Eelectrical help needed

[Fishspike]

I need some electrical help. Our Alpine was move over the summer in AZ. The batteries were never disconnected so here is my problem.

I tried to auto level and it tells me the voltage is low. I went to check battery level and it was bone dry. I added water the batteries were bone dry. I waited about and hour and same results. We hooked up to a neighbors truck and everything self leveled. The inverter was running so I assumed it was charging. During the night I could smell batttpery fumes. I checked the battery and it was hot. Disconnected battery and inverter stopped. The other battery seemed okay waiting for daylight. We are hooked up to AC power.

Whew

I am pretty sure battery is toast

Is one battery for self level and the other for slide outs?

Alpine 3850 2022

 

[Kirk]

In every trailer that I have seen which has two batteries, they are both part of the same power supply and there is only one 12V system. If the batteries are both 12V they should be connected in parallel but if they are 6V they should be in series.

You probably have destroyed the present batteries as all flooded cell batteries need to be maintained with periodic checking of the electrolyte levels and brought up with distilled water. It is normal for them to loose water due to evaporation and has nothing to do with it being moved.

Good Travelin !..........Kirk

 

[John From Detroit]

I tried to auto level and it tells me the voltage is low. I went to check battery level and it was bone dry. I added water the batteries were bone dry. I waited about and hour and same results. We hooked up to a neighbors truck and everything self leveled. The inverter was running so I assumed it was charging. During the night I could smell batttpery fumes. I checked the battery and it was hot.

Batteries are toast. Replace both ONe is likely shorted and ther other seriously damaged by the shorted one. Replace both.
I suggest eitehr LiFePO4 upgrade or a pair of GC-2 in series (Kirk posted the connection diagram)

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Even if you got one of the batteries to charge, after this degree of trauma it is almost certainly compromised. The only thing these batteries are good for is a core trade in.

Now, how they got this way is the question. This doesn't happen to properly used and stored batteries so address that or the next set will have the same fate.

Mark B.
Abuquerque, NM

 

[rvlifer]

Depending how long it sat and in what part of AZ it could have been just sitting too long in that heat

 

[workinonit]

I have a 22 Alpine. If it's like mine the two batteries are in parallel. I would absolutely replace both of them. I've looked at the Lith Phos battery replacement and for me they don't make any sense at all. We don't boondock so the only time I need the inverter is when we are traveling from place to place for my fridge. The other consideration is the converter. I've never checked mine to see if it is capable of charging lithium batteries. I'm sure it probably is but it's something you need to verify if you decide to go that route.

 

[rvlifer]

I've looked at the Lith Phos battery replacement and for me they don't make any sense at all. We don't boondock so the only time I need the inverter is when we are traveling from place to place for my fridge. The other consideration is the converter.

Lithium batteries arent just for boondocking. The weight and space savings make them better than lead acids. They do need to come down in price more to make them a better alternative.

I dont think there are any converters not capable of charging lithium batteries. If you stick with the better brands they have electronics built into the batteries to protect from charger shortcomings. I am not an electrical engineer and could be wrong but i dont think you have to worry about a converter as long as it is functioning correctly

 

[John From Detroit]

Lithium batteries arent just for boondocking. The weight and space savings make them better than lead acids. They do need to come down in price more to make them a better alternative.

I dont think there are any converters not capable of charging lithium batteries. If you stick with the better brands they have electronics built into the batteries to protect from charger shortcomings. I am not an electrical engineer and could be wrong but i dont think you have to worry about a converter as long as it is functioning correctly

There are some slight voltage differences between Li types and LA types. and some differneces between different types within each of those classifications as well.

I think I had to change 2 settings by 0.1 volt when I switched.

There is some discussion as to how "Full" to fill LI types.

 

[Bearcatrp]

I went through the hot battery this past summer. One was super low and was sucking everything from the good battery. You’re risking a fire. Unplug them now until you replace both.

 

[workinonit]

You can't guess about the ability of your converter to support the charging profile of a lithium battery. Bad things happen to an expensive battery if you're wrong. Some converters are automatic, some have a jumper or switch on the board and some just can't handle them. You need to make sure.

 

[rvlifer]

There are some slight voltage differences between Li types and LA types. and some differneces between different types within each of those classifications as well.

I think I had to change 2 settings by 0.1 volt when I switched.

There is some discussion as to how "Full" to fill LI types.

There are slight differences between different brands of la batteries.

 

[John From Detroit]

There are slight differences between different brands of la batteries.

Yup. the way I said it was "some differences between different types within each of those classifications as well"

I know one brand that likes a LOT more voltage. (by my standards at least) I set my charger per the manufacturer recommendations.