House Battery - Help

[GEOFFs125]

Hi All

In desperate need of some advice. On our last outing I noticed that the charger seemed to be cutting in more often and every 15 minutes or so whilst we were hooked up. When the charger came on line the lights in the RV became brighter, something I had not noticed before.

This morning I decided to take the house battery out to have a look and to service/clean it, first time in the 3 years I have owned it.

To my surprise I found that it was a boat battery. Made by Ever Start Marine Starting. The only other information on the battery was the cranking speed.

I would appreciate some advice on the following:

1. Is this the correct type of battery
2. Can it be tested like a normal engine battery
3. If it is a gonner can I replace it with a normal lesuire type battery, if yes will it be OK for starting the 3 kw Onan generator.
4. It may be possible to fit 2 batteries in the compartment, would this be better option.

Any advice, comments and suggestions would be welcome.

Geoff

 

[scotjimland]

Hi Geoff

Yes to the first three questions, on the fourth, fit the largest capacity that can fit in the available space, that may be one big battery or two smaller ones .. makes no real difference.. but go for the most capacity, measured in ampere hours ( AH) and buy ordinary cheap flooded lead acids (FLAs)
Don't waste money on gels or fancy names..

 

[GEOFFs125]

Jim thanks for the info.

So I dont need to worry about the cranking speed for the generator, the generator will start OK with a good, high AH rated leasure battery?

Geoff

 

[scotjimland]

Jim thanks for the info.

So I dont need to worry about the cranking speed for the generator, the generator will start OK with a good, high AH rated leasure battery?

Geoff

I have four cheap 85ah FLAs , now 3 years old, and they start the genny no problem and on a few occasions when I had a duff engine battery they started the 5.9 lt Cummins..

 

[Geo]

I might be wrong cos i haven't checked, but it seems illogical for the generator to crank from the leisure batteries, point being that if house battery goes flat and you need genny ????
however, pressing the emergancy start button links all batteries together does it not, so you would get it, or the engine started no matter what
Geo

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Peter JohnsCross MH]

Geoff,

I you need new leisure batteries, we do 110amp and 85amp ones.

85amp at £39.98 and 110amp at £69-74 plus £8-50 courier delivery for each battery.
Uk Mainland only. not Scotland unfortunately.


Regards


Peter

 

[GEOFFs125]

Good question Geo,

I have often thought of that myself, but have been too much of a chicken to try it.:Blush:

Maybe you could try it and let us know the outcome.:thumb:

Geoff

 

[johnsandywhite]

I might be wrong cos i haven't checked, but it seems illogical for the generator to crank from the leisure batteries, point being that if house battery goes flat and you need genny ????
however, pressing the emergancy start button links all batteries together does it not, so you would get it, or the engine started no matter what
Geo

Wrong. Logical for the Leisure batteries to start the generator. If you house batteries are flat and you wish to start the genny to re-charge? Start the main motor and then start the genny. Not ALL RV's have the emergency start fitted. It would also be illogical to use the motor battery to start the genny all the time as eventually the motor battery would then be flat and the genny would NOT re-0harge it.

 

[Geo]

I have'nt got a flat battyery to try it with, and would have to disconect 2 x 135 AH to try it
You have yours out already, go on crank the genny if it wont work press the E/Start button and get someone to start genny you know you want to
Geo

 

[Lindy-C]

Geoff, the 28A Dutchmen only ever came with one leisure battery and the Ever Start will be the original US battery so is probably past its sell-by date (You've done well to get three years use out of it! )

In order to fit a second battery you will need to extend the battery tray as there will only be facility to hold one unit.

If you need any help, feel free to give James a buzz at work.

Regards
Linda

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Road Runner]

Battery prices have rocketed

I'm thinking of changing mine soonoh:

 

[GEOFFs125]

Hi Linda

I have a cunning plan, which includes 2 x 85 AH batteries that will fit across the exsisting tray. Slight problem is the ones that I have looked at on the net are 255 mm length, need to find some that are 250mm. I am sure there are some out there.

Just need to keep looking

Recived the belt on Saturday :thumb:

Could you please thank James for the advice he gave me re my starting problem, engine wise that is. Traced the problem to the starter motor brushes, managed to get some ones locally and with a bit of filing and some soldering I now have a starter motor that bursts ito life at every turn of the key.

Now back to the search for those batteries

 

[Lindy-C]

No worries Geoff

 

[Road Runner]

No worries Geoff

JC is great scared my genny into working and never touched it (not worked for 6 month) he just looked at it and it burst into life:thumb:

On a more serious note his knowledge and advise is extremely useful:thumb: as someone who has rung him more than once

 

[New Rover]

Re battery delivery.

When did Scotland leave the UK mainland?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Geo]

One or two Scots on here might like to know when Scotland joined the UK
Aint that right Jim and Jock:thumb:
Geo
Thought I'd better add, knowing the Scots passion for all things factual and historical they could proberbly tell me, and who was responsable