|
|
05-05-2020, 05:47 PM
|
#1
|
Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Michigan
Posts: 38
THOR #17909
|
Checking water level in batteries
I have a fairly new Chateau 31W. 2020 model year. How in the world am I going to be able to check and maintain water levels in my house batteries when they are installed like this? See pics.
Any help or suggestions?
__________________
|
|
|
05-05-2020, 06:10 PM
|
#2
|
I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
|
It's not as bad as you think: it just takes a bit of elbow grease and planning!
FIRST: mark each cable with a number, and then take lots of pictures of the connections, and make a list (and map!); of exactly where each cable connects.
DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!
Disconnect everything, and pull the batteries out of the bay.
Check the water levels, and add distilled water as needed. (I assume that you've got this part down pat...)
Then... just slide them back into place, and re-connect things exactly the way you mapped it all out.
Good luck!
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
|
|
|
05-05-2020, 06:27 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2011 FW Hurricane 33T
State: England
Posts: 1,295
THOR #16471
|
What Bob D. says and if you know you can do it, modify the wiring layout to better access the vent plugs for ease of maintenance. I myself would look at turning the batteries 180 degrees, but you have to know how to properly reconnect them.
And while the batteries are out a good cleaning can be done and a proper recce for any hidden fuses or such that may be under there.
Good luck!
Oh, and always remember, Negative off first and connected LAST.
__________________
|
|
|
05-05-2020, 07:04 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Brand: Redwood
Model: 36FB
State: Arizona
Posts: 1,766
THOR #3610
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by aznytfury
|
That's your best option, all filled at once. It takes longer to fetch the bottle of water than to fill ALL batteries.
__________________
Fulltimed 10+ years
Sold '13 Thor Redwood 36 FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
|
|
|
05-05-2020, 10:10 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Forest River Forester 235
State: Indiana
Posts: 4,884
THOR #6826
|
Another vote for the flow rite filler. It’s easy and foolproof. Rather than connect the water fill lines to the batteries in series I put a tee fitting in a line between them so both batteries fill at the same time instead of one then the other. Just note that the fill pump thing is sold separately from the caps. One of the best accessories for anyone who uses flooded batteries.
__________________
|
|
|
05-06-2020, 02:12 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Aria 3901
State: Colorado
Posts: 141
THOR #13190
|
Absolutely!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete'sMH
Another vote for the flow rite filler. It’s easy and foolproof. Rather than connect the water fill lines to the batteries in series I put a tee fitting in a line between them so both batteries fill at the same time instead of one then the other. Just note that the fill pump thing is sold separately from the caps. One of the best accessories for anyone who uses flooded batteries.
|
__________________
|
|
|
05-06-2020, 05:23 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Arizona
Posts: 114
THOR #13228
|
My system is off with the negative connections and zip ty them together, then same with the positive. Water bat cells and reverse the process.
__________________
|
|
|
05-06-2020, 01:02 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Florida
Posts: 1,241
THOR #1249
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete'sMH
Another vote for the flow rite filler. It’s easy and foolproof. Rather than connect the water fill lines to the batteries in series I put a tee fitting in a line between them so both batteries fill at the same time instead of one then the other. Just note that the fill pump thing is sold separately from the caps. One of the best accessories for anyone who uses flooded batteries.
|
Little tip here; I have the Flow-rite system on my house batteries and to avoid buying the expensive pump, use a ketchup dispenser bottle found at any Dollar Store of big box store. Works great by just slipping the tubing over the nipple on the bottle and squeeze.
__________________
Former owner of 2015 Thor Vegas 24.1 in Ocala
|
|
|
05-07-2020, 05:32 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Missouri
Posts: 2,326
THOR #6903
|
when you slide them out, replace them with AGM
__________________
|
|
|
05-07-2020, 06:32 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Model: Challenger LX
State: Arkansas
Posts: 192
THOR #6651
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Travelin' Texans
That's your best option, all filled at once. It takes longer to fetch the bottle of water than to fill ALL batteries.
|
Totally agree. I just topped off my batteries yesterday. Took less than two minutes. The system is not cheap, but well worth the investment. My first set of batteries died a premature death because of my failure to maintain properly. That won’t happen again.
__________________
|
|
|
05-07-2020, 07:16 PM
|
#12
|
I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by lwmcguire
when you slide them out, replace them with AGM
|
https://www.thorforums.com/forums/at...1&d=1588878954
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
|
|
|
05-07-2020, 07:57 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Brand: DRV
Model: 38 RSB3
State: South Dakota
Posts: 2,280
THOR #1658
|
Been using the Flow-Rite system for 5 years now. Love it! Makes it so easy to maintain the battery’s.
__________________
2016 DRV38RSB3
2015 Ram 3500 Regular Cab DRW CTD Asian trans 410 rear
|
|
|
05-07-2020, 09:29 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Massachusetts
Posts: 576
THOR #12830
|
Wet batteries were a pia. Invested into agm’s and a 100 solar panel and best decision ever. They were direct replacements so no bs like i would had had if I went to lithium. Got a vitron monitor and it will alert me if I drain them to low.
Less worry less to do
__________________
|
|
|
05-08-2020, 01:09 AM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 29M
State: Texas
Posts: 2,713
THOR #11781
|
Yeah, go AGM.
__________________
Lt Keefer
2018 Hurricane 29M
CHF, Saf-T-Plus, SumoSprings
|
|
|
05-08-2020, 01:40 AM
|
#16
|
I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
|
Which brand AGM battery do you suggest?
__________________
|
|
|
05-08-2020, 05:45 PM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Missouri
Posts: 2,326
THOR #6903
|
I have several different brands of AGM's and the one I prefer for MH is the Trojan T-105 AGM. Only the second year on the last batch but the hold voltage much better when stored and certainly out performed the OEM's for boon docking. Used to use 2 T-105's in the Landmark with no issues
The ones that come in my Fords seem to hold up well but not sure who makes them
ATV/UTV and others around the place are just whatever was a good price and available when purchased but haven't had any issues with any of them
__________________
|
|
|
05-08-2020, 06:05 PM
|
#18
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Massachusetts
Posts: 576
THOR #12830
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Denman
Which brand AGM battery do you suggest?
|
Optima Blue Tops
__________________
2017 Mercedes Chateau Citation 24SR, flat towing at times a 2013 Honda CRV or two Rad Power electric bikes depending on the trip.
|
|
|
05-13-2020, 06:41 PM
|
#19
|
Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chateau 31W
State: Ohio
Posts: 33
THOR #17621
|
I have a 2015 31w and it still has the original house batteries (2 x 12volt). From what I can tell they are NOT to be opened and water added. I've had no problems. I have run them down a couple of times, but so far no problems.
__________________
|
|
|
05-13-2020, 08:11 PM
|
#20
|
Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Florida
Posts: 7
THOR #11672
|
Replace with sealed batteries.
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|