So Rig is bascilly new owned for just 3 weeks.
I noticed today one of the batteries was very warm to the touch. and I can hear a fizzing sound whilst charging. I looked and 2 of the cell pates are already exposed to air.
Should I just top off with distilled water ?? or get them exchanged under warranty ??
Cheers SteveP
Absolutely get it replaced under warranty. It is a safety hazard as well. I had a similar issue a week after purchasing my Redwood. I was 500 miles from my dealer but got both batteries replaced at no cost with just a couple phone calls. Enjoy your new Redwood, John.
I believe you will be hard pressed to get them exchanged under a battery warranty.
First, when charging batteries, they do give off a "fizzle" or "boiling" effect and loose water to evaporation. You should be checking your batteries every 4 weeks or so for that very reason while on charge. Batteries are installed in a battery case with an exhaust vent for this reason. You don't want the gases trapped in your battery compartment. That is hydrogen and if building up, this could be VERY BAD if a spark ignites the hydrogen... Batteries will be warm while rapid charging. They should not be excessively "HOT".
If you fail to keep water in the batteries, the battery company won't warranty the battery. A lack of routine maintenance will not constitute a new battery. And if the charger is overcharging, then batteries will not be covered by the battery company either. If your water level is just a tad low, go ahead and fill the water to 1/4" above the plates. Too much water will over spill even with the caps on. Then you'll be cleaning up a corrosion problem.
Now...If your charger IS over charging, you might be able to get that repaired under warranty. And if you can prove the charger is overcharging and burned up your batteries, you MIGHT be able to make a plea to the charger company or Redwood and get them replaced as a consolation prize. Especially since your rig is only a few weeks old.
My bet is that your charger is doing just what it is supposed to do. There is a rapid charge when the batteries get low and a trickle charge to keep them topped off. But, you're going to have to keep an eye on the water level. You might see the other posts on this subject and install an auto water system. That could extend the period between watering.
And ALWAYS use distilled water. The minerals in tap water will clog up the plates and shorten your battery life.
If you're in storage, just turn the battery switch off. Make sure you have rewired your unit so that when the battery switch is off, EVERYTHING is off. If you have not already done so, you'll need to move your wires around and get your smoke, CO2 detectors off of the primary side of the battery switch. You may also have other items pulling ghost loads and that will cause your battery to drain. Make sure they are off as well.
With the battery switch off, your batteries will not be charging even if your RV is plugged into a convenience outlet. (Don't ask me how I know or found out about this...).
And finally, you may want to connect with the Escapees Club and take their maintenance course. Terry Copper (a member on this blog) also puts on a fantastic maintenance course. He will likely be at the rally if you plan to attend.
Welcome to the world of RVing! Best wishes and happy trails!
Thanks guys.
I would think as I have only had the coach 3 weeks and 2 of the 6 cells in each battery were bone dry. I had to put approx. 24 oz of distilled water into each battery.
I am definitely going to call my dealer and see if they will exchange / if not its not the end of the world im loving the coach for sure :)\
WOW! Based on that amount of water, it definitely sounds like your charger board is out of wack. It sounds like it is staying on High Charge constantly. The batteries should not be dry after just three weeks. Low perhaps, but not dry. In that case, the batteries may be toast. Go to your electrical panel and open the door. Look for the green light (near the bottom) and see what code it is flashing. Check your manual for the code applicability. I can't remember off hand which code is which. See if you are in the constant high charge mode for some reason. There is a small button you can punch to change modes. You'll need a small stick or screwdriver point to push it. I recommend a non-conductive material in case you slip off of that button.
This article may help... In your case, read item number 12 in the FAQ section (CONTENTS).
This article is geared toward golf cart style batteries but for your question, it is applicable nonetheless...
http://www.saddlebackgolfcars.com/aq-bat.html
Here is another article:
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/water_loss_acid_stratification_and_surface_charge
And here is one from Exide:
And one from Interstate Batteries:
http://corporate.interstatebatteries.com/battery_care/
And finally, one from Trojan Batteries:
http://www.trojanbattery.com/tech-support/battery-maintenance/
