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Topic: Annoying signal from dead coach batts (Read 4 times) previous topic - next topic
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Annoying signal from dead coach batts
Yahoo Message Number: 19293
Sherry and I spent last week at the beach (Salt Point SP in Northern Cal) - no hookups, only modest sun for solar recharge, and 4 or 5 days without engine.  We watched some sattelite TV and let the furnace take off the morning chill.

By Friday, the coach batts were pretty well discharged (controller panel indicated a low of 9.9v).  I was pretty unconcerned - we were about ready to move on, and the engine surely will recharge the system.

Then the LP gas leak detector decided to tell us that the batteries were low.  (Thanks, I knew that!)  With a shrill squeal. At 3AM.
 I was just a little put off, as I diagnosed the source of the signal then decided to run the engine for a couple minutes to restore peace.

Any suggestion how to keep that from happening again?

John
Re: Annoying signal from dead coach batts
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19294
I hate to say this but next time the solar controller panel shows a battery voltage that low BE CONCERNED! That is way to low and will cause your battery life to be shortened considerably. Next time you are without shore power and don't get enough sun to offset the drain you have put on the batteries start the engine and recharge before you get another early wake-up alarm and do more harm to the batteries by discharging them so low. You should never let the resting voltage go below 12.3v, the controller panel will read a lower voltage than that because there are items putting a drain on the battery and the 12.3v is a resting voltage not an in use voltage.

Mike
 
Re: Annoying signal from dead coach batts
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19295
Quote
I was just a little put off, as I diagnosed the source of the signal then decided to run the engine for a couple minutes to restore
peace.

Quote
Any suggestion how to keep that from happening again?
I'd say your coach was a little put off by you, and expressing itself. A battery reading of about 11.0 Volts means it's completely discharged - 100%. For a deep discharge to 50%, the batteries are rated for several hundred cycles. Discharging by 20% will extend that to several thousand cycles. For 100% discharges, you will need to replace them frequently. This indicates a serious mismatch between usage and capacity, and you need to resolve this. Salt Point is uncrowded and impressive this time of year, but it would be rare to find much solar charging.
 When we travel those parts in this season, we conserve dramatically, watching little or no tv, and ganging up under one reading lamp rather than two. We gauge how long we stay based on the weather and needs, and luckily there is a wealth of state camping areas along the whole North Coast to accomodate us.

Another thing you can do is get a cat heater. No electrical consumption, and the radiant heat is ideal for taking a chill off the bones after a brisk hike in the damp but not seriously cold climate there. Besides reading, listening to music is an entertainment that uses much less current than video sources, with the volume low.
 As a general calculation, with sunny weather and panels mounted flat, no obstructions - expect at best half the charge capacity as in summer. With the tiniest shadow or overcast skies - essentially no charging.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit