Battery Maintenance Question

[K Holbrook]

Since we live in a world of maintenance free everything, how many people were surprised by the fact that most of the batteries in our 5th wheels require distilled water? I had no idea and went the first year without giving it a thought. Guess what, the battery pretty much cropped out because it would no longer hold a charge. I always wondered why there wasn’t enough power to unhook the unit from the truck when disconnected and not on shore power. So my question is this. How often do you check your levels?

[ynpmoose]

Spring when I dewinterize and in fall when I winterize and move the battery into the garage on a battery tender.

[Jagiven]

Its not just 5vers. All campers come with maintenance required batteries.

Surprisingly, the first few years of ownership I had to top the water off a couple times a year. The older the battery got the less water it used. We did not notice any decrease in capacity.

I just replaced mine last fall (9 yrs old) with maintenance free AMG. So far I am happy with it.

[jetlag]

We live on a small farm, and if the battery is not maintenance free I check them regularly, more so on the golf cart. Just bought my first Lithium battery for the 4wheeler. It has a 3 year warranty, we shall see as it was expensive enough

[CAG]

Agm

[ARoamer]

Lithium batteries, pretty much maintenance free.
Pricey initially.
Love 'em current-ly. (electrical joke!)

Ask me in 10 years if it was worth it.....

[CAG]

Originally Posted by ARoamer

Lithium batteries, pretty much maintenance free.
Pricey initially.
Love 'em current-ly. (electrical joke!)

Ask me in 10 years if it was worth it.....

I know that there is all of this hype about lithium and I admit that I have considered them but as long as cars running on them keep catching fire I have to wonder.



Now I know this will bring in all of those who love them, and we have heard and read it here and everywhere but there is still that little question in the back of the minds of some of us who have read on them.

[jetlag]

Originally Posted by CAG

I know that there is all of this hype about lithium and I admit that I have considered them but as long as cars running on them keep catching fire I have to wonder.



Now I know this will bring in all of those who love them, and we have heard and read it here and everywhere but there is still that little question in the back of the minds of some of us who have read on them.

Just about everything you use today that runs on fancy batteries, cell phones, laptops, etc. Yep Lithium. I have a friend who lost an eye when a lead acid blew up on him 30+ years ago. They blow up as well. I will use whatever battery the dealer puts on our Pinnacle but once they are done I will switch to Lithium with no qualms whatsoever. Perfect? no, but nothing is. Their performance per pound obliterates lead acid and AGM batteries. Oh, speaking of weight, they weigh a fraction of the
"old" tech batteries. Price, factor in they lifespan and output, they are dirt cheap and getting cheaper by the day. If you and I are still here in 20+ years, yep, we will be driving on Lithium batteries.

[16WhiteColly]

I check mine about once per quarter. I keep a Battery Tender on it 24/7 and when I check it, needs very little water. 12V Marine battery

[ARoamer]

Originally Posted by CAG

I know that there is all of this hype about lithium and I admit that I have considered them but as long as cars running on them keep catching fire I have to wonder.
Now I know this will bring in all of those who love them, and we have heard and read it here and everywhere but there is still that little question in the back of the minds of some of us who have read on them.

Lithium Iron Phosphate is the chemistry mostly used in battleborn and most lead acid replacement lithium batteries. Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries are not generally used in automotive applications.
I'm no battery expert but I have read that Lithium Iron Phosphate chemistry is one of the safest of lithium batteries available currently.

[GHen]

I check the water every couple of months, more often when I use them a lot boon docking. I only used about 1/2 a gallon of water in the last 3 years.

Maintenance free batteries are great for a car, you start it up and it gets recharged in about 15 minutes.
In an RV, it can get used all day and night and then takes hours to recharge the next day.

[Scuba357]

This is my next project.
https://youtu.be/vNcN0NKlvW8
Lead batteries are such old tech. I’m sick of replacing mine due to “boiling” despite my best efforts.