Battery issues

[amyed]

I have a 2008 3400RL 5"th wheel. In the last month I have had 2 12V batteries lose fluid. I have a trailer in Montana that I bring battery to Texas. I thought it might just be the battery the first time. When it did the same to the 2nd one I realized I have a problem.
Any thoughts as to what might be draining the batteries? I'm not hooked to battery now,12v system still works.

[AZ Traveler]

Sounds like your converter may be overcharging your battery bank and boiling water off.

[amyed]

Well, I guess a new convertor is in my future. Why didn't Santa bring me one?

[Carl n Susan]

Converters in the 2004 to 2009 (or maybe later) era were not "smart" converters. There were two different vendors and each had a separate add-on you could buy that would convert the converter to a "smart" (i.e. 4 stage one) converter. If you have an IOTA converter they offered the IQ4 plugin unit. Around 2008 or so they moved to a Progressive converter. I don't recall the name of their add-on.

The non-smart controllers are notorious for over-charging the battery so much they lose water. The IQ4 used to be around $25 or so. The Progressive was similar. Take a look at your converter and see what model you have.

[daveinaz]

I also have a 2008 3400RL. As others have said, the converter in this model was not a "smart" converter and will overcharge the batteries -- boil the acid right out of them. As Carl_n_Susan said, depending on what converter you have, you can get an add-on module. Our has the IOTA DLS-75 converter so we got the IQ4 module. It's very simple to add - just plug and play. The hardest part is undoing the stair vents and getting to it.

If you do have the IOTA converter you can still get the smart module for $25:

http://https://www.amazon.com/IOTA-E.../dp/B0030G7ZHM

[Todd & Mary]

my guess would be the converter boiling out the water and should be replaced.