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Battery Water Level Question
Yahoo Message Number: 136634
After nearly 3 months in covered storage, I brought my '02 30' LD home yesterday. The two 5+ year-old Trojan T-105 batteries sucked up more than a quart of water when I filled them. They have never been that thirsty during past winter storage times, and I hope they are not damaged. Checking the LinkLite today today shows that the charge is where it should be. I have an HPV22-B solar controller and 3 - 85w panels. In the past, I have always set the controller on "shore power" during storage because the coach is plugged in to a 120v outlet. With the controller on shore power, I only would add a little water several times during winter storage. This year I shut the controller off and that may have affected water evaporation.

Does anyone have an opinion as to why the water was so low?

Do you think it was because I turned the controller off?
 Does anyone know how much water a T-105 holds? I could not find that info even doing an Internet search.

Chris H
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: Battery Water Level Question
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 136637
Chris,
 I can't explain the difference between controller on and off, but I would recommend using a timer to only connect to shore power for about an hour a day.
 I did not do this the first time I put our 2001 LD in long-term storage and it took lots of water to fill the batteries when it came out of storage.  Since then I always use a timer and the water loss during storage has essentially stopped.

HTH

Barry
Re: Battery Water Level Question
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 136640
Quote
After nearly 3 months in covered storage, I brought my '02 30' LD home yesterday. The two 5+ year-old Trojan T-105 batteries sucked up more than a quart of water when I filled them. They have never been that thirsty during past winter storage times, and I hope they are not damaged. Checking the LinkLite today today shows that the charge

Does anyone have an opinion as to why the water was so low?
Chris, I don't know if you have a Pro-Fill system, but if you do, one disadvantage of it is that you don't know where the water ends up. If you find you are adding more water than usual, it would be worth stopping, pulling out the tray, removing the caps, and visually inspecting. If all cells are about equal, then replace the caps and continue filling - batteries are likely not the problem. If one cell is still very low and the others ok - replace the batteries.
 I also don't know if you have upgraded the converter to a multi-stage charging unit, but a timer would be in order if not. If so, then check the voltage at the batteries to make sure it is switching to the 13.6V or lower of float mode. This can take a day or so with some models. If the storage facility turns off power for a period daily, this too could upset the cycle - perhaps they have changed their practices without informing...

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
 
Re: Battery Water Level Question
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 136644
Quote

 
 After nearly 3 months in covered storage, I brought my '02 30' LD home yesterday. The two 5+ year-old Trojan T-105 batteries sucked up more than a quart of water when I filled them. They have never been that thirsty during past winter storage times, and I hope they are not damaged. Checking the LinkLite today today shows that the charge

Does anyone have an opinion as to why the water was so low?

Chris, I don't know if you have a Pro-Fill system, but if you do, one disadvantage of it is that you don't know where the water ends up. If you find you are adding more water than usual, it would be worth stopping, pulling out the tray, removing the caps, and visually inspecting. If all cells are about equal, then replace the caps and continue filling - batteries are likely not the problem. If one cell is still very low and the others ok - replace the batteries.
 I also don't know if you have upgraded the converter to a multi-stage charging unit, but a timer would be in order if not. If so, then check the voltage at the batteries to make sure it is switching to the 13.6V or lower of float mode. This can take a day or so with some models. If the storage facility turns off power for a period daily, this too could upset the cycle - perhaps they have changed their practices without informing...

Steve
Steve, good suggestions. Thanks. I have not upgraded the converter. I will check the batteries in a few weeks to check for irregular evaporation and will also consider a timer. In the meantime, I have gone back to leaving the controller on "shore power" since at that setting I have never had water usage problems.

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB