School me on battery filling

[TxLoser]

Back story....picked up my trailer from the dealer. Found my batteries connected at at only 50%. I intentionally unhooked not just turned off, but unhooked the batteries when I dropped it off. Dealer admitted to reconnecting them and apologized. As a consolation they offered to check and fill the battery water if needed. It’s a huge pain in the a@&, so took them up on it.

Here’s what I found after it was home and plugged in for a while. Water on top of the battery 18 hrs later as well. Is this due to overflow? If so, do you think this damaged them?

[Jagiven]

They probably over filled them, and if the battery was extremely discharged, the battery probably boiled as it was taking a heavy charge.

When inspecting the fluid level; the level should be right below the very bottom of the plastic. The notch will allow the gases a place to escape, and not force the fluid up and out of the inspection port.

Damage, probably not. A good shop can test the battery with a hydrometer.

I would spray down the battery compartment and get any excess battery acid off the metal. Baking soda will neutralize the acid.

[Colorado]

Well, since the Dealership admitted to reconnecting the batteries and it resulted in an issue...they should make it right. Which they attempted to do but it appears they again failed miserably. Another concern would be...did they use distilled water? I’d probably give the dealership a call, be polite but bring up the multiple issues and ask if they’ll make it right. Depending on the age of the batteries either ask for full replacement or a significant discount on replacements.

Clean up the area where the batteries spilled to prevent future issues...

[mokurt]

Call the dealer and see what they say.
If you end up working on them here's what I would do.

Remove the batteries

Clean area with a solution of baking soda and water.

Dry off batteries with a rag.

Remove the cap and check water level
Level should be aprox 1/2" to 5/8" down from top.

If overfull buy a cheap hydrometer at auto store and remove the excess water.
You can check battery with the hydrometer.

Check the battery voltage.

If the dealer services batteries on a regular basis the would have a battery filler which will not overfill if used correctly

[TxLoser]

Great info. I may run and get a hydrometer. The dealer didn’t pull the batteries as their difficult to get at. The guy had a rigged pump and hose to fill them, so it wasn’t terribly exact. I pull them out. Clean it up etc.

Poor guy gave away my Furion 50 amp chord as well. They had to grab me a new one from parts.

[Marcm157]

Originally Posted by TxLoser

Great info. I may run and get a hydrometer. The dealer didn’t pull the batteries as their difficult to get at. The guy had a rigged pump and hose to fill them, so it wasn’t terribly exact. I pull them out. Clean it up etc.

Poor guy gave away my Furion 50 amp chord as well. They had to grab me a new one from parts.

Wow - This is exactly why I try like hell not to ever bring my trailer to a dealer. Sorry you had such a bad experience.

[TxLoser]

It wasn’t terrible. They did an axle swap. Replaced the fiberglass under the overhang, and all the wet bolts/zerks. They were quick to admit fault and did what they could to correct. For little stuff, I will indeed do it myself. Like a busted cabinet latch and my toilet that won’t hold water due to a bad seal.

[mokurt]

Originally Posted by TxLoser

The dealer didn’t pull the batteries as their difficult to get at. The guy had a rigged pump and hose to fill them, so it wasn’t terribly exact. .

That explains that mess!
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...MygFegUIARC_Ag

[TxLoser]

Pulled the batteries. Both are currently filled just below caps. I poured a bunch of baking soda on the floor of the battery compartment. Lots of sizzling there. Same with the pavement underneath. From what I’ve read, water should only be a 1/2” over the plates. I’d say it’s a couple inches over and just below cap level.

[mokurt]

Heres a good tutorial on checking the level...
https://www.wikihow.com/Check-Car-Battery-Water-Levels

[Marcm157]

Originally Posted by mokurt

Heres a good tutorial on checking the level...
https://www.wikihow.com/Check-Car-Battery-Water-Levels

That is a very well written tutorial...

[Greg58]

I worked 35 years at a distribution center that had close to 200 electric fork lifts, pallet jacks and tugs, the key to long battery life if maintenance. As stated earlier never overfill and only use distilled water, batteries don't need added chemicals in the water.

[Trapper2020]

Do yourself a favor and spend the money for a watering system. I have had one on my last two rigs and they make it easy to keep water level at correct level. Having one in I checked level every month by simple spending 5 minutes to pump water into batteries. Current rig has 2 batteries but last one had 8. Well worth the money. Main one out there is flow- rite. It works. Safe travels

Enjoy the journey

[TxLoser]

Good call. Those batteries are heavy and not great for the back being hunched over moving them around to take care of the water.

[Screwby]

Originally Posted by Trapper2020

Do yourself a favor and spend the money for a watering system. I have had one on my last two rigs and they make it easy to keep water level at correct level. Having one in I checked level every month by simple spending 5 minutes to pump water into batteries. Current rig has 2 batteries but last one had 8. Well worth the money. Main one out there is flow- rite. It works. Safe travels

Enjoy the journey

This, I’ve found if something is a pain in the @#$ to do you’ll find an excuse to put it off. Make this part of your maintenance easy with a fill system.

[billcf7]

Originally Posted by Trapper2020

Do yourself a favor and spend the money for a watering system. I have had one on my last two rigs and they make it easy to keep water level at correct level. Having one in I checked level every month by simple spending 5 minutes to pump water into batteries. Current rig has 2 batteries but last one had 8. Well worth the money. Main one out there is flow- rite. It works. Safe travels

Enjoy the journey

Do yourself a favour and swap them out for AGM or lithium

[Trapper2020]

Originally Posted by billcf7

Do yourself a favour and swap them out for AGM or lithium

For his set up I agree he needs to do something to make the maintenance easier. For us we Had AGM,s and for half the price went back to Trojan. Never understood why people will spend the extra for AGM but not a couple hundred for a watering system. Wet cell batteries lasted 8 years before they needed to be replaced. If I had never dry camped I could have continue to use them. As for lithium just to expensive. Never see a return on that purchase. Not when I spend 85% of my time in RV parks. To each his own. Safe travels

Enjoy the journey

[Screwby]

Originally Posted by billcf7

Do yourself a favour and swap them out for AGM or lithium

More amp hours for less money using flooded golf cart batteries vs AGM batteries for starters. Same with lithium, they are awesome but until the price comes down I don’t have a couple thousand laying around for batteries.

[rkymntsno]

Originally Posted by Colorado

Well, since the Dealership admitted to reconnecting the batteries and it resulted in an issue...they should make it right. Which they attempted to do but it appears they again failed miserably. Another concern would be...did they use distilled water? I’d probably give the dealership a call, be polite but bring up the multiple issues and ask if they’ll make it right. Depending on the age of the batteries either ask for full replacement or a significant discount on replacements.

Clean up the area where the batteries spilled to prevent future issues...

X2. I would be asking the dealer to replace the batteries. They overfilled the water and probably just used a water hose to fill them all completely. What little I know about batteries is, if it discharges 50% or below and water level is low, they could be beyond capable of being fully recharged.

[Kiwimg]

Take it back, kick up a hell of a stink and hit them up for an AGM sealed battery. Even if they give you one substantially discounted it’s well worth the “zero” maintenance. Also invest in a GOOD battery charger/tender, battery tender make good ones (intelligence charge/mantain) for a little over $100. I got an A/C and a solar one from them, and also a plug for my generator. Not the end of the world but it sucks being left without power!