Battery Maintenance

November 25, 2006 by Chris
Filed under: Service Issues

I’m just finishing up my second custom inverter install for a client, and for this coach we had room for 9 group 29 batteries (yowza!).

The area we had to install them was previously occupied by the frame mount LP tank, so the height was somewhat limited (no room for 6 volt GC batteries), but the group 29s fit quite well.

The trouble with it was that accessing the batteries for maintenance would be a nightmare- between the 4/0 cable and temperature sensor it would be a several hour job to remove the batteries… just to check the water level. I had recently read about a fairly new product- the Flow Rite battery watering system . I ordered 4 kits, and I must say, this system is great!

The system consists of small float valve inserts which replace the battery cell caps, tubing, and a squeeze bulb. Once hooked up, you just put a hose in to a bottle of distilled water, squeeze the bulb until it gives some resistance, and you are done! All of the cells are filled properly. While at first glance the price seems fairly stiff (~$80 for a 2 battery kit), the engineering that went in to the system is fairly significant- among other things, the caps have flame arresting mechanisms built in.

As one who has burned up his fair share of batteries through neglect, I only wish I had this system back when I fulltimed- it would have paid for itself in short order.

Highly recommended.

I’ll write an article about the inverter install in a bit- it’s a pretty cool install. Xantrex RS3000 sine wave inverter with auto generator start and 2 Evergreen 120 watt solar panels- panels were on sale from the good people at Northern Arizona Wind and Sun.

Tags: "Flow Rite", batteries, camper, maintenance, Recreational Vehicle, RV, system

Comments

5 Comments on Battery Maintenance

andrew graham on Mon, 21st May 2007 12:15 pm

hi Chris, i havnt used one of these sites before so perhaps you could guide me somewhere i could ask questions regarding the converter i have in my pop up. Its a Centurion 3000, ive just purchased the camper used and have no details, the previous owner didnt use the 12 battery. When i recconect the 12v battery the interior wireed lights work but not any other electrical circuits, Any thoughts, kind regards Andrew Graham

[Reply]

Chris on Wed, 6th Jun 2007 2:04 pm

Hi Andrew-
Many apologies for taking so long to respond. Do be aware that the only thing the battery will power is the lights, water pump (if you have one), furnace (if you have one), and *maybe* the refrigerator (though it would run the battery down quite quickly).

*Converters* change 120 volt to 12 volt (nominal) power- *Inverters* change 12 volt (battery) to 120 volt power.

– Chris

[Reply]

JOE PORCARELLI on Fri, 5th Oct 2007 5:46 pm