ReadytoRide
Alexandria, VA
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Joined: 11/15/2004
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I've pretty much determined that I am going to need new starting batteries. I am hoping to pull them tomorrow, get them tested just to verify they are bad, and then install replacements. I may leave the replacements disconnected until I get a maintainer. I live in a high-rise apartment with no balcony, so I'm not sure that keeping the batteries inside the apartment on a maintainer is a good idea. I am working on alternatives perhaps the Trik-L Start DC maintainer that Winnebago is apparently installing now. I can run the genset a couple of hours a week to keep the charge up on the house batteries.
I appreciate all the good feedback I got on this thread - definitely some things I had not thought of or known about.
The current starting batteries were "maintenance-free" - should I get replacements that allow/require refilling of water, etc?
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smkettner
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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Maintenance free is fine if you plan to disconnect them to prevent discharge.
If you are going to float them with solar you may want to be able to add water.
Running the generator should charge the house battery pretty fast but the Trik-L-Start will only pass 5 amps to the chassis battery so it is still important to make sure it does not get run down. Xantrex Echo Charge will pass 15 amps but costs double.
You may want to post the charging system to see what to expect as far as runtime and frequency of starting the generator. If the batteries are truely disconnected then once every 4 to 8 weeks for a few hours is probably enough.
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ReadytoRide
Alexandria, VA
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Another poster (Tenn Stud)made reference to the chassis batteries supplying power to the engine and transmission computers even if the chassis battery disconnect switch is engaged (disconnected.) If this is true, the assumption would be that having that supply availble is a neccesity for some reason. If this be the case, then would disconnecting the battery for an extended period of time not create a problem with the engine and/or transmission computers?
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jimandsue60
North America
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Joined: 08/09/2004
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ReadytoRide wrote:Another poster (Tenn Stud)made reference to the chassis batteries supplying power to the engine and transmission computers even if the chassis battery disconnect switch is engaged (disconnected.) If this is true, the assumption would be that having that supply availble is a neccesity for some reason. If this be the case, then would disconnecting the battery for an extended period of time not create a problem with the engine and/or transmission computers?
On my Vectra, the engine battery disconnect is exactly that, the power is terminated to everything including the transmission and engine computer. I can't see what difference it would make be it an hour or six months.
Jim
Correction
I found out that the engine ecu retains power even when the chassis batteries are turned off.
Jim
* This post was
edited 10/17/08 07:42pm by jimandsue60 *
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