Smoking Battery

[ibdiver002]

I have a Jayco 198RD Jay Flight Swift travel trailer, and have been having trouble getting the one year old battery to hold a charge. Tonight I plugged the trailer into house current to charge the battery and almost immediately saw smoke coming out of the battery box. I immediately unplugged it, of course. Any idea what would be causing this? Thanks for any help.

[ALJO]

If it doesn't hold a charge, just buy another battery and clean the connections.
Battery will drain if you leave it in your tray without disconnecting.
If you keep your battery connected keep it plugged shore power plugged in.

[ibdiver002]

Thanks, but what about the smoke when I connect the TT to the house? This is actually the third battery in a four year old TT.

[ALJO]

You have to check the output of the converter as it might be defect. 198RD has a WOF converter with 3 stage battery charger. Be sure all the fuses are OK on the 12 volt side.
Output should be 13.6 volts. You should have a WOF manual in your map of papers. Otherwise get it on line

WorldOfFriends = WOF

[Jagiven]

Do you maintain the fluid levels in the cells?

My guess your fluid level in the cells are below the top of the cell, and you shorting out the battery cell.

A couple times a year, you need to open the cells, add distilled water, to top off the cells. Fill to the bottom of the plastic housing. Never let the fluid levels get below the lead cell level. Also ONLY use DISTILLED WATER, don't use any other water, as it will shorten the battery life.

[ALJO]

About the smoke; it might have been corroded connections or very low battery fluid.

[mlucas77]

Originally Posted by Jagiven

Do you maintain the fluid levels in the cells?

My guess your fluid level in the cells are below the top of the cell, and you shorting out the battery cell.

A couple times a year, you need to open the cells, add distilled water, to top off the cells. Fill to the bottom of the plastic housing. Never let the fluid levels get below the lead cell level. Also ONLY use DISTILLED WATER, don't use any other water, as it will shorten the battery life.

Agreed

Sent from my SM-G928T using Tapatalk

[Mustang65]

Check you battery connections first, if they are clean and tight.. your battery is probably toast now, there is no use trying to troubleshoot the problem with the bad battery.

- Do you have a Volt/Ohm meter for measuring voltage? If not purchase one and keep it in the TT.
- Do you have a Digital Voltage Display (something like the one below) if not, get one, to monitor your battery voltage?

Now you are ready to troubleshoot and maintain your battery. Here is a step by step process…

When you get your new battery:

- Without battery connected, make sure the battery cables are not touching anything.
- Check the new battery's voltage. [Should be between 12.6VDC 13.2VDC]
- Without battery connected check the voltage of the cables coming from the TT's battery charge controller (White cable (Negative) and the Green cable with fuse (POSITIVE), cable to the TT's battery charge controller
- Disconnect your shore power.
- Clean all the terminals.
- Hook up the new battery.
- Take another voltage reading with battery hooked up. [Should be almost the same as 1st reading]
- Turn on your shore-power and check the battery voltage again. It will probably increase to 14 volts (if charging) or about 13.2 if fully charged
- Check the voltage in 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours... the voltage should drop to 13.2 volts (Float)
- If the voltage does not drop, there is probably an issue with the TT's battery charge controller.
- Once the battery voltage levels off at 13.2 Volts, keep checking it

Maintenance:

NEVER LET YOUR BATTERY VOLTAGE DROP BELOW 12.0 VOLTS.

When it drops to 12.0 volts (50% rule) you need to stop using any of your DC loads (Inverter for converting 12 Volts to 110VAC), USB cell phone chargers, water pump, TT’s heating system, fans, lights…) Each time you drain the battery below the 12.0 VDC level, you are shortening your batteries life.
- Purchase a Digital Voltage Display (like below) that you can plug into your TT’s 12VDC accessory outlet, so you can monitor your batteries voltage.
- Check your batteries water level monthly, since you have been having battery issues.
- If you do not have the TT connected to 110VAC shore power in between use or in storage, pull the main 30 amp fuse located by the battery, or add a battery cut-off switch.
- Make sure your battery is fully charged when letting it sit.

Good Luck,

Don