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How to Have a Bad Battery Day
I was at Jeff’s yesterday meeting with Jon, I know, someone has to do it, and thought you would appreciate this picture.
If you have wet cell batteries, think about what your bay would look like after this 6 year old battery gave it up…
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11 Replies
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I think Tom used the wrong word. That battery did not give up, it blew up.
Typically when you see that much damage a battery has been over charged. Over charged meaning the charging current being applied is greater than what the battery can accept.
AGM and gel cell batteries show that condition first by slight bulging of the sides of the case, followed by a popping of the pressure release, venting the excess pressure. When that point has been reached the battery is ruined. While our gauges do help us monitor the charge going into our batteries, from time to time it does not hurt to get the actual voltages with an accurate voltmeter or a multi-tester.
What causes over charging? A bad voltage regulator, an inverter programmed wrong or failing, or any condition that causes the alternator to produce voltage beyond the setting specified by Prevost or the converter.
1999 XLV X-6872, liberty #440 -
Jon;
Was that your house batteries or Tom’s?
Are you and Tom at Jeff’s getting work completed secretly before we arrive ?
Michael
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I have a Liberty…………it doesn’t need any work to be done.
Those batteries are from a bus used for medical screening and the most polite thing that can be said is that whoever converted it would benefit from some training. Would any of our converters put the inverters behind the front bumper with no protection from the elements? That is just one example of how messed up that bus is.
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I have a Liberty……It doesn’t need to have any work done. Jon. Just another reason we can’t wait to get our Liberty….besides the rose petals and honeysuckle. Geo.
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You realize don’t you now that the rose petal thing has been brought out in the open someone is going to show up at the next no-rally rally in a Liberty, and sprinkle rose petals on the ground next to the sewer hose.
The newest Liberty owners probably still have the factory installed supply.
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Delivered by one of Frank’s drones, I’m sure. (when they’re not cleaning Mark’s AC’s).
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That type of explosion is usually caused by lack of electrolyte, electrolysis making hydrogen and oxygen on the opposing plates, and a spark near the exposed plates from high internal currents.
This is absolutely the wrong type of battery for most Prevost coaches for several reasons, the most important being that it is not intended to be installed in a compartment where sparks or equipment that may produce sparks, are present! Vented batteries WILL GAS! The absorption charge voltage is what is refered to a Total Gas Voltage, or TVG. This is the voltage that gassing begins in a lead-acid battery. Hydrogen and oxygen are produced as a result. Electronlyte level MUST be checked in vented batteries after each heavy charge cycle, or at least weekly in a bus. Ask yourself the question before installing that “cheaper” battery in your coach, “Am I willing to check and am I physically able to check all cap water levels weekly?” If the answer is “no” then they are the wrong batteries for you, aside from the fire/explosion hazard already mentioned above…
Now in sealed, valve-regulated AGM or Gel batteries, the battery actually operates at a positive pressure of about 4psi, which forces gasses back in solution, preventing hydrogen from forming in appreciable concentrations to cause the exposive situation I discussed with vented liquid batteries.
Hope everyone reads this and has a better appreciation for the choice of battery the next time.
Ben @ Parliament Motor Coach
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Thanks Ben. As always great advice.
Despite an almost universal usage of gel or AGM we still are amazed when folks install lead acid to save a few bucks.
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Good post Ben…..thanks for taking the time to point out important information on batteries.
AL
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Thanks for the info Ben, I did not know those facts.
Hope to visit your shop some day when I come to FL.
Everyone speaks very highly of you all.
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Very welcome. Happy to pass on any info I can.
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