-
DIY House Battery Install
Recently, I noticed that it was requiring my Magnum inverter/chargers about 18 amps to hold a charge on the 4 yr old house battery bank. And if I turned the chargers off the batts wouldn’t hold a charge. So I decided to install 3 new Lifeline 8DLs.
When I dug into this project, I found that the house battery racks are built for three group 8Ds. Roughly 4 yrs ago, the PO, a dealer/converter, jipped me by installing 3 Deka / East Penn group 4Ds, which are narrower and weigh 30 less ea than 8Ds. Since the 4Ds don’t fit the rack correctly, they’re 2.5″ narrower each, they could have shifted/moved and shorted the battery hold down on the positive post causing an explosion/fire. The 90 gal fuel tank is inches away. I was lucky they didn’t move.
On my bus, changing the house batteries is no easy job. They are buried near the centerline of the curbside 2nd basement above a Cruisair condensing unit. The pendulum for the auto leveling had to be removed. Also, I bought a harbor freight mower/atv/cycle jack($80) to make this job possible for me to accomplish.
***WARNING! WARNING! Will Robinson – Take EXTREME care not to accidently touch/short the positive post/cable end on anything.
-
13 Replies
-
Good job buddy glad you found that problem or could have been a fire
-
How come I didn’t get a crack at your Lifelines?:)
-
Nicely done, love the mower jack.
-
Hmmmmmm … I wonder if those are genuine Lifelines … or are they knock-offs?
-
My bus (2000 Vantare XLV conversion) has 8 4D Lifelines. Was it common for the converter to use 4D’s instead of 8D’s? So far all is well and they fit the rack perfectly. Just seems most talk about 8D’s for their house batts.
-
Not uncommon to have 4Ds. I have six 4D batteries just behind the tag axle. Sufficient capacity it seems. We run the generator for 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening when dry docking and never go below 50% charge.
Gerald
-
Gerald, I think this has been mentioned, but be aware time is not a good metric for charging. Make sure the batteries go into float otherwise the batteries are not being fully charged.
-
Doug,
I have a 96′ Vantare and also have 8 4D’s. Not unusual for Vantare I do not think.
Davy
-
Thanks Davy!
-
Doug,
The difference in 4D vs 8D is width and amp hours. The 4D has the same foot print for length and similiar height, but the width is smaller. A 4D width is 8.70 and the 8D is 10.89. A 4D height is 9.44 and the 8D is 9.65. The 4D has an amp hour rating of 210 and the 8D amp hour rating is 255. A 4D weights 135 and an 8D weighs 162.
Many converters used 4D’s in lieu of 8D’s, all depends on how the coach was designed.
-
And what’s the method for the one-man “heave-hoe” to get them in the coach?
-
Thanks for the input Tom!
-
Tim,
I have replaced all my house batteries by myself for many years. The 8D batteries are not easy to horse around so you have to use leverage where needed, and avoid lifting. A friend and I worked together when I replaced my last set, but it was still a one man job because of space. I build wood ramps with 2 X 6 boards and wood blocks to adjust the heights as necessary and I slide the batteries to and from their location.
When I have to lift I lift one end at a time. If I have to move them I slide them onto my creeper and roll them near where they have to go. I use anything I have to avoid using brute force. I have lifted them with my Bobcat. I have slid them down from the bed of my Gator into the coach and I have slid them from my pickup bed into my Gator. There was a time when I would try to lift them but my muscles are worn out from carrying dues money to the bank.
The only time I don’t handle them is when I bring them to the local battery shop I deal with and those guys lift them from my pickup.
Log in to reply.