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Old 12-13-2006, 07:38 AM   #1
pchaas
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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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Old 12-13-2006, 09:43 AM   #2
JH Sechelt
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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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Old 12-13-2006, 10:16 AM   #3
Cat320
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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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Old 12-13-2006, 10:41 AM   #4
hazmic
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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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Old 12-13-2006, 10:50 AM   #5
pchaas
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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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Old 12-13-2006, 11:18 AM   #6
dsprik
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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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Old 12-13-2006, 12:27 PM   #7
JH Sechelt
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Dave,

I think you might have something there........

J&D
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Old 12-13-2006, 12:48 PM   #8
kdeiss
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Both batterys also should be the same age and condition
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Old 12-13-2006, 12:59 PM   #9
dsprik
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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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Old 12-13-2006, 01:22 PM   #10
Ozz
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Yes, same age, same condition is the key.
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Old 12-13-2006, 01:31 PM   #11
Cat320
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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.
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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Old 12-13-2006, 04:23 PM   #12
Steve and Brenda
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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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Old 12-13-2006, 06:56 PM   #13
EagleRunner
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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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Old 12-14-2006, 02:31 AM   #14
dsprik
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Great info! First time I remember seeing this info...
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Old 12-14-2006, 04:09 AM   #15
jsmitfl
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Battery in my truck was doing the same thing. Replaced both batteries and all is well.
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Old 12-14-2006, 04:51 AM   #16
pchaas
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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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Old 12-14-2006, 06:13 AM   #17
Steve and Brenda
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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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Old 12-14-2006, 06:25 AM   #18
8.1al
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Paul, I hate to say this but you should really replace that other battery too.
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Old 12-14-2006, 06:55 AM   #19
pchaas
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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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Old 12-14-2006, 06:59 AM   #20
daneboy
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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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