Coach flooded Batteries

[Grumpy Grampa]

How often do I need to check the water level on my coach batteries. I have four six volt batteries 12 volt system.

I keep the coach and chassis batteries charged by a solar panel.

Thanks

[simidrm]

If you stay plugged into power or have a charger on them check them monthly, better safe than have to replace a good battery because the acid boiled out from over charging

[Beau388]

Assuming you have lead acid batteries where the lead is alloyed with antimony, they will outgas during charging. This means they are loosing water. Most of the out gassing occurs during the second charging stage known as the absorptive stage. This is the stage where free hydrogen ions are reabsorbed into the sulfuric acid. If the acid is hot or more voltage is applied than needed the out gassing can increase. In other words the battery will loose more water the hotter the battery is during charging. The best converters have provisions for monitor batteries' temperatures and adjusting the charging voltages accordingly. In the cheaper chargers, the voltage is control by the temperature of the converter, set on the converters control panel or fixed.
On my golf cart, which uses deep cycle, flooded, 6 volt batteries and is charged by a two stage charger (no float), I check the batteries every two weeks in the summer (it is 103 F outside today) and about every 6 weeks during the winter
My RV has three 12 volt marine flooded batteries that use lead alloyed with calcium just as AGM batteries do. They do not need watering in normal use, so I only check the water level each fall when I change the engine and generator's oil and filters.

[lwmcguir]

The 4 OEM batteries on the Tuscany required water monthly.

Usage patterns makes a difference as we drew heavy loads when using the Inverter to make coffee and run the microwave when boondocking or stopping for lunch.

[The Gritz Carlton]

Originally Posted by Beau388

Assuming you have lead acid batteries where the lead is alloyed with antimony, they will outgas during charging. This means they are loosing water. Most of the out gassing occurs during the second charging stage known as the absorptive stage. This is the stage where free hydrogen ions are reabsorbed into the sulfuric acid. If the acid is hot or more voltage is applied than needed the out gassing can increase. In other words the battery will loose more water the hotter the battery is during charging. The best converters have provisions for monitor batteries' temperatures and adjusting the charging voltages accordingly. In the cheaper chargers, the voltage is control by the temperature of the converter, set on the converters control panel or fixed.
On my golf cart, which uses deep cycle, flooded, 6 volt batteries and is charged by a two stage charger (no float), I check the batteries every two weeks in the summer (it is 103 F outside today) and about every 6 weeks during the winter
My RV has three 12 volt marine flooded batteries that use lead alloyed with calcium just as AGM batteries do. They do not need watering in normal use, so I only check the water level each fall when I change the engine and generator's oil and filters.

You took the words right out of my mouth...I was just fixin' to say the same thing!!