Advice with batteries - Please

Dave Siegel · July 04, 2012, 04:19:38 AM

Well over the years I have replaced the 8D batteries in our Silversides many many times. Why so many times? Because I don't get the idea of going out and starting the bus and letting it run for a while.

Yesterday I replaced a set of 8D's with a set of high powered 31 series batteries, they are only 50 cca lower in power than an 8D and about 50 pounds lighter.

So here's my question, I know I have read here how well everyone does with that but what is the amount of times a month should I go and start the bus and how long to let it run. I do not have a fast idle switch on our old bus so I have to put something on the gas treadle to keep the idle up.

We are moving to Raleigh in a couple of weeks and will probably have to store the bus a long way away from the apartment we have selected. (They have no RV space on property)

Thanks for any good advice that comes down the tube in advance.

Dave

Jeremy · July 04, 2012, 04:53:02 AM

Silly questions probably - I assume there's no AC power available for a battery maintainer, and solar panels are out because the bus is indoors?

Jeremy

Dave Siegel · July 04, 2012, 05:00:58 AM

I can and have had power available, and I have tried a 2 amp battery maintainer and also a small solar maintainer, but both have seemed to have boiled the batteries out. Who knows, I may have been doing that wrong also.

The bus has been under a pole barn, but I am not sure if I will be able to find covered parking for the bus up in Raleigh, so it will probably be outside and I'll get a cover for it.

dave

belfert · July 04, 2012, 06:19:31 AM

I use a Battery Tender Plus to keep my batteries charged. It is a three stage charger that hasn't boiled my batteries dry yet. It is a lot more expensive than other trickle chargers at about $80, but it works. They have both 12 volt and 24 volt versions.

Dave Siegel · July 04, 2012, 06:53:36 AM

Where do you get one of those battery tenders?

Dave Siegel · July 04, 2012, 07:06:39 AM

Brian, will this one work?

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0128-Plus-Charger/dp/B00068XCQU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341410136&sr=8-1&keywords=battery+tender+plus

Dave

belfert · July 04, 2012, 08:02:30 AM

I might consider stepping up to the next size up http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-022-0157-1-Waterproof-Charger/dp/B002DU3S9A/ as it puts out more amps for our larger battery banks. This model is also easier to mount if you want to put it permanently in the battery compartment.

Someone else would have to chime in if you need the 5 amps from the bigger model versus the 1.25 amps from the smaller model. I have the larger model because I needed 24 volt and I have four group 21 batteries. I also have the DDEC and other stuff constantly drawing power so I needed the amps.

Ed Hackenbruch · July 04, 2012, 08:20:35 AM

I have been using 2 group 31 batteries for starting batteries for about 4-5 years now. When we get to Yuma for the winter we sit in one spot for as long as 3-6 months without firing up. I don't shut off my master switch, i don't have my solar panels charging them, and i don't have a battery tender or minder. They have always fired the engine as soon as i touch the switch.

Dave Siegel · July 04, 2012, 08:44:19 AM

WOW ED I wish I could say that. But then again I have always had 2 8D's for starting. Now I have two 31 series so it might be a whole new animal.

Dave

Ed Hackenbruch · July 04, 2012, 09:07:23 AM

Dave , there were 2 8D's in the bus when we first got it and after they died of old age i went with the 31's and have been very happy with them.....will never go back to the 8's.

buswarrior · July 04, 2012, 09:56:35 AM

edit: type and size of battery aren't the issue, maintenance of the battery is the issue.
8D or group whatever matters not, it is how they are treated that dictates how much you get to spend how often...

You are turning off the battery switch when the coach is being stored?

By battery switch, I mean completely and absolutely everything is disconnected when sitting in storage?

Running the coach engine to charge the batteries is a losing game, you have to run the engine for quite some time to just replace the energy you took to start the engine.

It takes a couple of hours to top off a battery set with a good charger, the engine alternator in stock condition never really gets there.

Add a good quality trickle charger to your arsenal and call it a day? Solar or plug in, whichever works for your situation.

It has to be smart enough to turn off when full.

Some of the cheap ones are NOT.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

gus · July 04, 2012, 04:32:01 PM

Dave,

You really can't keep a battery properly charged by running the engine an hour or so, it needs to be driven all day long or, better yet, get yourself a good 3 or 4 stage smart charger, hook it up and forget it.

Once the batts are properly charged a good smart charger will keep them that way.

I charge mine with a three stage converter but only because the converter was in the bus when I got it.

I have about six Battery Tenders/Battery Minders that I rotate among my too many vehicles. They are small and will take a long time to bring up large batts up to full charge, but once there they will stay. A quicker way is to use a standard 10 amp charger to bring them up and then hook up the smart chargers.

Dave Siegel · July 06, 2012, 03:33:25 AM

I'm not too worried about bringing these new batteries back to life. They seem to have enough charge, I am concerned about keeping the charge going. That was the reason for the Battery Tender discussion. I have a really good 10 amp charger but I am not convinced it would work well as a tender unit.

That brings us to this question, The smaller Battery Tender puts out 1.25 amps and a larger unit puts out 5 amps. Our bus is very simple and I have installed two group 31 series batteries, which of the Battery Tenders would be the wise choice for me?

Dave

buswarrior · July 06, 2012, 04:56:56 AM

If tending is all you need, the small one is fine.

It won't be doing anything by tomorrow afternoon anyway, as the batteries will be full.

You only need big power in order to charge.

Low power is all you need to tend.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

gus · July 06, 2012, 03:48:58 PM

The BTs I have are 1.5 and 0.5 amps, never seen a 5 amp one?? The smaller one is for motorcycles & etc.

The 1.5 will easily keep two or four Gp 31s topped off.

The 10 amp charger is only good for bringing up the batts to full charge, it is no good for maintaining unless it is a real smart charger of 3-4 stages. Those are few and expensive. The smaller BTs are the way to go.

I have both BTs and Battery Minders, I like the BMs a bit better because they seem more logical in operation to me and only have one cord instead of the BT's two, but they both perform equally well.