Battery Maintenance-Slide will not work

[rickymac]

I have the 2014 Windsport 34f and it seems like the batteries are not charging.

I keep my RV plugged into a 50Amp at home. As long as I am plugged in, slide and leveler works great. I went to gas up today and when I returned I got a low voltage read on the leveler and the slide would not operate at all. I plugged in and slide worked great.

I checked the batteries (popped off top caps and discovered that liquid level was low and/or dry).

How do I do maintenance on these batteries. What do I put into the cells to keep the batteries charging properly.

Thanks,

[gbrown]

Distilled water to the top of the plates.

[rickymac]

Originally Posted by gbrown

Distilled watet to the top of the plates.

Thank you

[tenbear]

You may want to check what converter you have. Many RVs come from the factory with single stage converters that tend to overcharge the batteries. A good converter, like the Progressive Dynamics converters, start with a rapid charge but reduce the charging voltage as the battery is charged. This reduces the evaporation of the water in the battery. In any case you should check the level of the water in the battery often until you learn how long how long the water lasts in your batteries.

[rickymac]

Originally Posted by tenbear

You may want to check what converter you have. Many RVs come from the factory with single stage converters that tend to overcharge the batteries. A good converter, like the Progressive Dynamics converters, start with a rapid charge but reduce the charging voltage as the battery is charged. This reduces the evaporation of the water in the battery. In any case you should check the level of the water in the battery often until you learn how long how long the water lasts in your batteries.

Thank you,

[tenbear]

If you would like to learn more about the RV 12v system, google "The 12 volt side of life." It has a lot of good info.

[rickymac]

Originally Posted by tenbear

If you would like to learn more about the RV 12v system, google "The 12 volt side of life." It has a lot of good info.

Thank you, I will order today from Amazon.

[tenbear]

Originally Posted by rickymac

Thank you, I will order today from Amazon.

There is no need to order "The 12 volt side of life." It is a web site that you can reach for free by just googleing it on line.

[rickymac]

I just found the free info on-line, thanks

[rickymac]

1. Filled batteries to proper level with distilled water.
2. Charged batteries.
3. Cleaned and coated battery post.
4. Stopped putting RV on "store" since I am always plugged into 50 AMP.

Now my batteries stay charged all the time. They also are holding charge when I am not connected to shore power.

Amazing what good preventive maintenance can do for your equipment.

I learned a lot about batteries through this forum....thanks everyone.

[SuperD]

Rick, your batteries will not charge with the switch in the store position, switch must be in the use position. Since you can stay plugged in there is no reason to change from the use position. Even in the store position there is parasitic drain on the batteries and since they can't charge they will go dead in a short amount of time.

Always a learning process, you are doing exactly what you need to be doing now. Enjoy!

[Laco]

Seems unusual for the battery cells to go dry. My experience has been to add some distilled water every 8 to 10 months, but they never take very much. Your converter or alternator could be overcharging your batteries, which will basically cook them. BTW, mine is plugged in all the time, with use/store in use position.