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11-19-2012, 12:46 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 110
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Battery cooked
Yesterday my battery overheated and vented while hooked up to shore power. I disconnected and removed the battery. I don't want to "cook" another one. Is it likely the battery or the charging system?
Is there anyway to check? Any advice will be appreciated.
__________________
Pam and Nick Walters
28.5 RLS FW
Dodge 2500 HD
2 spoiled rotten Scotties
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11-19-2012, 01:56 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Central California
Posts: 2,283
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I am no expert, hopefully and expert will weigh in....
How old was battery? How long was it plugged in? Do you know if you have a 2 stage or 3 stage converter?
Do you regularlly check the fluid level in the battery? If they get low, my understanding that can attribute overcharging and cause the remaining to fluid boiling over. Did the battery have appropriate water level to start?
If your converter doesn't have a "Float Charge" voltage (3-Stage Converter) that too will cause the batter to overcharge and the water will boil out.
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2020 Ram 1500 5.7L
2007 Chevy Duramax LMM/Allison (Sold)
2012 Jay Flight 29QBH (Sold)
2012 Jay Flight 26BH (Sold)
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11-19-2012, 02:41 PM
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Cape Coral, Florida
Posts: 4,793
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The owner of my used TT said he fried a battery last year being plugged in for an extended period of time.
Evidently, the convertor was not a 3 stage. He replaced with Smart Convertor and new battery.
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11-19-2012, 02:56 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 110
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Clubhouse,
The battery was about 2 years old and was serviced with water. it was plugged in for several days but that is not unusual since I don't disconnect the battery when I plug into shore power. I don't know if it's a 2 or 3 stage converter.
__________________
Pam and Nick Walters
28.5 RLS FW
Dodge 2500 HD
2 spoiled rotten Scotties
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11-19-2012, 03:27 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Central California
Posts: 2,283
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IMO 2 yrs isn't to old for a RV battery, especially if it has been maintained properly.
I would assume that the converter is a 2 stage, and that is what did it. I suggest calling Jayco and/or dealer and confirming what converter you have. My understanding is somewhere during calendar year 2010 they changed from 2 stage to 3 stage converters. If you have a 3 stage, I'd suggest a new battery...Costco has a liberal return policy if it happens again right away. If you have a 2 stage, that is a different story...you may want to consider an upgrade. The float charge in a 3 stage is intended to prevent overcharging.
Maybe wait and see what others have to say. Like I said I am no expert on batteries...this is just what I have learned over the years.
__________________
2020 Ram 1500 5.7L
2007 Chevy Duramax LMM/Allison (Sold)
2012 Jay Flight 29QBH (Sold)
2012 Jay Flight 26BH (Sold)
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11-19-2012, 03:49 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: King George
Posts: 2,761
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Just post the model number of the converter/charger unit. Folks on here can then tell you if it a smart mode charger or not.
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Roy and Carolyn
I claim Horse Creek Country in Southern Ill - Momabear is from North Texas
We live in King George VA
RETIRED DOD DOAF DON CONTRACTOR Electronics Tech 42YRS
"We're burning daylight" - John Wayne
2008 STARCRAFT 14RT OFF-ROAD POPUP with PD9260C and three 85AH 12VDC batteries
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"We always have a PLAN B"
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11-19-2012, 05:05 PM
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#7
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 9,424
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If the converter/charger is manufactured by IOTA, it's a 2-stage unit. Some model IOTA converter/chargers can be upgraded to a 3-stage unit for about $20.
http://www.jaycoowners.com/showthrea...highlight=iota
If you have a Progressive Dynamics converter/charger, it should be a 3-stage unit.
Bob
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2016 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4.10
2018 Jay Flight 24RBS
2002 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4:10 (retired)
2005 Jayco Eagle 278FBS (retired)
1999 Jayco Eagle 246FB (retired)
Reese HP Dual Cam (Strait-Line)
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11-19-2012, 06:36 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 9,764
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Skymutt, crazy question, but being a used TT, I will ask it. Is the battery a Deep cycle battery, deep cycle/starter battery (boat battery) or a traditional car battery?
If the battery is a deep cycle battery I would suspect your charger or poor battery maintenance. However, if it is a 12V car battery, they the battery could have cooked as they are not designed to cycle like a deep cycle battery.
One more thing, I would look at and follow the power feed from the battery to where the wires enter the inside of the TT. Do you have an inline 30 amp fuse at the battery? Could you have a pinched/frayed wire where the wire harness passes though one of the metal frame members?
Best of Luck.
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11-19-2012, 06:43 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Virginia`s Eastern Shore
Posts: 17,092
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Another question is how long was it continuously hooked up to shorepower?
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11-20-2012, 10:23 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 261
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Most if not all modern converters - whether 2 or 3 stage - can be safely plugged into shore power 24/7 without boiling out the battery. That said, some RV layouts and factory installs make it possible for the batteries to dies much sooner than they should. Not because of the charger stages, but because the battery can never get a good charge. The length and guage of the wire from the converter to the battery ensures that the battery never really gets a full charge.
All of this would not boil a battery. I'd pick up a cheap battery hydrometer and test the cells. the one I got sucks and i don't trust the results beyond seeing a massive difference from one cell to another. If you see that, the battery is shot. If the battery shows same results across all cells then I'd lean towards the converter as the issue.
-Chak
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12-03-2012, 03:07 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 110
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I just got back from a long business trip and saw the responses. Thanks to everyone for the information.
Nick
__________________
Pam and Nick Walters
28.5 RLS FW
Dodge 2500 HD
2 spoiled rotten Scotties
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12-06-2012, 09:32 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 261
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Let us know what you figure out!
-Chak
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