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12-13-2006, 07:38 AM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Vandalia
Posts: 132
M.O.C. #634
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Warm Battery
I have the two battery setup for extra life, and I have noticed that one of the batteries is warm and the other cold. It's almost to the point of a sizzle from the warm one. Any suggestions as to what might be causing this? They both are full of water.
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12-13-2006, 09:43 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Campbell River
Posts: 970
M.O.C. #4976
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Hi Paul,
Can't really tell you why only one battery, but it doesn't sound right to me. I'd get that checked out pretty quick.
Better to be on the safe side.
J&D
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12-13-2006, 10:16 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2006
Location:
Posts: 1,696
M.O.C. #5751
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How are they being charged and hooked to the charger? In my boat, I have a 40 amp, automatic, four step charger...since I have two 4D batteries (rated at 200 amp hours each) I need the more powerful and sophisticated charging system. Anyhow, the charger is wired with a positive cable to each battery and, since the batteries are wired in parallel, only one negative is needed. With this set up they get charged equally. Sounds as if one of your batteries is being charged and one is not.
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12-13-2006, 10:41 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: cedar rapids
Posts: 703
M.O.C. #4962
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How old are the battery's? Just because they are new dose not mean that they are good. The battery that is hot might have a bad cell. Take them out and have them checked at a battery place that can load test battery's.
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12-13-2006, 10:50 AM
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#5
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Vandalia
Posts: 132
M.O.C. #634
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The batteries are not new, maybe two years old. They are also not the same age but I'm not sure which one might be older, the hot one or the cold one. The charging system is the one in the power system that runs the camper, nothing external.
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12-13-2006, 11:18 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Fort Myers
Posts: 5,933
M.O.C. #4282
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Just read a warning last night on another website. If you are rigging up a 2 battery system, make sure they are the same amp hours, or your charger will try to charge one more than the other.
I have a 75 amp Interstate. I was looking at a 115 amp hr batter to rig up with it. Good thing I found out that was a no-no. Also, one battery older than the other may not take a charge as well as the other and therefore another problem arises there. Just what I read...
Actually I just remembered... it was on a dealer of Iota Smart Chargers website.
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12-13-2006, 12:27 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Campbell River
Posts: 970
M.O.C. #4976
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Dave,
I think you might have something there........
J&D
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12-13-2006, 12:48 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Englewood
Posts: 3,095
M.O.C. #164
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Both batterys also should be the same age and condition
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12-13-2006, 12:59 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Fort Myers
Posts: 5,933
M.O.C. #4282
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How about the same amp hrs, Ken? Did I read that right? Seems to make sense I guess, but I am not any expert.
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12-13-2006, 01:22 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: K.C.
Posts: 11,731
M.O.C. #5980
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Yes, same age, same condition is the key.
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12-13-2006, 01:31 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2006
Location:
Posts: 1,696
M.O.C. #5751
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by pchaas
The batteries are not new, maybe two years old. They are also not the same age but I'm not sure which one might be older, the hot one or the cold one. The charging system is the one in the power system that runs the camper, nothing external.
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Sometimes there is a sticker on the battery that has a date (mo/yr).
How is the standard Montana wired for charging two batteries? Positive leads to both or just one battery...assuming they are wired in parallel?
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12-13-2006, 04:23 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Choctaw
Posts: 530
M.O.C. #6364
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Y'all are correct - when installing multiple batteries they need to be of the same group size, age and current capacity. You can tell battery build dates by the stamp on them. Google the code, they vary from vendor to vendor, so you can make sure you have similar batteries.
Now, the one that is hot is charging past its capacity. You can take both batteries out of the vehicle and place a voltmeter to each cell. Remove the cap(s), place the black lead on the battery's negative terminal post and dip the lead in the liquid of each cell and the voltage should change by 2 volts. If the voltage is not different by 2 volts that cell is dead and the battery is bad. This is of course assuming that your battery is a 12 volt battery with 6 individual cells.
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12-13-2006, 06:56 PM
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#13
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Spokane Valley
Posts: 222
M.O.C. #5255
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Everything I have read on this says if you are replacing batteries in a dual battery system, both batteries should be replaced at the same time. This serves two purposes; first both are identical and secondly, both are the same age. A weak or older battery could drain a new one in short order, rendering your battery system incapable of sustaining a load.
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12-14-2006, 02:31 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Fort Myers
Posts: 5,933
M.O.C. #4282
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Great info! First time I remember seeing this info...
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12-14-2006, 04:09 AM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Victor
Posts: 940
M.O.C. #1709
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Battery in my truck was doing the same thing. Replaced both batteries and all is well.
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12-14-2006, 04:51 AM
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#16
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Vandalia
Posts: 132
M.O.C. #634
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The battery problem has been solved, Partially that is. Went back to WalMart and they gave me a full exchange even though my Battery was 3 years old. Now for a really dumb question. Is it negative to negative or negative to positive. I failed to mark the post hookups when I removed the old battery and cannot tell which terminal went to which battery terminal.
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12-14-2006, 06:13 AM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Choctaw
Posts: 530
M.O.C. #6364
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In a 12 VDC system you must connect the + terminals to each other and the - terminals to each other. Cross connection will result in either a 24 volt battery or worse yet a short circuit.
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12-14-2006, 06:25 AM
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#18
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Benson
Posts: 3,121
M.O.C. #1658
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Paul, I hate to say this but you should really replace that other battery too.
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12-14-2006, 06:55 AM
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#19
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Vandalia
Posts: 132
M.O.C. #634
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Thanks Charlie but the other battery is less than a year old and luckily the same size so I am going to try it. Thanks everyone for the help. I don't use the forum very often but when I do it seems someone always comes through for me. See yall soon in Texas.
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12-14-2006, 06:59 AM
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#20
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Grand Junction
Posts: 246
M.O.C. #4854
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Be sure your charger is hooked up to the + from one battery and the - on the other battery. This forces the charge to go through both batteries at the same time.
Jerry
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