, I wonder if your battery is damaged or defective. Seems like even with poorly maintained posts it should take many months to get any significant post corrosion.
...unless maybe are you dripping acid all over every time you check the water?
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Old 09-08-2019, 12:04 AM   #6
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oh almost forgot...

the other comment I meant to write... I put my battery in one of those marine battery boxes. I don't bother with the lid, it's just used as a catch basin for any mishaps...to reduce the potential destruction of the structure
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Old 09-08-2019, 12:28 AM   #7
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I was thinking about the battery box minus lid today.
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Old 09-11-2019, 01:06 AM   #8
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I took the batteries out to install the battery trays I ordered from Amazon. Good thing I did, as the floor already has a hole from corrosion. You would have thought that Thor would have lined the compartment or at least the floor but they didn't. Their cavalier attitude towards build quality continues to astound me. Twenty dollars retail of battery trays would go along way to prevent the batteries from falling out while going down the highway. I guess they don't give a hoot. BTW, the batteries were delivered to Thor in July 2017 and installed in a coach assembled in March of 2018. Then sold in May of 2018. After one year of use, they are already two years old.
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Old 09-11-2019, 02:02 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lt Keefer View Post
BTW, the batteries were delivered to Thor in July 2017 and installed in a coach assembled in March of 2018. Then sold in May of 2018. After one year of use, they are already two years old.
That is not an unusual circumstance. You may buy a "new" battery from (insert auto parts store) and get one that is 9 months to a year old.
Our Ford Chassis on my 2018 was manufactured in early 2017. The coach was built in April of 2017, delivered to the dealer in May of 2017 then was titled as a 2018. So at a minimum our batteries are two years old as well. Battery warranties start on the date of sale not the date of mfgr.
Our last coach I changed out a pair of wet cell deep cycle batteries about every couple years. As we spent a good deal of time in National Parks without power I wanted fresh batteries. Wet cell batteries are going to off gas during charging. I "de fuzz" 2 to 3 times a year. I also put a piece of rubber floor mat under the batteries. The last coach (Gulfstream) the sulfuric acid ate a hole in the bottom of the battery tray, it happens on all brands.
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Old 09-11-2019, 02:55 PM   #10
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re. the old battery from the store...
that's one thing that impressed be about the batteries plus store. I noticed they have charging cables that they rotate through all the batteries on their storage rack keeping them topped off. I never remember seeing that done at any auto parts store
I've learned the hard and expensive way the damage that self discharge will do to a lead acid battery...so i like it
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Old 09-11-2019, 03:52 PM   #11
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Lt...spray your battery compartment/metal surfaces with cable and chain lube. I get it at NAPA. Goes on liquid and sorta gels a little but stays on the surface and will provide a little barrier if you have a boil-over or similar spill. I use it for tons of stuff, but mostly my tractor 3 point joints.
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Old 09-11-2019, 03:57 PM   #12
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Do you mean something like what you'd use on a chainsaw bar?
that stuff foes on easy; but hangs on better than a drunk Prom Date...
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Old 09-11-2019, 04:44 PM   #13
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Similar but not as "gear-oily". It's designed to go on and sorta solidify.
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Old 09-11-2019, 05:07 PM   #14
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Got it...
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Old 09-11-2019, 06:37 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton View Post
Lt...spray your battery compartment/metal surfaces with cable and chain lube. I get it at NAPA. Goes on liquid and sorta gels a little but stays on the surface and will provide a little barrier if you have a boil-over or similar spill. I use it for tons of stuff, but mostly my tractor 3 point joints.
POR 15 RPC works better to protect the metal.
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Old 09-11-2019, 07:27 PM   #16
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Do you know what we REALLY need?
A spray can that does everything!
Lube the slides, the windows, the upper vents, and the levelers
Grease the frying pan
Cut grease on the dirty dishes
Prevent corrosion on unpainted surfaces
Remove dead bugs from the windshield
Leave a lasting shine on the surface of the RV
Cut the sludge in the holding tanks

If somebody can bring this to the market........
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Old 09-11-2019, 07:44 PM   #17
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My OEM batteries from Thor (Harris at the time) lasted less than 6 months. I replaced them with a pair of Interstate 6V batteries. I noticed a build up of white material on the bottom of battery compartment and took the batteries back to Interstate. Turned out that one of the batteries had a cracked case. Interstate replaced the battery at no charge. Things have been OK since then. I bought a couple of acid absorbing battery pads for the batteries to sit on, and also repainted the bottom of the battery compartment.

You may have a cracked battery case which is leaking at a very slow rate - enough to show up on your battery tray but not so much that you think its any more than normal wear off.
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Old 09-12-2019, 03:22 AM   #18
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There’s a product called “Boeshield” (I think) made by Boeing. It’s in a spray can and is used in the aircraft industry to protect metal corrosion. They spray it inside wings and such. I’ve used it on my motorcycle engine cases and it does the job (though it will yellow a bit over time). In a battery compartment that shouldn’t matter.
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Old 09-12-2019, 11:00 AM   #19
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Where can you find it?
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Old 09-12-2019, 12:04 PM   #20
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Where can you find it?
Amazon, of course:

https://www.amazon.com/BOESHIELD-Cor.../dp/B001447PEK
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