Quote:
Originally Posted by Dry Yachtie
My Thor XG32 is now approaching 2 years old. When I removed the batteries about a year ago to put in a plastic battery box (the metal frame was already showing rust from the battery acid....) I checked the water level and saw the tops of the cells uncovered! I added distilled water to the appropriate level (took about 3/4 of a gallon of water for both 6V batteries). and since I check about every 30-45 days and find I generally have to add approximately a quart of water each time.
Facts:
The rig is almost always plugged into shore power at our house and so charging from the converter
The solar panel is also most times in the Sun (south florida sun) and so therefore charging
It is in South florida heat
Questions:
Anyone find this abnormal?
Hint:
It seems an important regular maintenance Item on your check list as running your battery dry will kill it....
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Time to consider AGM or even LiFePO4 ("LFP") batteries- no maintenance and longer life. But you should pull those out and maintain in cold climates that get to -20F or more, unless you have warm storage, and then use a battery Minder w/ desulfation phase.
LFP batteries need to be cycled every 3 months too. Always some aspect to batteries to be aware of. I'm used to it, so no problem for me, and I hate wet-cells for many reasons, one being the H2S off-gassing while charging- very toxic and accumulates in our bodies and no escape. So they should never be in your living space.
Normal to lose some water, but also could be converter is not a 'smart' converter, that regulates the cycling of the charge. Some converters just do bulk charge and keep going which can dry out a wet cell.
Battery Minders are 'smart' chargers, and Progressive Dynamics PD 9000 series are as well. Check your converter and look up the specs on it to see what it is.
There are sensors you can buy to monitor the water level remotely as well. I had a chemist buddy who had done that.
Dry cell= death for battery for sure. I prefer LFP batteries myself. Expensive, but will last me 10+ yrs, depending on care and use. They can be installed sideways too... no fluids to worry about.