I will be leaving Riverbend,FL on Friday AM, so I
checked, the bus and found one of the 8D batteries
@12.1 volts and the other @12.8
The bus MC9, will start with the booster box
I have with...But will running back to WI this way
be OK?? I have the battery under warranty by local
company and would like to switch out at home.
Thanks, David Benck
providing your alternator is producing current and you don;t shut it off.....once running it doesn;t need batteries
When you found the low volts, did you try to manually charge? If so how did they test after a couple hours charging?
Hello David.
Do you have the batteries centre tapped for 12 volts? For the radio or lights, for instance?
It would be easier to not worry, if you knew WHY the batteries are imbalanced.
Be sure the water is up in them, and head for home. See what voltage it gives you after a day of running.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
I did not try a manual charge. Will test after 8 hrs
drive time. I do have a center tap for 12 volts.
All power has been switched off for 5 days.
Checked 12 VDC tap and has no current draw.
Front two cells are bubbling with switches off.
House batteries are not currently tied into start
batteries. I can jump start untill I get home.
Have 24VDC boost box that is charged up.
Quote from: dbenck on February 28, 2008, 07:46:17 PM
I did not try a manual charge. Will test after 8 hrs
drive time. I do have a center tap for 12 volts.
All power has been switched off for 5 days.
Checked 12 VDC tap and has no current draw.
Front two cells are bubbling with switches off.
House batteries are not currently tied into start
batteries. I can jump start untill I get home.
Have 24VDC boost box that is charged up.
I think you will be fine to get home since you have jump start capabilities.
Those two cells bubbling while switches off, sounds like shorts within the battery.
Each time you stop along the way home, I would suggest checking the bad battery for excessive heat.
David, If you are going to make any tests on the batteries, you need to do it after they have been "resting", after having been charged.
Dennis
Thanks for the information..will head north around noon,
try to make Atlanta area.
David Benck
Since you have a center 12 volt tap on your batteries, you should install a Vanner equalizer. Otherwise, you will not be charging equally.
Ed Roelle
Flint, MI
Amen to others!
A new battery replace will not correct the unbalance problem because you are taking power off one of two batteries.
For now you can switch 12v tap to the other battery until you get home and then purchase good a solid state (not the old plain diode type) equalizer install. Which will automatically take power from both batteries.
In the mean time you need to charge the 24v batteries only one 12v at a time to bring it up to spec.
FWIW
Sojourn for Christ, Jerry
ACK! Don't switch the centre tap to the other battery...you'll get 24 volts!
I think Sojourner meant to swap the batteries around, so that the other one is the one powering the 12 volt circuits.
Anyway, just run for home, and enjoy the trip!
These screwing around kind of things is just what puts mama off the whole busnut thing, and then that's that.
Most of us busnut males have no idea the stress that is induced on the road. Screw around in the driveway all you want, but she doesn't like it on the road. And she won't tell you.
Keep your cards close to the chest and make adjustments you want to your set-up later.
So, keep a secret eye on that bad battery, and see if you can get a fresh matched pair on the warranty when you get home.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Amen buswarrior!
Thanks for clearing it up.
He may need to change batteries due to not knowing how long it been that way. The already charged battery will get over charge until other is fully charged.
Sojourn for Christ, Jerry
Quote from: buswarrior on February 29, 2008, 07:05:39 AM
These screwing around kind of things is just what puts mama off the whole busnut thing, and then that's that.
Most of us busnut males have no idea the stress that is induced on the road. Screw around in the driveway all you want, but she doesn't like it on the road. And she won't tell you.
Keep your cards close to the chest and make adjustments you want to your set-up later.
So, keep a secret eye on that bad battery, and see if you can get a fresh matched pair on the warranty when you get home.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Very good advice for everyone in situations like this where it is not likely to cause a "broke down alongside the road" event.