[Archived]

The Magnum is a great inverter. As for batteries, your best bet is to determine your dry camping needs and mounting space. I think you would be further ahead with either 4D or 8D 12 volt, but that’s your call.

I sent you an e-mail and can help you with Lifelines if that’s the way you want to go.

[glen]

I would say that if 6 volts were the way to go the converters would have done that way. I have not heard of any Commerical Converters putting in 6 volts, but I am still learning.

Greg

[Eric]

Whoa! That can’t be fixed with duct tape. Battery shorted out?? Over charging??

[Archived]

Apart from tires which have a direct impact on our safety, I consider the batteries to be the maintenance item with the greatest importance.

I remove mine every five years and replace them with new, and during the 5 years I baby them by trying to never allow the charge to go below 50%. That means I will manually start my generator if I am camping rather than rely on autostart. So far in 25+ years of doing this my batteries haven’t let me down.

Some owners are willing to postpone replacement until the batteries start to exhibit signs of failure, but from the various posts over the years it appears batteries never choose to fail when it is convenient so there is a risk versus reward calculation we owner have to deal with.

[Per]

The acid makes a mess!!!

[Tim]

Spilled battery electrolyte, (acid), must be neutralized, it can’t just be washed or wiped away. A 1 to 1 mix, (1 pound to 1 gallon), of baking soda and water is the preferred neutralizing solution.

[Tim]

Mike, you are absolutely correct. I used 8 boxes of Baking Soda cleaning and nutrializing. Wife said I spent more on soda than on batteries. Don’t know what caused the rupture, but believe it may have been a really weak battery and it froze. Battery charger was not indicating that it was charging until after new batteries were installed, so I believe that the battery was flat even though the engine would still start, at least until the rupture. The temperature was down to 9 degrees during the Colorado snow storn I was caught in. One morning the engine would not start and I surmised it was the cold affecting the old batteries, so I pressed the House assist button and cranked up. My next stop was at son’s house for the Holidays, so it was convienient to change out the old batteries since I was plugged in to his 30 amp service. Bought new batteries, removed the battery cover and what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a blown battery. Wife went to the store to buy them out of baking soda while I took pictures, drew wiring schematics and labled wire ends after numbering the battery posts. I spent a good two hours cleaning scrubbing and nutralizing, making sure I got the baking soda solution everywhere and even let it set and seep into any area it could. I carefully followed the schematics and wire end numbers had no arcs, no sparks and then stood and compared photos to the wiring for about 5 minutes, gritted my teeth, closed my eyes, crossed my fingers and flipped the master switch. No Boom! so I was good to go. Tried the ignition and BEHOLD, it started right up.

Ah, the Prevost education process has started. Thanks to all the members of Prevost Community, my first lesson was not too painful, other than the hit on the bank account and even there, the PC NAPA card eased the pain.

Triple Fox

[AL]

Batteries are only serviceable for a period of time and that’s any battery.

I think most owners should plan on replacing after 4 years of bus service. I have seen way to many blown batteries in my NAPA days.

Good post Trip Fox on how this battery drama might spoil a trip. Do the change out at your home base.

Call NAPA have them order 4 starting batteries 31 series-model spade post from the distribution center so you have current fresh batteries with all the same date codes.

Your NAPA card will save you $200 bucks on the 4 batteries and that’s no bull.

Most NAPA stores have nightly stock deliveries so ordering one day and get it the next.

AL

[Archived]

You can cut that number by half if your bus lives in Florida. Geo.

[Archived]

Over the years of active Prevost forums batteries have been the topic of discussion often.

When we bought our first coach Gel cell batteries were emerging as an alternative to conventional lead acid. Today we see the most common house battery as an AGM although Li batteries are now the battery of choice for some if not most conversions.

While some chassis batteries are AGM we still see lead acid as the standard.

Overall there are two truths that have emerged. The first is related to house batteries and it is simple. Do not allow the batteries to fall below a 50% charge before recharging and the life of the house batteries will be extended greatly.

The second truth is do not overcharge the batteries. All battery manufacturers have specific charging protocols that are type specific. A particular type of battery will have voltage requirements for bulk, absorb and float, and where possible those voltages should be adjusted for temperature. Over charging may actually be worse than allowing deep discharge.

Geo mentions battery life is half in FL, and I presume he means the chassis batteries. Those batteries based on a lot of posts seem to me to be the most abused. First, they are in a hostile environment. They are exposed to heat from the engine and no battery will thrive if constantly exposed to heat. But I am guessing a lot of owners kill their chassis batteries by feeling they need to keep a charger on them when the coach is not running. If a chassis battery will not hold a charge for months, then there is something wrong with the batteries or there is a current draw from the batteries. The charger is a band aid, not the cure.

The bottom line is take care of the batteries and they will do a good job for you. Otherwise plan on replacing them on your schedule, not when they puke because an unplanned battery failure can be very expensive and inconvenient.

[Steve]

I was referring to chassis batteries and just as in all vehicles in a hot climte they last only 50-60%. I also meant lead acid, I don’t really know if AGM would be better in that application. Geo.

[Tim]

Good comment Geo. My post was also referring to lead acid batteries which probably 90 % of us use for starting.

AL

[Tim]

Terminology:

VLA: Vented Lead-Acid, also known as Flooded Lead-Acid. Water is added to these batteries.

VRLA: Valve Regulated Lead-Acid. These are the “sealed” batteries. Actually, they have a pressure relief valve to regulate internal pressure. These are Lead-Acid batteries. AGM and Gel-Cells are VRLA batteries.

AGM: Absorbed Glass Mat, also known as Starved Electrolyte and mistakenly called Dry Cells. This is most prevelent and popular VRLA battery.

Gel-Cell: A battery with gelled electrolyte. This is a VRLA battery. These are identical in appearance to AGM batteries.

AGM vs. Gel: Theoretically, Gel is better suited to RV use. However, Gel-Cells are more difficult to produce reliably; therefore, the theoretical advantages are not often realized. AGM batteries can be mass produced with reliable results and thus are more prevalent.

[Archived]

I am recommending to everyone that comes in needing chassis batteries not to replace with AGM spiral cell Optimas. They are a greater initial investment, at about double the cost of the flooded lead acid group 31’s, but they are 2-3 times the lifespan. I am also telling people that don’t want to foot the bill for them to replace the maintenance-frees every 2 or so years, especially if you live in hot climates.

The problem is that: you cannot add water to them, but they are vented to the atmosphere, so evaporation in hot or dry climates is unavoidable. They make a nice bang when the side blows out as well because the water level got so low and hydrogen formed and a large current draw, like trying to start the coach, is placed on them. That is what happened here, and I have seen (and heard) it MANY times….

[Archived]

Ben,

To be clear you are recommending the use of the Optima spiral cell batteries for the chasis. I would think your speaking more specifically of the Optima Red Top?